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

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

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.

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

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

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.

2

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

“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

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.

4

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

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, local governments, economic development corporations, regional

farmers’ market authorities, public benefit corporations, and tribal governments. Visit the website to read the full application requirements, review previously-funded programs, and see two recently released tools

to assist organizations with the grant-writing process: a pre-application guide and a presentation on grant-

writing regarding this program.

The National Organic Program (NOP) regulates the well-known “USDA Organic” label and ensures that customers are buying what is promised with that label. For farmers, NOP regulates what is allowed and not

allowed under the USDA Organic label, as well as provides technical assistance and cost sharing to receive

official organic accreditation. The USDA strategic plan calls for a 25 percent increase in organic production by 2015.

The Rural Development Agency (RD) has various grant and loan programs to help develop housing, com-

munity facilities, and businesses in small towns and rural communities (with exact definition of “rural”

varying depending on program). Organizations can apply directly for grants on the Grants.gov website (see more on Grants.gov on page 2), but there is a wealth of information and technical assistance at state and local RD offices, which should be your first stop. RD administers programs, including Value-Added Producer

Grants, Rural Business Enterprise Grants, Rural Business Opportunity Grants, Rural Cooperative Develop-

ment Grants, and Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grants.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has a leadership role in developing partnerships to help America’s private landowners conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. Certain programs also

provide financial assistance for agricultural producers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and pests. For example, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative provides technical and financial assistance and equipment to farmers transitioning to organic production. Local

NRCS offices can help create a conservation plan that will preserve farmland, protect natural resources, and reduce soil erosion.

Civil rights protection and enforcement prohibits discrimination against USDA’s customers on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from a public assistance program. To file a program

discrimination complaint, you may visit the website, call 202-260-1026 or 1-866- 632-9992 (toll-free), send an email to CR-INFO@ascr.usda.gov, or write a letter to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

5

Department of Commerce (DOC)

How it can assist AAPIs

The DOC works to improve economic conditions that foster entrepreneurship and innovation within the

U.S. and create global competitiveness and opportunities. DOC has 12 bureaus that administer programs

in areas that include foreign trade, technology, economic development, and environmental stewardship.

DOC services provide economic data about U.S. companies, statistical details about neighborhoods, and

patent and trademark protection for inventors and businesses.

The Minority Business Development

Agency (MBDA) assists minority-

With 1.5 million AAPI-owned businesses in the

owned businesses by providing compa-

nies with tools to access capital, contract

U.S. generating more than $507 billion dollars

opportunities, and business consultants

in sales and employing more than 2.8 million

through its network of nearly 50 minor-

workers, success of AAPI-owned businesses is

ity business centers around the country

critical to the overall economy. Between 2002

that offer local experts who can help

write business plans and marketing

and 2007, the number of U.S. businesses owned

strategies; help locate capital and other

by Asian Americans increased by 40.4 percent, —

funding resources; and provide techni-

more than twice the national rate.

cal assistance and financial planning to

assure sufficient financing for business

ventures. MBDA focuses on firms that

— U.S. Census Bureau, Census Bureau Reports the generate $1 million or more in annual

Number of Asian-Owned Businesses Increased at

revenue. While MBDA will assist any

More Than Twice the National Rate, April 2011.

business seeking help, it often will refer

smaller businesses, especially those start-

ing out, to the Small Business Adminis-

tration (SBA) (for more on the SBA see

page 34).

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) promotes the economic revitalization of distressed communities by providing grant-based investments that attract private capital and create higher-skill,

higher-wage jobs. EDA fosters two key elements through its six regional offices: groundbreaking innovation by entrepreneurs, and regional collaboration between government entities, nonprofit organizations,

education institutions, and Indian tribes. Among EDA’s programs and investment priorities are:

n Economic Adjustment Assistance, EDA’s most flexible program tool, provides funding to communities to develop strategic plans, deliver technical assistance, or establish or recapitalize revolving loan

funds, to address critical economic development needs in the wake of severe disruptions to their

economies.

n The University Center Economic Development program provides strategic investments to help institutions of higher education promote the regional ecosystem and facilitate collaboration among

regional stakeholders to foster economic development

6

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

The exporting of goods and services has increasingly become a next step for many AAPI entrepreneurs

wanting to expand their businesses. More than 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside U.S. borders, according to the International Trade Administration, which oversees Export.gov, and provides tools for small business owners on how to enter the exporting industry, including:

n An online assessment to help determine whether a business is ready to pursue international sales.

n A webinar on basic information on exporting, product readiness, market research, and how to best

comply with foreign regulations.

AAPI business owners can get export help and counseling through the Export Assistance Centers available in more than 100 cities. The offices are staffed by trade professionals who provide counseling and services

with an emphasis on small- and mid-sized businesses.

Businesses wanting to protect their inventions, brand names, or symbols identifying their goods and services can do so through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

n Each year, USPTO receives about 350,000 patent applications, most of them for utility patents. For

information on the application process, visit: http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process or call: 1-800-786-9199.

n Trademarks include words, names, symbols, or devices used to identify the goods and services of one

business from those produced or sold by others. The trademark database can be found at http://tess2.

uspto.gov. The application can be filed online at http://www.uspto.gov/teas.

Along with the once-every-decade head-

count, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts

S TAT I S T I C S

more than 100 monthly and annual

The Asian-alone population grew faster than any other

surveys that gather data about housing,

transportation, education, employment,

major race group in the last census: Up 43 percent from

veterans services, public health care,

2000 to 2010. The single-race Native Hawaiian and

rural development, and the environment.

Other Pacific Islander population increased by more

Census data provides everything from

a neighborhood’s average home value,

than one-third between censuses.

commute times, and residential diversity,

to unemployment figures and statistics on

— U.S. Census Bureau, Presentation to the White House Initia-

health insurance coverage, to what foreign

tive on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, May 2011.

languages are spoken at home and in

which cities. Among the more frequently

used Census surveys:

n The annual American Community Survey measures demographic, social, and economic characteristics that help describe the way we live and where we work.

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

7

n The Census of Governments provides an overview of the lives of those whose livelihoods are supported by tax dollars—state and local government employees—and the financial state of the entities

they work for.

n The Survey of Income and Program Participation collects data on incomes, employers, health-care costs, and such government programs as food assistance and subsidized housing.

n The Survey of Business Owners gathers data on the gender, ethnicity, race, and veteran status of the people running businesses in the United States.

Grantee Spotlight: Foxit Corporation, Fremont, Calif.

Federal Program: Minority Business Development Administration; DOC

With a limited command of English and even less understanding of U.S. small business financing,

Eugene Y. Xiong came to the U.S. in 1994 from China and set out to achieve the American dream. The

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) assisted Xiong’s Foxit Corporation in becoming a multi-

million-dollar company, which produces an alternative to Adobe for PDF users, with customers including

Microsoft, Intel and Hewlett Packard. Mr. Xiong never heard of MBDA before his banker referred him

to the MBDA’s San Jose Business Center after failed attempts to obtain loans and other financing. He

recalls the first question he asked MBDA: How much will this cost me? The answer: Nothing. Mr. Xiong

remembers the assistance he received from MBDA to grow his successful business.

When we were tight on cash flow, MBDA helped us find the right banking service, and we got the

right cash that we needed to grow our business. They have been constantly in contact with us and

provide consulting and referral services. We also received information about the government pro-

curement process.

I didn’t know there were government services like this. I wish I had learned about this earlier. This is the kind of service that people need to know about. My advice to small, minority-owned businesses,

like my own, is this: Do not hesitate in seeing what resources the government can offer you.

More about MBDA and its services can be found at http://www.mbda.gov.

Department of Education (ED)

How it can assist AAPIs

ED establishes and executes the president’s education policy, implements laws enacted by Congress, and

administers and coordinates federal assistance to education. ED’s elementary and secondary programs an-

nually serve more than 14,000 school districts and approximately 56 million students attending some 97,000

schools and 28,000 private schools. Its programs also provide grant, loan, and work-study assistance to ap-

proximately 11 million postsecondary students.

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) administers all programs for the country’s elementary and secondary schools. Below are programs relevant to students and community organizations.

n 21st Century Community Learning Centers provide academic enrichment opportunities during nonschool hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

schools. Formula grants are provided to state education agencies (SEAs) and are sub-granted to local

education agencies (LEAs), nonprofit organizations, or other public or private entities.

n The Native Hawaiian Education Program promotes innovative programs and supplemental education services (including early education, literacy, and postsecondary programs) for Native Hawaiians.

Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply directly.

n The Education for Homeless Children and Youth Grants for state and local activities gather comprehensive information about homeless children and youths and provides grants to SEAs to ensure that

homeless children have equal access to free and appropriate public education.

n The Teacher Incentive Fund supports development of performance-based teacher and principal compensation systems in high-need schools. SEAs, LEAs, and nonprofit organizations may apply.

n The Race to the Top awards SEAs that are leading the way with ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform.

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) administers over 60 programs that increase access to quality postsecondary education.

n The Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions program and the Asian American and

Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) program helps eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) increase their self-sufficiency and expand their capacity to serve

low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institu-

tional management, and fiscal stability of eligible IHEs.

n The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) supports innovative projects, reforms, and improvements in U.S. postsecondary education. Nonprofit organizations are eligible to

apply directly.

n The College Access Challenge Grant Program helps low-income students succeed in postsecondary education by funding SEA programs to: provide information to students and families regarding

postsecondary education and career preparation; promote financial literacy and debt management;

conduct outreach activities; and other activities.

n Federal TRIO Programs include eight programs at IHEs and community organizations targeted to serve low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to

progress from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. Programs include Talent Search, Up-

ward Bound, and Student Support Services.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) administers grants, loans, and work-study assistance to postsecondary students. Students interested in any of these programs must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

n The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education.

n Other Federal Student Aid grants including the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher

Education Grants (TEACH) can be found here.

n The Federal Direct Student Loan Program provides loans directly to students for undergraduate and graduate studies, through participating postsecondary schools, with funds borrowed from the

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9

U.S. Treasury. Direct Loans include subsidized and unsubsidized loans, PLUS loans for parents and

graduate or professional degree students, and consolidation loans, which allow borrowers to combine

federal education loan debt.

n Federal Work-Study programs provide part-time employment for students while they are enrolled in school. Students are paid directly for their work and schools are responsible for administering the

program.

n The Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers forgives up to a combined total of $17,500 in principal and interest on loans by individuals who teach full-time for five consecutive, complete

academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools that serve low-income families. Students

may also be eligible to defer or cancel loans.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. OCR serves students facing discrimination and the advocates

and institutions promoting systemic solutions to civil rights problems. To file a complaint: You may contact an OCR enforcement office, call 1-800-421-3481, or use the online complaint form.

n ED, along with the departments of Defense, Justice, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and the

Interior form the Obama Administrations Inter-Agency Task Force on Bullying and launched both

the Stop Bul ying Now Campaign and http://www.bullyinginfo.org, a national database of effective anti-bullying programs.

Grantee Spotlight: South Seattle Community College; Seattle, Wash.

Federal Program: Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving

Institution (AANAPISI); ED

South Seattle Community College (South) is located in a diverse residential neighborhood in southwest

Seattle. It is the lowest income area in the Pacific Northwest. AAPIs comprise the largest group of color

on campus at 23 percent of the student population. However, less than 3 percent of the surrounding

AAPI community is enrolled, with most students coming from other parts of the country.

In 2008, South’s vice president of Student Services read about the AANAPISI program in a local news-

paper. Subsequently, with the help of a Community Advisory Committee formed by South’s president and

an institutional development consultant, they submitted a successful application and became one of the

first six recipients in the country to receive the AANAPISI designation and funding.

South’s AANAPISI grant focused on breaking down the barriers to access, retention, and success of

AAPI students. Strategies included the development of culturally relevant programs that acknowledge

the importance of family; engaging students through pedagogically sensitive learning communities; pro-

viding role models and mentoring; providing resources to transition to college level course work, offering

two new degree options, and the development of a virtual website of promising practices and resources

to support the success of AAPIs in higher education.

For institutions of higher education interested in the AANAPISI program, South recommends finding a

strong internal champion and enlisting a campus coordinator to pull together a team and information to de-

velop the grant. Institutions should also get input from their AAPI community and work to debunk the Model

Minority Myth. To learn more about South’s AANAPISI program, visit http://www.aapiherc.southseattle.edu/.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Department of Energy (DOE)

How it can assist AAPIs

DOE advances science and technology in disciplines relevant to energy, the environment, and security.

DOE supports a wide range of basic and applied scientific research. For example, through the Office of

Science, DOE offers research grants and contracts for universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit commercial organizations, state and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals. The Advanced Research

Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) provides funding opportunities for the research and development of high-risk and high-reward advanced energy technologies. DOE also supports Science, Technology, Engi-

neering, and Mathematics (STEM) education to recruit new K–12 teachers, enhance existing STEM teacher knowledge and skills, and provide greater STEM education for students.

Energy efficiency: DOE works with state governments to fund a network of community action agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local governments to provide weatherization information and services,

including weatherization of low-income homes. Consumers can get tax credits for home energy efficiency improvements, residential renewable energy, and automobiles. DOE provides homeowners with energy saving tips in the Energy Savers booklet.

Loans and grants are available for small business innovation, training program development, energy efficient technology, lighting, and advanced energy manufacturing for industrial, commercial and residential

energy efficiency purposes. Rebates and tax credits are also offered for energy-efficient businesses using

renewable energy. The Loan Programs Office guarantees loans for eligible clean energy projects and provides direct loans to eligible manufacturers of advanced technology vehicles and components.

The Office of Procurement and Assistance Management (OPAM) oversees policies and procedures for all DOE contracting, financial assistance, and business-related activities. OPAM’s website offers a thorough compendium of links to information on doing business with DOE. Small businesses seeking grants can participate in the Office of Science’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) Program. The Office of Economic Impact and Diversity works with minority-owned and other small businesses to advance DOE’s mission.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

How it can assist AAPIs

HHS is the principal agency for protecting the health of all individuals and providing essential human

services. HHS administers more funding opportunities than all other federal agencies combined, with 400

grant programs across 18 agencies. Many HHS-funded programs are provided or administered at the local

level by state or county agencies in conjunction with community organizations and the private sector.

HHS is responsible for implementing many components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed into law on March 23, 2010, which gives Americans greater access and control in their health-care choices.

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11

The passage of the ACA enhances HHS’ charge to reduce health disparities through the development of offices of Minority Health in six agencies within HHS. The HHS Action Plan to Reduce Health Disparities and the National Stakeholder Strat-

egy for Achieving Health Equity outline goals and actions, as well as public and private sector initiatives, to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) works in partnership with communities and organizations in the public and private sectors to improve

the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through develop-

AAPI women between the ages of

ment of health policies and programs that will help eliminate health dis-

15-24 have the highest rates of suicide

parities. OMH programs address disease prevention, health promotion,

among women in that age group, and

risk reduction, healthier lifestyle choices, use of health-care services,

and barriers to health care. OMH also administers grant programs to

AAPI women over 65 have the highest

support community organizations and science-based efforts to eliminate

rates of suicide among all races in that

health disparities. Call 1-800-444-6472 for more information.

age.

The National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities

advises the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the development of

— HHS, Office of Minority Health, Health

NIH-wide policy issues related to minority and other health disparities

Status of Asian American and Pacific

research, develops a comprehensive strategic plan governing the con-

Islander Women, April 2007.

duct and support of this research, and administers funds through grants

and through leveraging the programs of the NIH.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration works to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness. SAMHSA’s National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health, provides grants to build a national network of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and sexual minority communities and organizations to promote policies, practices, standards, and research to eliminate behavioral health disparities.

The following agencies within HHS work on the delivery of

health care services.

In 2009, HRSA health centers served

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), com-

roughly 19 million Americans, including

prised of six bureaus and 13 offices, is the primary federal agency

for improving access to health-care services for people who are

nearly 500,000 Asian Americans. Nearly

uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. The Bureau of Pri-

two-thirds of Asian Americans served by

mary Health Care (BPHC) funds health centers in underserved

these health centers had limited English

communities that provide access to high-quality, family-oriented,

and comprehensive primary and preventive health care for people

proficiency

who are low-income, uninsured, or face other obstacles to getting

health care. For funding opportunities, visit http://www.hrsa.gov/

— HHS, Health Resources and Services Ad-

grants, and for locating local health centers, visit findahealthcen-

ministration, May 2011.

ter.hrsa.gov.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) admin-

isters: Medicare, a health insurance program for people age 65 or

older; people under age 65 with certain disabilities; and people of all ages with end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant); Medicaid, a state-administered program and available only to certain low-income individuals and families who fit into an eligibility group that is recognized by federal and state law; and the

Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), a state and federal partnership that targets uninsured children and pregnant women in families with incomes too high to qualify for most state Medicaid programs, but often too low to afford private coverage. The Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight, within CMS, oversees the implementation of the provisions of the ACA related to private health insurance.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

The following agencies within HHS work on prevention measures

to protect the public health.

