What is the Hispanic Healthy Marriage Initiative (HHMI)?
The purpose of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Healthy Marriage Initiative is to improve child well-being by providing those who choose marriage for themselves with increased access to marriage education. Recognizing the research that indicates that two-parent, married families represent the ideal environment for raising children, Congress included marriage, family formation, and fatherhood as key elements in the PRWORA of 1996 (welfare reform legislation, TANF). The HHMI is a focused strategy within the Healthy Marriage Initiative. The goal of the HHMI is to address the unique cultural, linguistic, demographic, and socio-economic needs of children and families in Hispanic communities. Why is a focused strategy necessary for the Hispanic Community? • Largest minority group. As of July 2003, the Hispanic community was the largest minority in the United States with 39.9 million Hispanics comprising 13% of the population. The Census Bureau projected that by 2020 the His
