Faith-based coalitions, social services, and government funding

Both the charitable choice provision, Section 104 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and President Bush's recent Faith-Based and Community Initiative were designed to encourage the increased participation of faith,based organizations as government supported social service providers. This article examines 14 faith-based coalitions in Harris County, Texas, and their response to accepting government monies for social services. Description of these coalitions indicates great variability among them in regard to structure, resources, programs offered and attitudes towards government contracts. This study demonstrates the importance of including faith-based coalitions, along with local congregations, in the effort to understand faith-based social services.