Cancer is the leading cause of death

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects the

for Asian Americans and Pacific

public health of the nation by providing leadership and direction in

Islanders.

the prevention and control of diseases and other preventable condi-

tions and responding to public health emergencies.

— HHS, C

enters for Disease Control,

Leading Causes of Death by Race/

The Division of Viral Hepatitis provides the scientific and program-

Ethnicity (pdf), 2009, Table 28.

matic foundation for the prevention, control, and elimination of hepa-

titis virus infections in the United States, and assists the international

public health community in these activities.

The

Division of Diabetes Translation translates diabetes research into daily practice to better understand the impact of the disease, influence health outcomes, and improve access to quality health care. The National

Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is a joint effort of CDC and NIH and involves public and private partners in efforts to improve diabetes management and outcomes, promote early diagnoses, and prevent or

delay the onset of diabetes in the U.S. and its territories. NDEP resources in AAPI languages are available on its website.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that human and animal drugs, biological products, and medical devices are safe and effective and that electronic products that emit radiation are safe.

The following agencies within HHS work on human services.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) promotes the economic and social well-being of America’s most vulnerable populations and communities. ACF’s programs (ACF Directory of Program

Services) are focused on individuals and families with low income, refugees, people with developmental disabilities, and others.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement oversees and provides guidance to state-administered programs that provide assistance and services to refugee, asylees, certain Amerasian immigrants, Cuban and Haitian en-trants, as well as victims of human trafficking.

The Office of Family Assistance administers Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs,

time-limited assistance to needy families with children to promote work, responsibility, and self-sufficiency.

The Office of Head Start provides grants to local public and private nonprofits and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, and

has a special focus on helping preschoolers develop early reading and math skills.

The Child Care and Development Fund provides funding for states to improve the quality of child care and to provide child care assistance for so they can work or attend training or obtain other education. Each state has its own eligibility guidelines. You may apply for child care assistance at a state or local agency.

The Family and Youth Services Bureau provides a number of programs addressing youth and family issues, including programs for runaway and homeless youths, teen pregnancy prevention, and family violence prevention and services. Additional y, the FYSB administers funding from the Family Violence Prevention and

Services Act, the primary federal funding stream dedicated to the support of emergency shelter and related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their dependents. The National Clearinghouse on Families

& Youth is an information resource that assists current and prospective FYSB grantees, and anyone else who Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

13

works with at-risk youths and families, to realize their goals, better serve their communities, and improve

the lives of young people and their families.

The Office of Community Services provides a range of human and economic development services and activities, intended to ameliorate the causes and characteristics of poverty and otherwise assist persons in need

including. Programs include the Community Economic Development Program, the Job Opportunities for

Low-Income Individuals, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) is the primary agency designated to carry out the provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965. Programs and services that are administered include: home-delivered meals and other nutrition-related services, transportation, adult day care, legal assistance, and health promotion.

AoA’s National Family Caregiver Support Program provides grants to states and territories, based on their share of the population aged 70 and over, to fund a range of supports that assist family and informal caregiv-ers to care for their loved ones at home for as long as possible.

Other Resources:

n The Health Finder website and OMH website provide documents created by HHS program offices, printed in English and other Asian and Pacific Island languages. For additional language assistance,

contact an information specialist at the OMH Resource Center at: info@minorityhealth.hhs.gov or

1-800-444-6472.

n Information about the HHS grant processes is available here.

n The HHS Grants Forecast provides individuals with advanced notice of upcoming funding opportunities.

Grantee Spotlight: HOPE Clinic; Houston, Texas

Federal Program: Health Center Program; HHS, HRSA

Since 2002, HOPE Clinic, a community health center, has provided comprehensive primary health-care

services in a culturally and linguistically related manner to underserved Asian Americans in the Greater

Houston, Texas, area, including more than 3,000 Vietnamese American evacuees during Hurricane

Katrina. Chief Executive Director Dr. Andrea Caracostis discusses her experience applying for HRSA

planning grants and HOPE Clinic’s designation to become a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

Look-Alike, which makes it eligible for funding opportunities through HHS.

Establishing a community health center was the vision of a group of Asian American women who

established the Asian American Health Coalition (AAHC) in Houston in 1994. AAHC collaborated

with another community organization, the Chinese Community Center, to establish HOPE as an

all-volunteer part-time health clinic in 2002. HOPE then successfully applied for and received two

HRSA planning grants and was designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike.

We used the health center planning grants to conduct a comprehensive community needs assess-

ment, which is a critical component in health center development, in order to fully understand our

community’s needs to determine meaningful impact. The planning grants were also used to gather

essential data and develop detailed business and clinic plans.

HOPE worked on our Look-Alike application for approximately one year before receiving the desig-

nation (it actually took three denied applications). Proposal writing was a one-woman operation! The

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

key to the success of the application is about knowing your community and accurately describing your entire population and area; not focusing so much on one specific population or group.

As for technical assistance, our staff took initiative and researched HRSA guidelines. We worked with organizational partners, including the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) and the local Primary Care Association, which provided valuable technical assistance, data, assistance with development of clinic policy and procedures, and provision of operational resources.

My advice to other organizations interested in this program is to take advantage of partnerships, collaborations and outreach, and engage with your community. Use your grant application as your business plan and a check list for your organization. Remember to document and collect baseline data in order to show change and carefully measure your progress to prove success.

For more information on the Health Center Program, visit: http://bphc.hrsa.gov .

Grantee Spotlight: MAÒ Organic Farms; Waiànae, Hawaii

Federal Program: Social and Economic Development Strategies for Native Americans (SEDS)

Federal Grant; HHS

MAÒ Organic Farms is a fully certified 24-acre organic farm on the highly urbanized island of Oàhu. MAÒ offers a variety of community and education programs for youths and adults primarily based on the Waiànae coast and/or on-site at the farm.

MAÒ programs all relate to MAÒ’s mission of land-based community development through growing organic food and supporting youth leaders. Executive Director Kukui Maunakea-Forth explains her experience applying for the SEDS federal grant.

The grant is well-known because the program has a strong history in the Waiànae community. The goal of the grant is to assist Native communities to achieve the goal of economic and social self-sufficiency. MAÒ used the SEDS grant for both economic and social development. The funding helped grow MAÒ’s youth programs, which develop new young farmers as well as youth leaders equipped to create a regional organic food system in Hawaiì, where food security is a challenge. By developing young farmers and leaders, we ensure that a new generation of people will have jobs and produce food for our community.

We applied for the grant as a start-up, and our primary challenge was developing the organizational capacity to create and submit a competitive proposal. The process was facilitated by HHS’ relationship with the community. Though the process was challenging, the experience was rewarding. HHS contracted consultants, who provided technical assistance to the SEDS grant applicants. Local intermediary agencies provided critical input to the process. For instance, one of the agencies, Hawaii Alliance of Community Based Economic Development supports community-based economic development by being a facilitator, catalyst, broker, and producer of training, technical assistance, advocacy, education, and research and development products and services.

My advice for those interested in this program, simply put, is to go for it! In our opinion, the community-centered SEDS

grant is one of the most supportive federal grants available. Though many other grants exist, the SEDS grant has fewer levels of the embedded bureaucracy that makes it daunting for smaller, community-oriented projects to administer. At best, you will be successful in obtaining this grant. At worst, you will have gained a valuable learning experience from navigating the process.

For more information on the SEDS grant, visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana.

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15

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

How it can assist AAPIs

DHS was formed in 2003 and works to build a safe and secure homeland by focusing on the following mis-

sion areas: preventing terrorism, securing our borders; enforcing our immigration laws; securing cyber-

space; and ensuring resilience to disasters.

