Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

Family Bridges, a minority-owned nonprofit organization based in Wheaton, Illinois, received a $700,000 Cooperative Agreement awarded September 30, 2025, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families under the Healthy Marriage Promotion and Responsible Fatherhood Grants program (CFDA 93.086). The five-year award, effective through September 29, 2030, funds the "Bridging Forward (HEART - Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive)" initiative, which delivers culturally competent, evidence-based marriage and relationship education services to couples across Cook, DuPage, and Kane Counties in Illinois.

The project provides a 12-hour evidence-based curriculum delivered through cohort-based workshops, complemented by case management and optional mentoring support. Services are designed to strengthen communication and conflict resolution skills while promoting economic stability among participating families. Over the project period, Family Bridges expects to serve 880 individuals comprising 440 couples, with a target completion rate of at least 90% of primary workshops. The organization leverages trusted community partners to ensure accessible, culturally appropriate services to underserved populations in the Chicago metropolitan area.