The REFRAME project aimed to deepen understanding of the needs and experiences of Black fathers, families, couples, and youth served by Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) programs and identify research priorities and program strategies to ensure program services can effectively support their needs.
The project will explored how HMRF grantees can work to address the barriers and circumstances created by racial inequity through HMRF programs, including making HMRF programming more equitable for Black fathers, families, couples, and youth, and providing a compassionate, solutions-based space that appropriately reflects on the strengths and resilience of Black families. The contract engaged with stakeholders, experts, and communities; synthesized evidence on pertinent topics on how racism and historic disparities affect Black fathers, families, couples, and youth in HMRF programs; identified future research priorities to support ongoing work in this area; developed resources on how HMRF programs can ensure their services are equitable and reflective of the needs of Black families; and synthesized current evidence on the strengths of Black men, families, and youth and positive contributions to their families and communities. Insight Policy Research/Westat was a subcontractor to MEF on this project.