The Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Family and Economic Stability Demonstration and Innovation Division (FED Innovation Division), Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) programs provide $150 million per year in discretionary grants, contracts, research and evaluation, and other activities to strengthen families, promote responsible parenting, and improve family economic stability. The programs were originally authorized in 2006 and continue under 42 U.S.C. §603(a)(2).
These programs play a key role in helping OFA achieve its goals to foster economically secure households and communities for the well-being and long-term success of children and families. The HMRF programs are specifically designed to help interested adults and youth build stronger relationships, marriages, father-child engagement, and families. There are currently 109 grant awards to various organizations in 38 states to provide activities to promote healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood promotion activities.
We are pleased to announce that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awarded a new cohort of HMRF programs on September 29, 2025; these are five-year grants that will end on September 29, 2030.
The new grants are funded under three programs:
Family, Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement — Fatherhood (FORGE Fatherhood)
Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive - Adults (HEART)
Relationships, Education, Advancement, and Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life)