Faith-Based Community
Faith-based organizations and Houses of Worship play a vital role in providing a safe environment for communities all over the nation. Faith-based organizations have important capabilities and face unique challenges in securing their physical and cyber infrastructure. Houses of Worship hold a rare position in security, both physical and cyber. Challenges include the heightened security of a public meeting capacity while also preserving an open and accessible environment.
CISA’s Houses of Worship services are driven by our in-depth understanding of the risk environment and the needs identified by faith-based communities. Resources available, which can help improve security and resilience and keep integral community centers safe for all, include guides, self-assessments, trainings, exercises and other materials focused on a variety of threats.
Protecting Houses of Worship
To learn more about how CISA supports the faith-based community and efforts to maintain safe and secure houses of worship while sustaining an open and welcoming environment, please visit the Protecting Houses of Worship page.
Featured Content
Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities
Actionable recommendations and resources to help faith-based communities mitigate the threat of targeted violence.
Protecting Houses of Worship Resources
These resources are intended to help act as the building blocks for improving the security of an organization’s congregants and facilities.
Paper-Based Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment and User Guide
This Paper-based Security Self-Assessment to assists personnel to understand potential vulnerabilities and identify options for consideration to mitigate them.
What to Do - Bomb Threat
The guidance and resources on this page outline in-depth procedures for either bomb threats or suspicious items and will help you prepare and react appropriately during these events.
Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment
This tool is designed to guide personnel at houses of worship through a security-focused self-assessment to understand potential vulnerabilities and identify options for consideration in mitigating those vulnerabilities.
Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence
The product details how taking six overarching steps can help protect places of worship against potential threats of targeted violence in a cost-effective manner that maintains an open and welcoming environment.
Services
CISA has compiled a list of free tools and services to help government agencies further advance their security capabilities. This living repository includes services provided by CISA, widely used open-source tools, and other free tools and services offered by private and public sector organizations.
CISA Security Advisors
Within each CISA Region are your local and regional Protective Security Advisors (PSAs), Cyber Security Advisors (CSAs), Emergency Communications Coordinators (ECCs), and Chemical Security Inspectors (CSIs).
FEMA Grants Program
The US Department of Homeland Security through FEMA provides nonprofit security grants, which are managed in partnership through each state’s Homeland Security Advisor’s office, to improve facility security, preparedness, and emergency planning.
Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO)
A trusted community that shares timely, actionable, and relevant information with an all-hazards approach as incidents affecting the community come in the form of physical threats, cybersecurity issues, health outbreaks, and natural disasters.
Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN)
A trusted network to share sensitive but unclassified information. FSLTT and private sector partners can use HSIN to manage operations, analyze data, send alerts and notices, and share the information they need to perform their duties.
