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White House Initiative O

n Asian Americans

and Pacific Islanders

Guide to Federal Agency Resources

Promoting a Healthy, Vibrant Asian American

and Pacific Islander Community

First Edition, September 2011

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White House Initia

tive On Asian Americans

and Pacific Islanders

Guide to Federal Agency Resources

Promoting a Healthy, Vibrant Asian American

and Pacific Islander Community

First Edition, September 2011

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The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Arne Duncan

Co-Chair

Secretary of Education

Christopher Lu

Co-Chair

Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

Gary Locke

U.S. Ambassador to China, former Secretary of Commerce and Co-Chair

Kiran Ahuja

Executive Director

Miya Saika Chen

Senior Advisor and Principal Author

September 2011

This report is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the citation should be: White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Guide to Federal Agency Resources, Washington, D.C., 2011.

This guide is available on the White House website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/aapi.

To order copies of this guide:

write to: ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304;

or fax your request to: 703-605-6794

or email your request to: edpubs@edpubs.ed.gov;

or call in your request toll-free: 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-PUBS). Those who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter (TTY), should call 1-877-576-7734. If 877 service is not yet available in your area, call 1-800-872-5327 or 1-800-USA-LEARN

(TTY: 1-800-437-0833);

or order online at: http://www.edpubs.gov.

On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille, large print, or computer diskette. For more information, please contact the Department’s Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0852 or 202-260-0818.

Language assistance services:

If you have difficulty understanding English you may request language assistance services. These services are available free of charge. If you need more information about interpretation or translation services, or need to request such services please call 202-453-7277 or write to: White House Initiative on AAPIs, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202.

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contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Searching for Federal Assistance and Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Resources by Federal Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

U.S. Department of Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

U.S. Department of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Grantee Spotlight: Foxit Corporation, Fremont, Calif. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

U.S. Department of Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Grantee Spotlight: South Seattle Community College AANAPISI Program, Seattle, Wash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

U.S. Department of Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Grantee Spotlight: HOPE Clinic, Houston, Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Grantee Spotlight: MA’O Organic Farms, Wai’anae, Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

U.S. Department of Homeland Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

U.S. Department of the Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

U.S. Department of Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Grantee Spotlight: Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence, San Francisco, Calif. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

U.S. Department of Labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Grantee Spotlight: Asian Immigrant Women’s Advocates, Oakland, Calif. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

U.S. Department of Treasury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Grantee Spotlight: Asian Human Services, Chicago, Ill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Additional Federal Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Corporation for National and Community Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Environmental Protection Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Grantee Spotlight: International District Housing Alliance, Seattle, Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Small Business Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Social Security Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Grantee Spotlight: Pacific American Foundation, Kailua, Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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introduction

According to the most recent U.S. Census figures, there are over 17 mil-

lion Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in the United States

today. As one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse groups in

the country, AAPIs trace their heritage to over 30 different countries and

ethnic groups and speak over 100 languages and dialects. From 2000 to

2010, Asian Americans experienced a 43 percent increase and Native

Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders experienced a 30 percent increase in

population.

To help understand what these changing demographics mean for the

“As a small grassroots

federal government, President Obama reauthorized the White House

organization with little experience

Initiative on AAPIs on Oct. 14, 2009, to improve the quality of life of

in applying for federal grants

AAPIs by better connecting them with federally available programs and

protections. Although AAPIs have helped build a strong and vibrant U.S.,

and limited knowledge of the

many still face linguistic isolation, poverty, immigration issues, and other

technical language used in grant

barriers to achieving their full potential.

applications, the process was a

This Guide to Federal Agency Resources is an easy-to-use navigational tool

bit scary at first … My advice for

on federal funding, programs, and resources. It is by no means compre-

those interested in this program is

hensive, but it is meant to provide a brief snapshot of federal resources

to seek out support and guidance

available to assist organizations and individuals seeking to improve the

quality of life of AAPIs. Within this guide, individuals and organizations

from the community and local

can find such information as grant opportunities for nonprofit organiza-

decision makers.”

tions, loan programs to help start a business, federal resources for food

and housing for low-income individuals, and health-care programs for

— EPA Grantee, Seattle, Wash.,

veterans.

September, 2011.

For each federal entity highlighted, the first section provides a short

description of online search engines for federal government grants.

Each subsequent section provides an overview of the federal agency,

selected services and programs that agency offers, and links to additional

resources. This guide also includes 10 Grantee Spotlights, featuring

organizations and individuals who have successfully navigated the federal

grant application process and can offer advice, by example, to prospective

applicants.

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

1

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searching for federal assistance

and grants

Grants administered by federal agencies differ by eligibility requirements, award

amount, application process, and timing. Two online resources can help you

determine what types of funding are available and how to apply for that funding.

Grants.gov is the primary source of information and mode of submitting applications for federal grants and awards of financial assistance, administered through

1,000 programs and 26 federal grant-making agencies to recipients carrying out

a public purpose of support or stimulation. In FY2009, Grants.gov received over 300,000 application submissions. Users must complete the Grants.gov registration process, which requires organizations to obtain a Data Universal Number

System (DUNS) number and to register with the Central Contractor Registry

(CCR). There is a user guide available, and for general questions, call: 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. Note: The registration process takes approximately three to five business days.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is a governmentwide compen-

dium of all federal programs available to state and local governments; domestic

public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institu-

tions; specialized groups; and individuals. Organizations may utilize the CFDA

to identify programs and information on federal financial and nonfinancial

assistance; however, only government agencies can apply for grants on the CFDA

website directly. There is a user guide available, and individuals may purchase the CFDA by contacting the U.S. Superintendent of Documents at 1-866-512-1800

or the U.S. Government Printing Office’s online bookstore. For assistance using the CFDA website, you may contact the Federal Service Desk or call 1-866-606-8220.

