JUNEAU (AP) – State officials plan to distribute $500,000 in grants as part of a federal program to promote healthy marriages but which excludes same-sex couples and is being criticized by a national advocacy group.

Alaska funding for President Bush’s $1.5 billion Healthy Marriages Initiative will be doled out by the state Department of Health and Social Services in grants of up to $50,000.

“Healthy marriages are the foundation of our society and this funding will provide many tools to Alaskans to improve their ability to enjoy a successful future together with their families,” Commissioner Joel Gilbertson said in a statement.

The initiative was started in 2002 to promote marriage and give couples access to marriage education services.

Bob Buttcane, an ordained minister and coordinator of faith-based community initiatives for the state, said grant proposals are due by Sept. 15. He said the department is hoping to complete a review of the proposals and award funding by early October.

“We are looking for proposals that might include education programs directed toward high school students on the value of marriage and relationship skills,” Buttcane said. “Perhaps programs that would focus on engaged couples or couples interested in marriage.”

The president of the National Organization for Women called the program a pork-barrel project for right-wing religious organizations, and that it was not the government’s job to promote marriage.

“This administration has decided that the solution to poverty is just to marry off all the poor women,” said Kim Gandy. “A good use of this money is giving poor women the skills and education to be self-supporting and self-sufficient to take care of their children.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site says same-sex couples are not eligible for marriage services under the program, but are eligible for other forms of public assistance.