U.S. Citizenship And Immigration Services (USCIS) oversees the lawful immigration of individuals to the U.S. and processes such immigration paperwork as petitions for lawful permanent residence (green card applications); citizenship; student, employment, and humanitarian visas; international adoptions; asylum; and

other immigration benefits. USCIS services include, immigration forms; Immigration Information Officer appointments at InfoPass, available in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Korean, and other languages;

case status; citizenship applications; Green Card (Permanent Residence) applications; helping family mem-

bers immigrate to the U.S.; asylum applications; and work authorization applications.

n USCIS Ombudsman provides recommendations for resolving individual and employer issues with

USCIS. If you are experiencing problems during the adjudication of an immigration benefit with

USCIS you can submit a case problem to the CIS Ombudsman using DHS Form 7001.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for securing America’s borders to protect against threats and prevent the illegal entry of inadmissible persons and contraband, while facilitating lawful travel, trade, and immigration. Each day, CBP welcomes more than 1.1 million international travelers into the U.S.

at land, air, and seaports. CBP provides information on traveling to the U.S., including information on the CBP inspection process, traveler entry forms, prohibited items, and other restrictions and policies.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for safeguarding homeland security

and public safety through the enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and

immigration. In addition, ICE Public Engagement seeks to build constructive relationships with community

stakeholders through targeted community outreach across the country. The ICE Online Detainee Locator

System may be used to locate a detainee who is currently in ICE custody, or who was released from ICE

custody within the last 60 days.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is charged with protecting passengers’ privacy and

facilitating the flow of legitimate commerce. Approximately 48,000 Transportation Security Officers serve in over 450 U.S. airports, where they screen approximately 2 million people a day. TSA’s Office of Civil Rights

and Liberties reviews concerns about a screening experience where an individual believes he or she was treated differently or discriminated against to ensure that the public are treated in a fair and lawful manner.

For information regarding a violation of civil rights or civil liberties while traveling, email TSAExternal-

Compliance@dhs.gov, call 1-866-289-9673, or file a civil rights/civil liberties complaint.

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) supports the nation’s state, local, tribal,

territorial, and private partners and first responders. It also improves our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards and natural disasters. Families and individuals that have been impacted by a disaster and need assistance have several options for getting help: look up

disaster assistance grants and programs, register online or through a web-enabled mobile device, or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) advises DHS on ways to promote respect for civil rights and civil liberties in policy creation and implementation; communicates with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS activities, and informs them about

policies and avenues of redress. CRCL investigates and resolves civil rights and civil liberties complaints filed by the public regarding DHS policies or activities, or actions taken by DHS personnel, including:

discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, or disability; violation of rights while in immigration detention or as a subject of immigration enforcement; discrimination or inappropriate questioning related to entry into the U.S.; or physical abuse or any other type of abuse. Complaint forms

can be submitted via mail, email (crcl@dhs.gov), or telephone (1-866-644-8360). Complaints are accepted in languages other than English and may be filed by members of the public, federal agencies or agency personnel, non-governmental organizations, media reports and other sources.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

How it can assist AAPIs

HUD works with community organizations focused on housing, homeownership, public services, or com-

munity development to ensure that everyone can access HUD’s programs and resources. HUD provides

individual housing services from housing counseling to rental assistance. Contact a regional or local office in your area to reach HUD.

All HUD grants are managed by the Office of Departmental Grants Management and Oversight. HUD

competitive funding opportunities are tailored to help communities design and implement housing, eco-

nomic development, and community development programs to address local needs.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Technical Assistance program provides funding for experienced organizations to help CDBG grant recipients to plan, develop, and administer activities under

the CDBG program.

Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing enhances the capacity and ability of community development corporations and community housing development organizations to carry out

community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low-income families.

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program is designed to increase the number of referrals to HUD of discriminatory housing practices. Eligible organizations provide fair lending enforcement services or inform and

educate the public about their rights and obligations under fair housing laws. Funding is also available to

build capacity and establish new fair housing enforcement organizations.

The Housing Counseling Program funds HUD-approved counseling agencies and intermediaries that provide counseling services within their communities. HUD also funds organizations that improve and

standardize the quality of counseling by training housing counselors.

Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control office improves the efficacy of methods for detecting and controlling housing-related health and safety hazards in the home. Eligible applicants carry out related research

studies, demonstrations, or outreach.

The Rural Housing and Economic Development Program funds the development and implementation of innovative housing and economic development activities in rural areas.

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HUD funds a range of homeless and targeted housing assistance. Continuum of Care programs award organizations that provide housing and supportive services for the homeless. Supportive Housing for the Elderly

and Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities provide interest-free capital advances to organizations to construct, rehabilitate, or acquire rental housing with support services for the elderly or persons with disabilities. HUD also funds the Assisted Living Conversion Program for people who are elderly or who have disabilities. In addition, owners of multifamily assisted housing developments are eligible for funds to hire service coordinators and pay associated administrative costs.

The Housing Counseling Program provides grants to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to provide housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- to moderate-income renters, and

the homeless. The program’s goals are to improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities,

improve access to affordable housing and preserve homeownership. The Office of Housing and Office of

Public and Indian Housing contributes to building and preserving healthy neighborhoods and communities; maintaining and expanding homeownership, rental housing, and health-care opportunities; stabiliz-

ing credit markets in times of economic disruption; and operating with a high degree of public and fiscal

accountability.

HUD provides comprehensive information regarding foreclosure, including state and local foreclosure counselors and resources. In addition, HUD and the Department of Treasury developed a helpful tool, available at http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov. Homeowners can call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) to speak to an expert advisor immediately, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, in over 170 languages.

Housing Choice Vouchers are rental subsidies for eligible tenant families and persons. The voucher program also provides a number of development opportunities for public housing organizations. Housing choice

vouchers are administered locally by local public housing agencies.

The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) administers and enforces housing and anti-discrimination federal laws. FHEO investigates over 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually and helps ensure residents have equal access to the housing of their choice. Anyone who believes they are

the victims of housing discrimination can file a complaint by filling out an online complaint form, or calling: 1-800-669-9777 (voice) or 1-800-927-9275 (TTY).

Other Resources:

n The HUD Limited English Proficiency website provides documents created by HUD program offices in 12 different languages. If your organization is interested in using these translated materials, call

202-402-7017.

n For access to research and data sets relating to housing and urban development: http://www.huduser.org.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Department of the Interior (DOI)

How it can assist AAPIs

DOI is uniquely positioned to employ thousands of people to work in the great outdoors, providing Ameri-

cans with hands-on experience with green career pathways as technicians, scientists, engineers, land manag-

ers, and educators, among others professions. DOI protects America’s natural resources and heritage, honors

our cultures and tribal communities, and supplies the energy to power our future.

DOI bureaus and offices include the following: The Office of Insular Affairs has the administrative responsibility for coordinating federal policy in the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and oversight of federal programs and funds in

the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The Office of Native Hawaiian Relations’ mission is to serve as a liaison with the Native Hawaiian community and work with the Department and its bureaus on issues affecting Hawaii. The

National Park Service manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service works to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The U.S. Geological Survey provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useable information.

DOI engages in many types of formal and informal partnership arrangements including: grants, cooperative agreements, and memoranda of understanding. The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business

Utilization provides small and disadvantaged businesses with maximum practicable opportunity to participate in the Interior contracting process, and ensures that small businesses are treated fairly and provided

with opportunities to compete and win a fair amount of DOI contracting and subcontracting dollars. The

Youth In The Great Outdoors Initiative (Youth GO!) employs, educates, and engages young people from all backgrounds in exploring, connecting with, and preserving America’s natural and cultural heritage.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

How it can assist AAPIs

DOJ’s mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the U.S. according to the law; to ensure

public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and control-

ling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial

administration of justice for all Americans. In addition, there are a number of grant programs available to

the community.

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of

domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. OVW administers grants, financial and tech-

nical assistance programs to local and state and tribal governments, courts, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, institutes of higher education, and state and tribal coalitions across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices working toward developing more effective responses to

violence against women through activities that include direct services, crisis intervention, transitional housing, legal assistance to victims, court improvement, and training for law enforcement and courts. Apply for

an OVW grant at: http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/how-to-apply.html. Some important grants to keep in mind: Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

19

n STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants to

States promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to enhancing advocacy and improving the criminal justice system’s response to violent crimes against women. Ten percent of STOP funding is

mandated to develop and support initiatives to address the needs of underserved populations.

n Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services for Victims Program funds projects that promote the maintenance and replication of existing successful domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault,

and stalking community-based programs providing culturally and linguistically specific services and

other resources.

n Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) is the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. SASP encompass-es a funding stream for culturally specific organizations and seeks to provide intervention, advocacy,

accompaniment, support services, and related assistance for victims, family members, and others

affected by sexual assault through direct intervention and related assistance from social service orga-

nizations, such as rape crisis centers through 24-hour sexual assault hotlines, crisis intervention, and

medical and criminal justice accompaniment.

Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) administers the nation’s immigration court system. EOIR

primarily decides whether foreign-born individuals, who are charged by the Department of Homeland

Security with violating immigration law, should be ordered removed from the U.S. or should be granted

relief or protection from removal and be permitted to remain in this country. To make these determinations,

EOIR’s Office of the Chief Immigration Judge has more than 235 immigration judges who conduct adminis-

trative court proceedings, called removal proceedings, in 59 immigration courts nationwide.

