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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, September 1, 2006
Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215
Administration for Children and Families Awards $5.1 Million to 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 $5,160,356 in new grant awards to seven Native organizations in Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The awards were made this week during site visits by ACF’s Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans, Quanah Crossland Stamps. The Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) grants for fiscal year 2006 are designed to strengthen Native communities throughout the Pacific region.
“The Bush Administration is dedicated to empowering Native communities,” said Dr. Wade F. Horn, HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. “These grants will give more opportunities to Native families by providing resources and programs that safeguard the health and economic well-being of Native people.”
Currently, ANA has grant projects in the Pacific Region, including American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands, totaling $10,939,889 for social and economic development and language preservation projects. Today’s award announcement is in addition to the current projects bringing the total amount of ANA grant funding in the region to $16,100,245.
“There is a significant need for social and economic development for Native communities throughout Hawaii and the Pacific Basin,” said Commissioner Stamps. “These grant awards promote the Bush Administration’s goal of self-sufficiency for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and provide funding for unique community projects that make a difference in the lives of our Native children, youth and families.”
Today’s awards to the Pacific Region include the following:
- $825,966 for three years to Pa’a Taotao Tano’ in Guam, for a cultural performing arts project;
- $150,000 for one year to Hui Malama o Mo‘omomi in Hawaii, for a marine conservation project;
- $200,000 for one year to Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Center in Hawaii, to establish a cultural and educational learning center for low to moderate income Native Hawaiian families on Oahu;
- $872,230 for three years to the Native Hawaiian Tourism & Hospitality Association in Hawaii, for a project to “Shape the Future of Tourism”;
- $1,062,601 for three years to Na Kamalei-Ko’olauLoa Early Education Program in Hawaii, to increase the quality of learning environments for all children, including diverse learner/special needs;
- $1,149,559 for three years to the Neighborhood Place of Wailuku, Inc. in Hawaii, for a family strengthening program; and
- $900,000 for three years to Northern Marianas College, in the Northern Marianas, for an inter-island distance learning network.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news