TANF funds; DHS shall use certain amount of each year to fund grants for providing marriage counseling to military and first responder families.

HB 1217 requires Mississippi’s Department of Human Services to set aside $10 million annually from federal TANF block grant funds to provide grants for marriage counseling, preparation, and support services. The program specifically targets nonprofit organizations serving military families (including National Guard and Reserves) and first responder families (firefighters, EMTs, police, etc.). This funding must supplement, not replace, existing resources for these services. The bill mandates that TANF funds be allocated this way each fiscal year, subject to federal rules and state appropriations.