Community Relations Service (CRS) provides violence prevention and conflict resolution services for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, or national origin. CRS is DOJ’s

“peacemaker” for these types of community conflicts and tensions. CRS is the only federal agency dedicated

to assist state and local units of government, private and public organizations, and community groups with

preventing and resolving racial and ethnic tensions, incidents and civil disorders, and in restoring racial

stability and harmony.

The Civil Rights Division works to uphold the civil and con-

Since 9/11/2001, DOJ has

stitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the

investigated more than 800

most vulnerable members of our society. The Division’s 11

incidents involving violence, threats,

sections enforce federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, religion, familial

vandalism, and arson against

status and national origin.

persons perceived to be Muslim or

to be of Arab, Middle Eastern, or

The Criminal Section prosecutes cases involving the violent

South Asian origin.

interference with liberties and rights defined in the Con-

stitution or federal law. The rights of both U.S. citizens and

noncitizens are protected. Issues addressed by the Criminal

—DOJ, Fact Sheet: Protect the Civil

Section include hate crimes, misconduct by enforcement

Rights of American Muslims Outreach

officials, human trafficking, interference with the exercise

and Enforcement Efforts, March 2011.

of religious beliefs and destruction of religious property, and

interference with the right to vote.

The Federal Coordination and Compliance Section coordinates across federal agencies to ensure that they are consistently and effectively enforcing civil rights statutes and related Executive Orders that prohibit

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

discrimination in federally assisted programs and in the federal government’s own programs and activities.

Among its duties, this section is responsible for ensuring that persons with limited English proficiency are able to meaningfully access federal programs and services for which they are eligible.

The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices enforces the statute that prohibits discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee that is based on an individual’s national origin or citizenship status. The statute also prohibits unfair documentary practices

during the employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) process (“document abuse”), and retaliation or

intimidation.

The Disability Rights Section works to achieve equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the U.S. by implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA). Section activities affect 6 million businesses and nonprofit agencies, 80,000 units of state and local government, 49 million people with disabilities, and over 100 federal agencies and commissions in the Executive Branch.

The Educational Opportunities Section enforces statutes and court decisions in a diverse array of cases involving elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education to ensure that school officials do not discriminate against students on the basis of sex, national origin, language barrier, religion, or disabilities. These actions also include bullying and harassment issues.

The Housing and Civil Enforcement Section ensures and protects the public’s right to access housing free from discrimination, the right to access credit on an equal basis, the right to patronize places of business that provide public accommodations, and the right to practice one’s faith free from discrimination.

The Voting Section enforces the Voting Rights Act ensures that, throughout the nation, no person shall be denied the right to vote on account of race or color.

The Special Counsel for Religious Discrimination coordinates cases involving religion-based discrimination, and oversees outreach efforts to religious communities. If you feel you have been discriminated against on

the basis of religion, but are unsure which section of the civil rights division to contact, or if you have any problems reaching one of the sections listed above, call the special counsel’s office at 202- 353-8622 (voice) or 202-514-0716 (TDD).

File a complaint with the Civil Rights Division or contact your local FBI field office to report incidents of:

hate crimes; excessive force, or other Constitutional violations by persons acting as law enforcement officials or public officials; human trafficking and involuntary servitude; force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with access to reproductive health-care services; force or threats to interfere with the exercise of religious beliefs and destruction, defacing, or damage of religious property; or force or threats to interfere with the right to vote based on race, color, national origin, or religion.

Other Resources:

n http://www.LEP.gov promotes a positive and cooperative understanding of the importance of language access to federally conducted and federally assisted programs. This site also acts as a clearing-

house, providing and linking to information, tools, and technical assistance regarding limited English

proficiency and language services for federal agencies, recipients of federal funds, users of federal

programs and federally assisted programs, and other stakeholders.

n This chart describes federal funding opportunities that may be available to state and local courts to provide language assistance services to LEP individuals. Each chart includes the name of the federal

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

21

agency providing the funding, the program name, whether state courts are eligible, whether the fund-

ing can be used to provide language assistance services, and the location for more information about

the program and past recipients.

Grantee Spotlight: Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence;

San Francisco, Calif.

Federal Program: Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services; OVW, DOJ

The Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence (API Institute) is a national resource center and a training and technical assistance provider on gender-based violence in Asian, Native Hawaiian and

Pacific Islander communities. It serves a national network of advocates, community members, national

organizations, service agencies, professionals, researchers, policy advocates, and activists from com-

munity and social justice organizations. Its goals are to strengthen culturally relevant advocacy, promote

community organizing, and influence public policy and systems change. Director Firoza Chic Dabby

explains her experience disseminating information to the API Institute’s constituents on a new OVW grant

program, Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services (CLSSP).

Our federal grants from HHS and OVW fund us to serve as a Technical Assistance and Training

provider. We used this grant from OVW to provide training and technical assistance to our constitu-

ents—domestic violence programs serving AAPIs. For many organizations, the application process

can be difficult. OVW hosts calls to assist through the process. Working in collaboration with OVW

and other Technical Assistance & Training providers is important, as well as paying attention to detail during the application process.

My advice to those interested in this grant program is to: 1) Assess if your organization has the

capacity to apply for and administer a federal grant; 2) Follow the necessary steps to register and to

get announcements related to the RFP; and 3) Review your program ideas to see how they will be

staffed, if they fit your mission, and who you might collaborate with—if collaborating, begin the pro-

cess early. It is very important to review procedures to determine if your organization is eligible and

to ensure it has the basic requirements stated by the federal agency (like a DUNS number) to submit

the application. Fiscal management is critical to administering federal grants. Be sure your organiza-

tion has an accounting system to manage and submit budget reports, and that it has sufficient cash

flow to meet grant expenses (federal grants do not make awards at the start of the grant period, but

in monthly drawdowns).

For more information on the API Institute, visit http://www.apiidv.org. For information on OVW programs,

visit http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/ovwgrantprograms.htm.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Department of Labor (DOL)

How it can assist AAPIs

DOL promotes the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees in the U.S. by improving working con-

ditions, advancing employment opportunities and assuring work-related benefits and rights. DOL adminis-

ters and enforces more than 180 federal laws, which along with the regulations that implement them, cover

workplace activities for 10 million employers and 125 million workers. DOL also administers a number of

workforce-related programs, services, and grants, some of which are listed below.

The following offices enforce laws and regulations that protect workers in areas of wages paid, hours worked, health and safety, and discrimination. Federal laws also protect specific classes of workers, including children, nonimmigrant foreign workers, farm workers, veterans, and employees of federal contractors.

n The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is a worker protection agency that enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

WHD also enforces the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural

Worker Protection Act. The agency is engaged in a number of outreach efforts targeting AAPI com-

munities, such as the Know-Your-Rights Regional Outreach Initiative. Among the programs in this

initiative are: Compliance Outreach to the Asian Community and Hispanics (COACH), Rapid Em-

ployee Assistance in Chinese Hotline (REACH), Protecting Immigrant Employee with Compliance

and Education (PIECE), and The Information Group for Asian American Rights (TIGAAR). Finally,

WHD’s “We Can Help” campaign focuses on educating vulnerable, low-wage workers about their rights. The campaign includes materials in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, and Spanish, which can be found online or by calling 1-866-487-9243.

n The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1971 by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education,

and assistance.

n Workers have a right to receive information and training (in a language they can understand)

about hazards, methods to prevent harm, and OSHA standards that apply to their workplace.

OSHA offers publications, some in several languages, to help employers and workers prevent injuries and illnesses on the job. Workers can file a complaint, asking OSHA to inspect their

workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or their employer is not following the rules.