The Federal Register is the official daily publication of the federal government and provides Notices of Funds Available (NOFA). The U.S. Government Printing

Office’s Federal Register database makes it easy to search for updates and informa-

tion on the most recent grant and award opportunities.

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“Don’t be discouraged and keep on writing. If you are not

successful, try again!”

— DOJ, OVW Grantee, Des Moines, Iowa, September 2011.

Grantee Spotlight: Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa

Federal Program: Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services for Victims

Program; DOJ, OVW

Monsoon was formed in 2003 as a culturally specific advocacy group under the auspices of the Iowa

Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The group aims to provide services to Asian victims and survivors of

domestic violence and sexual assault in Iowa, which include violence prevention, community outreach,

engaging youths to stop violence against women and girls, and providing direct services to survivors and

victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Executive Director and Cofounder Mira Yusef explains her experience applying for Grants to Enhance

Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual

Assault and Stalking Program (CLSSP), and Sexual Assault Services Program—Grants to Culturally

Specific Programs (SASP-CLSP).

We heard about these grants through two national advocacy organizations, the Asian Pacific Islander

Institute on Domestic Violence and the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual As-

sault. With these grants, we were able to hire a full-time Mobile Multilingual Advocate Coordinator,

two part-time Mobile Multilingual Advocates based in satellite locations, a part-time Community Out-

reach Coordinator, two Advocacy Interns and 10-20 on-call Mobile Multilingual Advocates located

throughout Iowa to facilitate a statewide effort. The SASP-CLSP is directed towards victims across

their lifespan, with specific attention to culture and generation. Our “Unburdening Our Mothers Oral

History Project,” is intended to dismantle the shroud of silence hanging over sexual assault among

API elders. To further encourage discourse about sexual assault within younger generations, up to

30 youth peer-to-peer counselors and outreach staff will be hired and trained over three years.

OVW provides valuable technical assistance to prospective grantees throughout the application

process. OVW hosts calls to assist through the process, and the grant manager is also available to

provide assistance if needed. The most difficult part of the application process was obtaining the

DUNS number. I actually enjoyed the process, but I have to say, I may be an aberration!

For those who would like to apply for this grant, I advise you to consult with other organizations for

best practice advice, and shape them to fit your community’s needs. Don’t be discouraged and keep

on writing. If you are not successful, try again!

For more information on OVW programs, visit here.

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

3

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resources by federal department

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

How it can assist AAPIs

The USDA is a federal agency with a broad range of responsibilities including: serving the hungry, sup-

porting development in rural communities, preserving the environment through conservation programs,

monitoring food safety, and supporting American farmers, ranchers, and consumers.

Food and Nutrition Services programs help one in every five Americans get the nutrition they need. USDA relies on state governments and local organizations to help get food to low-income households. Some of the

most relevant programs to AAPI communities include:

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. On the SNAP website you’ll find an Eligibility Pre-Screening Tool, which

can help determine if you may be eligible to receive SNAP benefits, and a Community Partner Outreach

Toolkit, which is full of great resources and how-tos.

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program awards grants to states, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for

certain foods at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs.

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions.

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be

at nutritional risk. Currently, about 9 million individuals participate in this nutrition assistance program.

The Farm to School Initiative is an effort to connect schools (K–12) with regional or local farms to serve healthy meals using locally produced foods.

Direct grants for nonprofit organizations and loan

opportunities from agencies within USDA are available.

The 2007 Census of

Eligibility varies, with some available to nonprofit organiza-

Agriculture shows that U.S.

tions and local governments, and others for individuals and

businesses. Organizations can apply directly for grants on

farmers and ranchers are

the Grants.gov website (see more on Grants.gov on page 2).

becoming more diverse and

that the number of Asian

The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program

operators grew 40 percent from

(CFP) funds nonprofit organizations to meet the food needs

2002, significantly outpacing

of low-income people by increasing their communities’ ca-

pacities to provide enough food for its residents. To be con-

the 7 percent increase in U.S.

sidered competitive for a CFP grant, organizations should

operators overall.

have experience in community food work, job training, and

business development in low-income communities, and the

application has a dollar-for-dollar matching requirement.

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Applicants should also demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers and other practitio-

ners. Projects can be funded from one to three years.

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program provides funds to organizations which offer risk management training to limited resource, socially disadvantaged,

traditionally underserved (including women), and beginning farmers and ranchers. RMA staff work closely

with grantees and help to implement the program activities. Funding amounts and educational topics

change annually and new focus areas are announced in the Federal Register.

The Farmers Market Promotion Program grants are designed to increase marketing opportunities for farmers to sell directly to consumers through farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) pro-

grams, retail markets, and other direct marketing initiatives. These grants can go to nonprofits, agricultural cooperatives or producer associations, loca