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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, August 24, 2007
Contact: Tara Wall
(202) 401-9215
Grants Announced For Hawaii and Pacific Region Native Groups
WASHINGTON , D.C. ---The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today announced the award of $2.2 million in new grants (subject to the availability of appropriations) to 12 Native organizations in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The grant awards were announced today by Quanah Crossland Stamps, commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in Honolulu, Hawaii during an address to Native leaders, federal and state representatives and community members at the Joint Convention of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development.
“These grants by the Bush Administration support economic self-sufficiency for Native communities throughout the Pacific region,” commissioner Stamps said. “They show our commitment to providing project support at the community level, which will make a positive difference in the lives of Native children, youth and families.”
Commissioner Stamps’ Hawaii trip included site visits to ANA-funded projects and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Today’s $2.2 million award announcement brings the total ANA funding in the Pacific Region, to over $ 5 million. The competitive project grant awards promote economic self-sufficiency, healthy marriage, Native language and culture preservation.
The new grants include:
Social and Economic Development Strategies grants
- $93,308 for one year to 'Aha Kukui O Molokai to educate 135 Native Hawaiians (80 youth and 55 adults) through 10 workshops to increase the transfer of traditional knowledge among community members by incorporating the use of outrigger canoes.
- $223,622 for two years to the America Samoa Soil and Water Conservation District to provide engineering and conservation planning services to assist hog owners in complying with regulations that protect human health and the environment.
- $760,184 for two years to the Hawaiian Community Assets to educate eligible applicants for Hawaiian home lands who do not meet the financial requirements of the program.
- $157,327 for one year to the Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch, in the Northern Mariana Islands, for preservation of Mariana’s cultural and traditional practice of traditional healing by the development of a healer’s directory and a public awareness campaign.
- $73,162 for one year to the Ma Ka Hana Ka 'Ike building program to train Native Hawaiian at-risk youth on backhoe operations by accomplishing community based projects.
- $464,690 for two years to the Native American Samoan Advisory Council to revitalize and restore native Siapo history.
- $994,685 for three years to the Partners in Development to partner with the Ka Pa’alana Traveling Preschool and Homeless Outreach to improve the math and science skills of preschool-aged native children through a culturally sensitive curriculum targeted to children in poverty.
- $118,464 for one year to the Pasifika Foundation Hawi'i, Inc. to complete a survey, analysis and mapping of tourism assets.
- $539,564 for two years to the Wai'anae Coast Coalition for Human Services to assess which cultural activities and services Native Hawaiian families require or want through surveys, focus groups and by interviewing residents.
- $104,250 for one year to the Waipa Foundation to develop community-based built and natural assets at Waipa, and to provide programs utilizing those assets to strengthen the Hawaiian communities in the Halele’a district of Kaua’i.
Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Grant
- $148,106 for one year to the Guam Community College to identify, plan and design four scripts in the Chamarro language for use in media-based learning modules.
Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative Grant
$893,479 for five years to the Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Centers to serve 400 couples located on the islands of Maui and Oahu by providing healthy marriage workshops utilizing the Loving Couples Loving Children curriculum, and to develop a public awareness campaign by implementing community kick-offs and year-end celebrations.
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Note: All ACF news releases, fact sheets and other materials are available at www.acf.hhs.gov/opa/index.html.