OSHA law provides workers with the right to exercise their rights under the law without retalia-

tion or discrimination.

n Employers must follow all relevant OSHA safety and health standards; find and correct haz-

ards; inform employees about chemical hazards through training, alarms, and other methods;

and keep accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses. Visit the OSHA website or call 1-800-321-6742 to submit a workplace safety and health question, find out more information

about a hazard, or request an OSHA inspection of a worksite.

n The Employee Benefits and Security Administration (EBSA) educates and assists the 150 million Americans covered by private retirement plans, health plans, and welfare benefit plans, as well as

plan sponsors and members of the employee benefits community. EBSA balances proactive enforce-

ment with compliance assistance and works to provide quality assistance to plan participants and

beneficiaries. EBSA administers and enforces the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which

sets minimum standards for voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry

to provide protection for individuals in these plans. EBSA assists participants who inquire about

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

23

their rights under the law and helps to resolve disputes they are encountering with their plan. EBSA

has responded to inquiries in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Lao, Tagalog, Thai, Hindi,

Cambodian, and Bengali languages. To further assist the AAPI community, EBSA has created a pub-

lication to assist dislocated workers in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Lao. More information on

EBSA’s activities and the resources that we have available for retirement and health plan participants

can be found at the website or by calling 1-866-444-3272.

n The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) holds those who do business with taxpayer dollars, over 200,000 federal contractors and subcontractors, to the fair and reasonable standard that they take affirmative action and prohibit discrimination on the bases of gender, race, color,

national origin, religion, disability, and status as a protected veteran. Anyone who is employed by or

tries to get a job with those companies (nearly one in four American workers) is protected by OF-

CCP’s legal authorities. The agency regularly audits contractors to make sure they have fair practices

when it comes to how they hire, fire, place, pay, and promote their workers. If you feel that you, or

someone you know, may have been the victim of discrimination by a company that contracts with the

government, or if you are a business in need of assistance on how to comply with the laws we enforce,

please see the OFCCP website or call 1-800-397-6251.

The mission of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is to contribute to the more efficient functioning of the U.S. labor market by enhancing employment opportunities and promoting business

prosperity by administering high-quality job training, employment, labor market information, and income

maintenance services primarily through state and local workforce development systems. The Public Work-

force System operates through ETA’s Workforce Investment Act formula funding to state workforce agencies, a network of approximately 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers nationwide that provide job seekers and employers with a range of employment and training services, including tools for career exploration, staff recruit-

ment, understanding salary and benefits, job search assistance, resume building, and interview strategies.

n Information on the nearest One-Stop Career Center in your area can be found at:

http://www.careeronestop.org.

n For online employment law assistance for workers and small businesses, visit

http://www.dol.gov/elaws.

In addition to the public workforce system, grant opportunities are available through ETA, which awards competitive funding to support a variety of priorities in employment and training programming and

services. These opportunities are announced through Solicitations for Grant Applications, published in the

Federal Register, on ETA’s Grants and Contracts website, and at http://www.grants.gov.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Grantee Spotlight: Asian Immigrant Women Advocates (AIWA); Oakland, Calif.

Federal Program: Susan Harwood Training Grant (SHTG); OSHA

AIWA is a community organization that works with women workers employed in the garment, hotel,

restaurant, electronics assembly, and other low-wage industries in the San Francisco Bay Area. AIWA’s

mission is to empower low-income, limited English speaking Asian immigrant women through education,

leadership development, and collective action, so that they can improve their working and living condi-

tions. Executive Director Young Shin explains her experience applying for the SHTG.

A local congressman’s office informed us of this grant. When we found out that ergonomics was one

of the selected training topic areas of SHTG, and special consideration would be given to hard-to-

reach and non/limited English speaking workers, we thought that AIWA was well qualified to apply

for the grant.

In order to prevent workplace injuries for low-wage immigrant women workers, AIWA proposed to

conduct general and industry-specific ergonomic training to Asian immigrant women working in gar-

ment and electronic assembly, food services, packaging, and home health care, a workforce that suf-

fers from repetitive stress and other musculoskeletal injuries, and is typically not reached by English

language trainings.

Although AIWA had previously received a number of federal and state grants, we had to learn and

familiarize ourselves with the terms and requirements of the SHTG application and process. We

registered with Grants.gov , reviewed the grant opportunity announcement, and started identifying former SHTG grantees and AIWA allies and supporters who were familiar with SHTG to understand

and assess what it takes to be a successful applicant.

DOL-OSHA provided two staff, a program analyst and the director of Office of Training and Edu-

cational Programs, to answer questions about the application process via emails and calls. Staff

members from the University of California, Berkeley’s Labor Occupational Health Program; an SHTG

grantee; and staff from Cal OSHA, the California Department of Public Health Services, as well as

another organization, Asian Community Mental Health Services, all assisted us with the grant pro-

cess and application.

My advice to others who are interested in this grant: Identify previous grantees that are similar to

your organization and/or whose staff members you can ask about the grant. Learn from them about

the process and other relevant issues. Identify your friends, allies, and supporters who are familiar

with the grant. Ask them to write or identify others who can support your proposal by writing support

letters and making phone calls. Find someone who has experience in writing a federal grant and ask

him/her to provide technical assistance. Ask and clarify with SHTG staff any questions you might

have via emails or phone calls. It’s technical, but nonetheless very important: submit the proposal at

least two days before the deadline so you don’t miss the deadline!

For more information on the SHTG, visit: http://www.osha.gov/dte/sharwood/index.html.

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

25

Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”)

How it can assist AAPIs

Treasury plays a vital role in providing financial resources to increase AAPI economic opportunities and

promote community development investments. Through the Community Development Financial Insti-

tutions (CDFI) Fund, Treasury has helped AAPIs receive credit, capital, and financial services that they

otherwise might not have had access to. Treasury also provides resources to improve financial literacy and

financial access for every American to help ensure that families’ financial futures are more secure.

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund offers responsible loan products and technical assistance to underserved populations to promote economic revitalization and community development.

The CDFI Fund supports small businesses, minority entrepreneurs, and businesses located in underserved

urban, rural, and reservation communities. CDFIs play a vital role in serving low-income communities that

are often considered too risky by mainstream financial institutions.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Pro-

CDFI Fund awardees serving AAPI

gram is a competitive award program through which financial

communities have received awards to

and technical assistance awards are made to build the capacity of

renovate and develop affordable housing

CDFIs.

units, provide financing to first-time

homebuyers, and help open Individual

The Native Initiatives program helps increase the number and capacity of Native CDFIs to overcome barriers to financial services

Development Accounts and new accounts

in Native communities. There are six CDFIs dedicated to serving

for AAPIs.

Native Hawaiian communities.

— Community Development Financial

New Markets Tax Credit Program attracts investment capital to Institutions Fund, Treasury, Financial Ser-low-income communities by permitting individual and corporate

vices Provided by Community Development

investors to receive a tax credit against federal income taxes in

Financial Institutions in AAPI Communities,

exchange for making equity investments in specialized financial

February 2011.

institutions called Community Development Entities.

Bank Enterprise Awards Program incentivizes FDIC-insured financial institutions to expand investments in CDFIs and to increase lending, investment, and service activities within economically distressed communities.

CDFI Bond Guarantee Program supports CDFI lending and investment activity by providing a source of long-term, patient capital through a bond that can be sold in capital markets. It is a federally guaranteed

CDFI bond for community and economic development.

Financial education and financial access efforts strive to improve financial education and provide Americans with greater access to the tools and resources needed to make smart financial decisions. Through

programs, grants, and other assistance, Treasury advances the financial capabilities of the public.

The Community Financial Access Program (CFAP) increases low- and moderate-income families’ and individuals’ access to financial services and financial education. The program helps communities build sustain-

able approaches to expand financial access among community residents.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

The Financial Literacy and Education Commission provides a number of resources for national financial

education through http://www.mymoney.gov. Covering a wide spectrum of topics ranging from mortgages to consumer rights, the website is a tool for financial strategy and success.

Treasury Grant Program for Financial Education and Counseling awards grants to organizations to enable

them to provide a range of financial education and counseling services to prospective homebuyers. These

services must increase financial knowledge, improve financial strategizing and decision-making capabili-

ties of prospective homebuyers, help prospective homebuyers improve their credit scores through a greater

understanding of the credit system, or educate prospective homebuyers about short-term and long-term

saving options. For more information on the Financial Education and Counseling Program, email cdfihelp@

cdfi.treas.gov or call 202-622-6355.

Treasury offers strategies and resources for developing your own spending plan, as well as resources on

learning how to protect your consumer rights, and accessing financial information.

Grantee Spotlight: Asian Human Services (AHS); Chicago, Ill.

Federal Program: Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI);

Treasury

AHS is the Midwest’s largest Pan-Asian health and human services agency, and provides a wide range

of services to low-income, at-risk members of the community. Among its many services, which are

offered in more than 28 languages, is an adult education program that includes English as a Second

Language classes and basic computer training. AHS Chief Executive Officer Abha Pandya describes her

experience applying for a loan from a CDFI.

