InvolvedDad Awarded Federal HEART Grant to Strengthen Healthy Relationships and Families in Genesee County

InvolvedDad, in partnership with Motherly Intercession, has been awarded federal funding through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive (HEART) program. The award will support implementation of the RESET Project (Restoring Stability, Empowerment, and Togetherness), a comprehensive, evidence-informed initiative designed to strengthen healthy relationships and family stability among adult individuals and couples in Genesee County, Michigan.

The HEART program is part of ACF’s national Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) portfolio, which invests in demonstration projects that integrate skills-based relationship education, parenting supports, and job and career advancement opportunities to promote stronger families. InvolvedDad is honored to be selected as a HEART grantee and to contribute to this national effort through a locally grounded, trauma-informed approach.

Through the RESET Project, InvolvedDad and Motherly Intercession will deliver evidence-informed, skills-based healthy marriage and relationship education designed to strengthen communication, conflict resolution, co-parenting, and relational stability among adult participants, including incarcerated and non-custodial fathers impacted by the judicial system.

Programming will be delivered in community-based and correctional settings and will include family-strengthening activities including parenting and co-parenting education; conflict resolution and communication skills development; job and career advancement supports that reinforce relationship stability; and public awareness efforts promoting healthy relationships and marital stability. By addressing relational skills alongside economic stability and accountability, RESET is designed to reduce conflict, promote emotional safety, and support long-term family well-being.

“This award represents a significant investment in families and relationships in Genesee County,” said Shon Hart, Executive Director of InvolvedDad. “RESET is about equipping individuals with the tools they need to build healthy marriages and relationships, co-parent effectively, and create stability for themselves and their children. We are grateful to ACF for recognizing the strength of this model and the partnerships behind it.”

Motherly Intercession will serve as a core partner on the project, leading programming for incarcerated fathers and supporting reentry-focused relationship education. Additional project partners include Shani Womack Enterprises, providing marriage and relationship education; STRIVE Flint, offering workforce readiness and employment supports; and the YWCA of Greater Flint, delivering domestic violence prevention education and referral pathways to survivor services. Together, the partnership reflects a coordinated, community-based approach to family strengthening. Programming supported by this grant will pilot in 2026.

This project is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $444,377.75 with 100 percent funding from ACF/HHS and 0 percent funded by non-governmental sources. The contents of this press release are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

About InvolvedDad InvolvedDad is a Flint-based nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families by supporting fathers through trauma-informed education, accountability-based programming, and community partnerships. The organization works primarily with men impacted by the judicial system, family court, and reentry, with a mission to promote healthy relationships, responsible fatherhood, and long-term family stability.

About Motherly Intercession Motherly Intercession is a Genesee County nonprofit committed to restorative healing, reentry support, and family strengthening for individuals impacted by incarceration. Through relationship education and trauma-informed programming, the organization works to break cycles of harm and support successful reintegration into families and communities.

Media Contact: Jordan E. Brown VP, SIPI, Inc. 810–240–4804 I jordan@sipi-inc.com