AZYP is Arizona’s only recipient of the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) grant!

Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP) is proud to announce that we have been selected as the only grantee in Arizona for the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) grant, awarded by the Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Family and Economic Stability Demonstration and Innovation Division (FED Innovation Division). This highly competitive national grant supports programs that help youth and families build and sustain healthy relationships, strong marriages, and positive father-child interactions—all essential components of long-term family and community well-being. 

Through this funding, AZYP will launch Project READY (Relationship Education & Development for Youth), designed to strengthen the foundation of healthy relationships among high school students across five Arizona counties: Gila, Navajo, Mohave, Pinal, and Pima. With a special focus on rural communities, Project READY will use a systems-level approach to bring relationship education directly into schools and community spaces, ensuring both youth and educators have the tools to foster strong, respectful, and supportive relationships while learning skills that support successful transitions to adulthood. 

The initiative is part of the Relationships, Education, Advancement, and Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life) opportunity under the HMRF program. This effort aims to help youth, particularly those in high school (grades 9–12) and early adulthood (ages 18–24), develop skills to navigate relationships, understand the value of marriage and family formation, and prepare for a successful transition into adulthood. 

Project READY will incorporate evidence-based curricula to teach essential life and relationship skills such as communication, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and decision-making. But the project extends beyond the classroom – it involves school staff, peer groups, and community awareness campaigns to create lasting change and promote a culture of healthy connections among youth. 

“Strong relationships are the cornerstone of thriving communities,” said Gauri Gladish, CEO of Arizona Youth Partnership.  Through Project READY, we’re equipping young people with the knowledge and tools they need to build healthy relationships in high school and for their future. Learning the importance of these skills during high school years creates a strong foundation for setting healthy relationship expectations, fostering stable families in the future, and contributing positively to the communities they call home. 

Arizona Youth Partnership is honored to bring this impactful program to youth across the state. As the sole Arizona recipient of this federal award, AZYP remains committed to empowering youth to harness their strengths, make positive choices, and live healthy, purposeful lives. 

Stay tuned for more information about Project READY, including updates on program activities, partnerships, and the launch of our new Project READY webpage—coming soon to www.azyp.org!