AHS was looking to acquire a new building for its adult education program and found a local

Chicago CDFI, the Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF), which provided real estate consulting services and

below-market-rate real estate and equipment loans for nonprofits serving low-income and special-

needs communities. With the CDFI funding, AHS was able to acquire a new building for its adult

education program. The new AHS facility, which opened in July 2008, provided space for classes,

computer training, and even a child care center for the children of parents attending classes. AHS’

loan from IFF allowed us to expand its capabilities in serving the Asian, immigrant, and refugee

communities that need the most help. Without IFF a lot of things we have done could not have been

possible—we also worked with IFF on the acquisition of two other buildings for education and child

care purposes. During the application process, IFF conducted a building and cost assessment of the

facility that we were interested in acquiring before offering us a loan. IFF was very consultative, very supportive, and gave us a lot of guidance throughout the application process.

For more information on the CDFI Fund, visit http://www.cdfifund.gov.

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27

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

How it can assist AAPIs

VA strives to provide veterans with benefits and services with the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship. With the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the aging veteran population, VA plays a critical role in providing AAPI veterans and their families with benefits and pertinent information.

VA provides a Medical Benefits Package to enrolled veterans. This comprehensive plan provides a full range of outpatient and inpatient services within the VA health-care system. Veterans may apply for enrollment online, by mail, in person, or by phone, and may obtain more health benefits information by calling 1-877-222-8387

(1-877-222-VETS). VA applies a variety of factors in determining eligibility for enrollment. Once a veteran is enrolled, health-care services are provided at any of the over 1,400 medical centers and clinics across the country.

VA’s comprehensive medical benefits package includes a full range of mental health services, including screening and treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). VA’s Readjustment Counseling program provides free counseling and related services to combat veterans in Vet Combat Call Cen-

ters located across the country.

Veterans’ benefits include disability compensation, pensions, education, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivors’ benefits, medical benefits, and burial benefit. The Post 9/11 GI Bil provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or to individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. The VA Home Loan Program assists veterans with financing the purchase of homes with favorable loan terms and at a rate of interest that is usual y lower than the rate charged on other types of mortgage loans. Burial and Memorial Benefits provide burial space for veterans and their eligible family members. For more information or to confirm eligibility, contact the nearest VA regional office at 1-800-827-1000. The Office of Small and Disadvantage Business Utilization (OSDBU) assists Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, HUBZone

Businesses, and Women-Owned Small Businesses with identifying VA contract opportunities. OSDBU provides

outreach and liaison support to business (small and large) and other members of the public and private sectors concerning small business acquisition issues. VA Disability Compensation applies to veterans with service-related disabilities and who were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment VetSuccess Program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs, or to improve their ability to live as independently as possible. VA Life Insurance programs were developed to provide insurance benefits for veterans and service members who may not be able to get insurance from private companies because of the extra risks involved in military service or a service-connected disability.

Other Resources:

n Comprehensive information on all VA benefits, and benefits available to veterans from other agencies,

may be found at: http://www.va.gov.

n The Center for Minority Veterans assists eligible veterans in their efforts to receive benefits and services from VA. The Center is dedicated to ensuring that all veterans are aware of benefits, services, and programs offered by VA.

n Additional state and local resources are available through State Veteran Affairs offices and Veterans Service Organizations.

n Find the nearest location for VA hospitals and clinics, Vet Centers, Regional Benefits Offices, Regional Loan Centers, and cemeteries.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

additional federal agencies

Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS)

How it can assist AAPIs

CNCS is a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through its Senior Corps,

AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service

initiative, United We Serve. CNCS participants serve through more than 70,000 organizations that use national service to develop innovative solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

CNCS has a clear road map for using national service to address six major challenges facing communi-

ties: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families. Below are some of CNCS’ programs:

AmeriCorps provides an opportunity for 80,000 adult members of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with nonprofit organizations, state and local agencies, faith-based

and community organizations. AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across

America. AmeriCorps is made up of three main programs:

n AmeriCorps State and National: The largest branch of AmeriCorps provides grants to support a broad range of local service programs that engage thousands of Americans in full- or part-time

direct service or capacity-building activities to meet critical community needs. AmeriCorps National

includes grant opportunities in seven different areas.

n AmeriCorps VISTA: Provides full-time members to community organizations and public agencies to create and expand programs that build capacity for ultimately bringing low-income individuals and

communities out of poverty.

n AmeriCorps NCCC: A full-time residential program individuals, age 18–24, that strengthens communities while developing leaders through direct, team-based national and community service.

Senior Corps connects individuals, age 55 and over, with the people and organizations that can use them the most. Volunteers become mentors, coaches, or companions to people in need, or volunteers

contribute their job skills and expertise to community projects and organizations. The Foster Grand-

parent Program connects seniors with children and young people with exceptional needs. The Senior

Companion Program brings together seniors with adults in their community who have difficulty with

the simple tasks of day-to-day living. RSVP offers “one-stop shopping” for all seniors who want to find

challenging, rewarding, and significant service opportunities in their local communities.

Application processes for organizational hosts for AmeriCorps State and National are as follows:

AmeriCorps National grants are made directly by CNCS to national nonprofit organizations that operate in two or more states; Indian tribes; and consortia formed across two or more states consisting of institutions of higher education, or other nonprofits, including labor, faith-based and other community organizations.

AmeriCorps State works with governor-appointed State Service Commissions to provide grants to organizations seeking AmeriCorps funding to operate a program within only one state. State Service Commissions

select which applications to fund or to forward to compete in a national pool.

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29

For individuals, all AmeriCorps programs are open to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. To find the best fit for your skills, interests, and circumstances, check out the online interactive program selector.

Benefits: Full-time AmeriCorps members who complete their service earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education

Award to help pay for college, graduate school, or to help pay back qualified student loans; members who

serve part-time receive a partial award. Some AmeriCorps members may also receive a modest living allow-

ance during their term of service.

Individuals, age 55 and older, are eligible to join three different Senior Corps programs. In the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs, individuals with incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty

line are eligible to receive a tax-free hourly stipend to help offset the cost of volunteering. Nonprofit organizations and state and local agencies can apply for grants to place older adult volunteers in service opportunities to help meet their core missions.

Application Process: Individuals can visit http://www.getinvolved.gov to look for opportunities available in your community, and organizations can visit the website for grant opportunities. Benefits: Senior Corps volunteers help their community, make a difference, save money for the organizations they serve, and add

to the quality and health of their lives through service. The Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion

programs offer modest stipends and other ways to help offset the costs of your involvement. Other benefits

include training and insurance.

Other Resources: To find additional opportunities, including those that do not require a long-term commitment, visit Serve.gov. Visit http://www.nationalservice.gov for more information about CNCS, including: n The Social Innovation Fund promotes public and private investments in effective nonprofit organizations to help such organizations replicate and expand to serve more low-income communities.

n The Volunteer Generation Fund strengthens the nation’s civic infrastructure by helping nonprofits recruit, manage, and support more volunteers.

n The Resource Center provides training and resources to national service programs and nonprofits seeking to expand their capacity and impact.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

How it can assist AAPIs

The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. EPA funds a wide variety of projects to

support its mission including environmental justice programs, educational and clean-up efforts, and projects to empower community partnerships and solve local environmental problems. EPA also informs the public

about its activities and provides information on a wide range of environmental issues through written mate-

rials on its website.

Grant programs help the EPA accomplish its mission of protecting the environment and public health.

Funds for a wide range of environmental issues are offered through grant programs and cooperative

agreements. Eligibility, deadlines, and award amounts vary by program, and some information on specific

programs can be found here. Additionally, there are 10 regional offices that provide information for those seeking funding opportunities in the states within the each region.

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White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

n Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for a community to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in its local

environment. Through CARE, a community creates a partnership among organizations that imple-

ments solutions to reduce releases of toxic pollutants and minimize people’s exposure to them. By

providing financial and technical assistance, EPA helps CARE communities get on the path to a re-

newed environment. The CARE grant program supports and empowers community partnerships that

work locally to identify their environmental risks and determine and implement long-term solutions.

For more information contact the CARE program at 202-343-9213.

n The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations to build collaborative partnerships, to identify the local environmental and/or public health

issues, and to envision solutions and empower communities through education, training, and out-

reach. Successful collaborative partnerships involve not only well-designed strategic plans that build,

maintain, and sustain partnerships, but also work towards addressing local environmental and public

health issues. For more information contact the Office of Environmental Justice at 202-564-2515.

n The Brownfields Program provides various types of competitive grants funding, in areas that include brownfields assessment, brownfields cleanup, and brownfields revolving loan fund grants.

Additionally the program provides environmental workforce development and job-training grants.

