News & Accolades

How the Federal Government Intends to Support Fathers and Families in the New Budget

In the President’s budget request for fiscal year 2011 the Obama Administration has proposed a significant amount of new federal funding to support responsible fatherhood and family strengthening initiatives. The proposed Fatherhood, Marriage, and Families Innovation Fund would replace the current Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grant program with a $500 million fund that would award three-year competitive grants to states to implement both responsible fatherhood initiatives and comprehensive family self-sufficiency initiatives for custodial parents. Funding preference would be awarded to states that include community-based organizations as partners in implementing the grant. If approved by Congress, this funding will mark a stark increase from the $50 million in federal funds that was previously devoted to responsible fatherhood initiatives.

This budget request is a strong indication that the Obama administration remains committed to supporting responsible fatherhood initiatives and underscores the importance of these initiatives as a key part of the government’s efforts to create healthy and stable families across all communities. Researchers, advocates, and practitioners in the responsible fatherhood field, for many years, have been calling for more federal funds to support their work and this proposal answers that call in a tremendous way. In addition to the Fatherhood, Marriage, and Families Innovation Fund, the Presidents’ Budget also request increased funds to support non-custodial parents’ ability to have access to and visit their children.