ACF Awards Over $100 Million to Promote Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood, and Strong Families Across America

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), today announced over $100 million in Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) grants to 109 organizations across 38 states nationwide. As the traditional family unit has come under recent cultural attack, this investment represents the Trump Administration's commitment to fostering healthy marriages, stabilizing family structures, and helping fathers build better relationships and be more engaged parents - ultimately creating stronger families nationwide.

Research shows the overwhelmingly positive impacts of two-parent families and involved fathers. Children with involved fathers are less likely to live in poverty, experience food insecurity, or engage in risky behaviors. Involved fathers report higher levels of life satisfaction, clear direction, and purpose. Married couples thrive when they are equipped with the skills and resources they need to solve issues within their relationships before they arise. The new cohort of 109 HMRF grantees will implement evidence-based approaches to ensure that our nation's fathers, couples, and young people have the tools they need to build resilient, thriving families and relationships.

"In a healthy America, fathers lead, protect, and provide for their families," said Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison. "The Trump Administration is committed to supporting strong fathers and loving marriages to Make America Healthy Again and mold the next generation of young Americans."

HMRF grantees strengthen families nationwide through initiatives that promote responsible fatherhood, healthy marriages and relationships, and economic stability:

• FORGE Fatherhood (Family, Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement) grants provide comprehensive services that strengthen fathers' parenting skills, foster positive father-child engagement, support healthy relationships, and improve economic stability-addressing the full spectrum of challenges fathers face.
• HEART (Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive) grants support healthy marriage and relationship education, creating stronger foundations for children and families to thrive.
• READY4Life (Relationships, Education, Advancement, Development for Youth for Life) grants prepare young people ages 14-24-including expectant and parenting youth-with relationship skills, parenting knowledge, and financial education that lay the foundation for lifelong family stability and successful adulthood.

For those not served directly by these programs, in addition to those who are, ACF offers resources for all fathers and their families through fatherhood.gov, providing tools and information to help fathers engage meaningfully in their children's lives.

For a complete list of grant recipients and more information about the HMRF programs, visit https://acf.gov/ofa/programs/healthy-marriage-responsible-fatherhood.

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