ACF awards $41.6 million to Native American communities and organizations

October 8, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, October 8, 2010
Contact: Kenneth J. Wolfe
(202) 401-9215

HHS’ Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Administration for Native Americans (ANA) announced today the award of $41.6 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 ANA grants we are announcing today are an important part of our efforts to bring new opportunities to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders,” said David A. Hansell, Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. “Our goal is to strengthen local economies, create jobs and improve health care.”

ANA awarded over $14.2 million in new grants to 74 Tribes and Native American organizations serving American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders including American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In addition to new grant funding, nearly $27.4 million was awarded to 136 multi-year grantees.

The awards include Social and Economic Development Strategies grants designed to not only strengthen families and promote the health and well-being of communities by implementing services that promote responsible fatherhood, healthy relationships, elder care, and access to quality health care; but also designed to promote economic self-sufficiency by providing opportunities in business development and job training, encouraging financial literacy and asset building, and promoting home ownership.

Also awarded were Native Language Preservation and Maintenance and Immersion grants for preserving Native language and culture.  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, grants were also funded under the Environmental Regulatory Enhancement program area.  These projects 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 grant awards will provide significant resources Native American communities need in order to reach their full potential,” said Lillian Sparks, Commissioner for the Administration for Native Americans. 

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 implementations 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/

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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: