Abstract

The Charitable Choice provision of the federal welfare reform law, enacted in 1996, encourages states to involve community and faith-based organizations in providing federally funded welfare services to the poor and needy. This effective practice provides ten tips for faith-based organizations considering federal funding under this provision. It is based on the handout Charitable Choice: Top Ten Tips for Faith-based Organizations developed by Stanley W. Carlson-Thies in 1999, and was published by the Center for Public Justice.

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Issue

Faith-based organizations may need help deciding whether or not to participate in welfare services funded by the new federal welfare block grants.

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Action

Ten tips for faith-based organizations considering federal funding under the Charitable Choice provision of the federal welfare reform law are:

1. Plans, not just visions
2. Don't chase money
3. Be accountable
4. Avoid dependency
5. Separate incorporation
6. Join hands
7. Be careful about religion
8. Get into the loop
9. Check with a lawyer
10. Advocate as well as serve

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Context

The Center for Public Justice is a national non-profit citizenship and policy research organization that engages in research, produces publications, and assists with training and advocacy from a faith-based perspective. The Charitable Choice provision (Section 1040) of the federal welfare reform law, enacted in 1996, encourages states to involve community and faith-based organizations in providing federally funded welfare services to the poor and needy.

Charitable Choice exists as a program arm of The Center for Public Justice.

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Citation

Carlson-Thies, Stanley W. Charitable Choice: Top 10 Tips for Faith-Based Organizations. Annapolis, Maryland: The Center for Public Justice, 1999.

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Outcome

According to President George W. Bush, "Social scientists are increasingly documenting the power of faith-based groups to fortify families and communities and to conquer [our toughest] social problems." (From the foreword to the Blueprint for the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, November 2002).

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Source Documents

Related Practices

• Organizing faith-based campaigns to raise funds for schools

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