TANF was reauthorized under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA),  and signed into law in February 2006. DRA appropriated $150 million a  year for 5 years in discretionary grants for the Healthy Marriage and  Responsible Fatherhood Initiative (Initiative). In  previous work, we found that HHS has established a rigorous research  agenda that regularly evaluates how well its programs are working. HHS  shortened its awards process to meet a deadline specified in legislation  that allowed 7 months to award grants. However, as part of  its awards process, HHS did not fully examine grantees’ programs as  described in grantee applications, including the activities they planned to  offer, contributing to challenges for some grantees as they were  implementing their programs. HHS told us that it received more applications than expected and this was  the first time it awarded these grants. Programs Offer a Range of Similar Activities, but Their Focus and Target Populations Differ

While the range of activities offered and populations served by Healthy  Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood programs’ grantees are similar,  their focus and target populations differ. Grantees for  both programs reported that they refer domestic violence victims to  specialists when appropriate. Additionally, while both programs target  such groups as minority and low-income populations, Healthy Marriage  grantees are more likely to target high school or teenaged youths, and  Responsible Fatherhood grantees are more likely to target incarcerated  parents. However, according to  our survey, while both programs offer many similar activities, Healthy  Marriage programs focus more on those related to marriage and  relationship services, whereas Responsible Fatherhood programs are  more likely to focus on providing services teaching parenting skills. HHS’s Ability to Target Grantees Not in Compliance with Grant Requirements or Not Meeting Performance Goals Is Hindered by the Lack of an Effective Management Information System

The lack of an effective management information system that captures key  information on individual grantees hinders HHS’s ability to appropriately  identify which grantees are not in compliance with grant requirements or are  not meeting performance goals. HHS told us it is in the process of developing a database that will help it  standardize and combine grantee communications and performance  information. Conclusions

Marriage and fatherhood programs have emerged as a national strategy for  improving the well-being of children. Recommendations for Executive Action

In order to improve monitoring and oversight of Healthy Marriage and  Responsible Fatherhood grantees, we are recommending that the  Secretary of HHS:    employ a risk-based approach to monitoring grantees and conducting  grantee site visits, using its planned management information system  and information from both progress reports and uniform performance  indicators to help identify those grantees at risk of not meeting  performance goals or not in compliance with grant requirements; and    create clear, consistent guidance and policy for monitoring Healthy  Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grantees. Appendix I: Objective, Scope, and Methodology

To gain insight into how Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood  programs are being implemented, we were asked to report on (1) how the  Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded grants and the  types of organizations that received funding; (2) the activities and services  grantees are providing, including those for domestic violence victims; (3)  the manner in which HHS monitors and assesses program implementation  and use of funds; and (4) how program impact is measured.
Why GAO Did This Study

Strengthening marriages and relationships in low-income families has emerged as a national strategy for enhancing the well-being of children. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) appropriated $150 million in discretionary grants each year from 2006 through 2010 to implement the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Initiative. To provide insight into how these programs are being implemented and monitored, GAO is reporting on (1) how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded grants and the types of organizations that received funding; (2) what activities and services grantees are providing, including those for domestic violence victims; (3) how HHS monitors and assesses program implementation and use of funds; and (4) how program impact is measured. GAO surveyed grantees, interviewed HHS staff, reviewed HHS records and policy, and visited several programs.

What GAO Found

Operating under a deadline that allowed HHS 7 months to award grants, HHS shortened its existing process to award Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grants to public and private organizations. During this process, HHS did not fully examine grantees' programs as described in their applications, including the activities they planned to offer, and this created challenges and setbacks for grantees later as they implemented their programs. For example, some grantees told us that they were informed that certain activities were not permitted months into program implementation even though HHS had approved these same activities described in their grant applications. The Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood programs provide similar activities, but their focus and target populations differ. Healthy Marriage programs are more likely to provide marriage and relationship activities, while Responsible Fatherhood programs are more likely to provide parenting skills. Additionally, both programs serve low-income and minority groups, but Healthy Marriage grantees are more likely to target teenaged youth, and Responsible Fatherhood grantees are more likely to target incarcerated parents. Both programs' grantees reported that they refer domestic violence victims to specialists in their communities. HHS uses methods that include site visits and progress reports to monitor grantees, but it lacks mechanisms to identify and target grantees that are not in compliance with grant requirements or are not meeting performance goals, and it also lacks clear and consistent guidance for performing site monitoring visits. Moreover, HHS's ability to readily identify which grantees are not in compliance or not meeting goals is hindered because it currently lacks uniform performance indicators and a computerized management information system that would enable HHS to more efficiently track key information on individual grantees. HHS told us that it is in the process of developing a management information system and has submitted uniform performance indicators for review. HHS has established a rigorous research agenda to gauge the long-term impact of healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood activities on diverse, low-income populations. HHS is sponsoring three multiyear impact evaluations of the Healthy Marriage program and one of the Responsible Fatherhood program.