OFA Healthy Marriage and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Initiatives

In February 2006, President George W. Bush signed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which reauthorized the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program administered by HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The DRA reauthorization also included $150 million to support programs designed to help couples form and sustain healthy marriages. Up to $50 million of this amount may be used for programs designed to encourage responsible fatherhood. In its welfare reform law of 1996, Congress stipulated three of the four purposes of the TANF block grant to states be related to promoting healthy marriages.

"A key component of welfare reform is supporting healthy marriages and responsible fatherhood," Dr. Horn added. “Approval of these funds will help to achieve welfare reform's ultimate goal: improving the well-being of children."

The Healthy Marriage Initiative, administered by ACF, was created in 2002 by President Bush to help couples who have chosen marriage gain greater access to marriage education services, on a voluntary basis, where they can acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to form and sustain a healthy marriage. Funding for responsible fatherhood includes initiatives to help men be more committed, involved and responsible fathers, and the development of a national media campaign to promote responsible fatherhood.

On September 30, 2006, the Office of Family Assistance announced grant awards to 226 organizations to promote healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood as authorized by the Deficit Reduction Act.
“These programs will help couples form and sustain healthy marriages, and equip men to be involved, committed and responsible fathers in the lives of their children,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D.

These grants, overseen by ACF’s Office of Family Assistance, must have procedures in place to address issues of domestic violence and ensure that program participation is voluntary. Grant funds may be used for the following purposes:

• Competitive research and demonstration projects to test promising approaches to encourage healthy marriages and promote involved, committed and responsible fatherhood;
• Technical assistance to states and tribes;
• Marriage education, marriage skills training, public advertising campaigns, high school education on the value of marriage and marriage mentoring programs; and
• Promoting responsible fatherhood through counseling, mentoring, marriage education, enhancing relationship skills, parenting and activities to foster economic stability.
  

Full list of grantees

OFA grantee abstracts