Collaborations Catalogue: A Report on Charitable Choice Implementation in 15 States (Executive Summary)

(Amy L. Sherman, Hudson Institute Faith in Communities Initiative, 2002)

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Summary:

          This 15-state report reveals some of what is happening between government and the faith-community in response to Charitable Choice and the “faith-based initiative.”  Hudson Institute’s Faith in Communities program surveyed Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin to learn the extent of faith-based contracting under TANF. The report describes the kinds of social service programs funded and lists contact information for the FBO contractors where available.

          Nine of the states were previously surveyed in 2000, so for these, some comparative data is available.  The 2002 survey showed a general increase in financial contracting in virtually all the states, as well as a broader and more creative scope to the contracts in terms of the types of services funded. Researchers found that state and local governments seem to be gradually becoming more aware of the Charitable Choice guidelines and are making moves to better organize faith-government collaborative efforts.  Church congregations were involved in many more contracts than in the initial study.

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

            The Catalogue is among the most comprehensive, practical resources for learning about who is contracting, how much contracting is occurring, and what sorts of services are being funded.