ACF Awards Nearly $41 Million to Native American Communities and Organization

November 30, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, November 30, 2009
Contact: Kenneth J. Wolfe
(202) 401-9215

HHS’ Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Administration for Native Americans (ANA) announced today the award of nearly $41 million in grants to Native American communities and organizations located in 28 states, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“The grants we are announcing today are just one part of our work to bring new opportunities to Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We will do all we can to help improve local economies, create jobs and improve health care.”

ANA awarded over $21.6 million in new grants to 118 tribes and Native American organizations serving American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. In addition to new grant funding $19.1 million was awarded to 99 grantees to continue multi-year projects.

The awards include Social and Economic Development Strategies grants designed to reduce dependency and strengthen communities through economic development by providing job training, encouraging financial literacy and asset building and promoting home ownership.

They also include Native Language Preservation and Maintenance and Immersion grants for preserving and enhancing Native languages. From developing language curricula and providing language education and certification to prospective teachers; to teaching children, youth and adults, preschool through college; to offering intergenerational mentoring activities involving youth and elders, language projects help continue the use of Native languages and promote cultural awareness.

Finally, they include grants funded under the Environmental Regulatory Enhancement program area that are involved in a broad range of activities to further the overall goal of restoring, protecting and preserving natural and cultural resources, and environmental heritage, for current and future generations.    

“These grants bring us one step closer to strengthening Native communities and opening doors to new opportunities for Native American children, youth and families,” said Carmen R. Nazario, HHS assistant secretary for children and families.
  
ANA was established under the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (NAPA) and provides discretionary and competitive grant funding to assist in the planning, development, and implementation of short-term community-based projects (averaging one to three years) that result in social and economic benefits supporting healthy children, families and communities.

For more information on the Administration for Native Americans please visit: /programs/ana/.

Contact

Administration for Children & Families
Office of Communications
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Phone: (202) 401-9215
Fax: (202) 205-9688
Email: media@acf.hhs.gov

Program Office: