Charitable choice refers to direct United States government funding of religious organizations to provide social services.
In late 2000, charitable choice was included in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) block grant.
In this faith-based model or the so-called holistic relief (also known as whole-person ministry), a religious organization addresses the needs of the poor both on the material and spiritual levels.
Some are concerned that charitable choice blurs the separation of church and state and argue that federal financial support of faith-based organizations creates an opportunity for abuse and potential for funds to flow in a biased way towards groups affiliated with one particular denomination or religious tradition.
In several decisions, it established a relaxation of the constraints imposed and assumptions made concerning public funding of the secular initiatives of religious organizations.