Brownfields Cleanup grants provide funding for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at

brownfield sites. Brownfields assessment grants provide funding for a grant recipient to inventory,

characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement related to brownfield sites.

Brownfields revolving loan fund grants enable states, political subdivisions, and Indian tribes to make

low-interest loans to carry out cleanup activities at brownfields properties. Environmental Workforce

Development and Job Training Grants are designed to provide funding to eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to recruit, train, and place predominantly low-income and minority,

unemployed and underemployed residents of solid and hazardous waste-impacted communities

with the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field and in

the assessment and cleanup work taking place in their communities. For questions on the workforce

development program, contact EPA at 202-566-2772.

n A Superfund Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides funds for activities that help communities participate more fully in decision making at eligible Superfund sites. Initial grants may be available

to qualified community groups to contract with independent technical advisors to interpret and help

the community understand technical information about their site.

n The Office of Environmental Education awards grants each year for educational projects across the country that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible

students, teachers, and citizens. This grant program provides financial support for innovative envi-

ronmental education projects conducted by state and local environmental and education agencies,

501(c)(3) nonprofits, noncommercial broadcasting entities, and tribal schools and nonprofits that

design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques as

described each year in the solicitation notice.

n The Source Reduction Assistance grant program supports environmental projects that reduce or eliminate pollution at the source. The request for proposals in fiscal year 2011 encouraged proposals for: greenhouse gas reduction, toxic and hazardous materials reduction, resource conservation,

efficient business practices, and pollution prevention integration activities. Eligible grantees include

states, territories, local governments, city or township governments, independent school districts,

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

31

incorporated nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education), public and private

institutions of higher education, community-based grassroots organizations, and Indian tribes and

intertribal consortia.

n Solid Waste Management Assistance grant program promotes the use of integrated solid waste management systems to solve solid waste generation and management problems at the local, regional, and

national levels. The program seeks to establish and develop partnerships with states, local govern-

ments, and nonprofit organizations to assist them in advancing their waste management programs,

and to develop and provide education, training, and outreach materials to educate and inform

Americans about waste’s impact on resource and energy use and pollution. For more information,

contact the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery at 703-308-8460.

Other Resources:

n EPA’s website is available in Chinese (traditional), Chinese (simplified), Vietnamese, and Korean.

n Learn how to live green here.

n Stay informed about environmental issues here.

Spotlight Grantee: International District Housing Alliance; Seattle, Wash.

Federal Program: CARE Grant Program; EPA

The Chinatown-International District is one of the oldest cultural centers for Seattle’s AAPI population,

and its low-income, minority residents are disproportionately affected by environmental pollutants and

poor air quality. With the help of a CARE cooperative agreement, the International District Housing Alli-

ance (IDHA) established the International District CARE Project in Seattle’s Chinatown-International Dis-

trict. Former IDHA staff member Joyce Pisnanont describes her experience applying for a CARE grant.

IDHA was a recipient of both Level I and Level II grants (see Community Action for a Renewed Envi-

ronment). IDHA found out about the opportunity from Seattle Public Utilities in 2005, through what is

now known as its Environmental Justice and Services Equity division. This grant opportunity appealed

to us because of its framework for empowering communities to identify and develop strategies for

addressing location-specific environmental justice concerns. This framework was focused on building

community capacity and allowed for flexibility and creativity—both of which are important for engaging

low-income communities of color and, in particular, multiple generations of stakeholders.

As a small grassroots organization, with little experience in applying for federal grants, and limited

knowledge of the technical language used in grant applications, the process was a bit scary at first.

For our Level I grant application, we had the help of a professional grant writer to develop a frame-

work for the grant and edit drafts we had written. By the time IDHA became eligible to apply for a

CARE Level II, we were much better prepared. We wrote the grant ourselves, but used the same

grant writer to proofread and critique the application before submittal. Seattle Public Utilities’ Envi-

ronmental Justice and Services Equity Division was a key player in helping to shape the application.

32

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Public Health—Seattle King County and the University of Washington assisted with Level I grant

development. Public Health—Seattle Public Utilities, and local community-based organizations as-

sisted with the Level II application.

My advice to organizations interested in this program is to indicate clear support from the community

and local decision makers. Make sure that outcomes are clear and reasonable for your organization

to achieve. If you involve youths as a key component of your project, be sure there is capacity and

buy-in from participating youth service organizations.

For more information on the CARE Grant, visit http://www.epa.gov/care.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

How it can assist AAPIs

The EEOC, an independent federal agency, enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against

a job applicant or employee. Federal laws prohibit discrimination by private and public employers, employ-

ment agencies, and labor organizations in all aspects of employment from recruitment to retirement.

Types of discrimination prohibited by federal law include discrimination based on a person’s race (including characteristics associated with race, such as hair texture, skin color, or certain facial features), color,

religion (in certain instances, employers must also reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs or practices), sex (including pregnancy, sexual harassment, and entitlement to equal pay/compensation),

national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Federal laws also make it illegal to retaliate against an individual who complains about discrimination, files a charge of discrimination, or participates in an

employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.

Individuals may file a charge of employment discrimination at the EEOC office closest to where the

individual resides, or at any one of the EEOC’s 53 field offices. By telephone: Call 1-800-669-4000 to submit basic information about a possible charge, and EEOC will forward the information to the local field office

in your area. Individuals may file a charge by mail to the EEOC consisting of a signed letter identifying the parties and a short description of the events believed to be discriminatory. Note: Federal employees have a

different complaint process.

Other Resources:

n EEOC’s website provides a compilation of informational documents in Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese.

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33

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Small Business Jobs Act of

2010 have put over 10,000 loans into the hands of Asian American-owned small businesses.

— SBA, March 2011.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

How it can assist AAPIs

Small businesses account for nearly two out of three new jobs created today. The SBA is an independent agency of the federal government charged with helping entrepreneurs start, build, and grow businesses.

SBA provides counseling and assistance to small businesses to maintain and strengthen the overall economy

of the nation. SBA also makes funds available to nonprofit organizations to serve as intermediary lenders

through its Microloan Program. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U. S.

Virgin Islands, and Guam.

To start, manage, and grow a business, SBA offers a variety of free online trainings, podcasts, and documents that cover many business topics for small business owners and those interested in starting a business, available at http://www.sba.gov. These self-paced, easy-to-use tutorials cover a variety of business basics, including how to start an online business, how to write a business plan, how to franchise, and how to adopt

technology for business benefits. In addition to online resources, SBA provides small business counseling, mentoring and training to help small businesses grow through a variety of programs and resource partners,

located throughout the country, including:

n Small Business Development Centers, a network of roughly 1,000 service centers working as partnerships primarily between the government and colleges and universities, which provide educational

services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

n Women’s Business Centers, a national network of over 100 educational centers providing technical assistance, comprehensive training, and counseling on a vast array of topics in many languages

designed to help women start and grow their own businesses.

n Veterans Business Outreach Centers, in 16 locations throughout the U.S., provide entrepreneurial development services, such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and referrals for eligible

veterans owning or considering starting a small business.

n Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), of which there are 93 nationwide, designed to provide local, in-person counseling and training services to businesses that want to sell products and

services to federal, state, and/or local governments.

n SCORE, a nonprofit association of 11,500 volunteer business counselors available online and in local offices throughout the U.S. and its territories, trained to serve as counselors, advisors, and mentors to

aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners at no fee, as a community service.

SBA provides a number of financial assistance programs for small businesses that have been specifically designed to meet key financing needs, including debt financing, surety bonds, and equity financing. SBA can 34

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

help facilitate a loan for small businesses with a third-party lender, guarantee a bond, or help businesses find venture capital. These programs are not direct loans to small businesses. Rather, SBA sets the guidelines for loans, which are then made by its partners (lenders, community development organizations, and microlend-ing institutions). The SBA provides guarantees on most of these loans, thus eliminating much of the risk to

the lending partners.

n The Microloan Program: SBA makes funds available to nonprofit community-based organizations as specially designated intermediary lenders. These intermediaries make small, short-term loans to

small business concerns and certain types of not-for-profit child care centers.

Federal, state, and local governments offer a wide range of financing programs to help small businesses start and grow their operations. These programs include low-interest loans, venture capital, and scientific and

economic development grants. Use the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a list of financing programs for which small business owners and those interested in starting a business may qualify, and learn more about

small business financing programs for research and construction grants.

Federal, state, and local governments offer businesses the opportunity to sell billions of dollars worth

of products and services. Many require that some percentage of their procurements be set aside for small businesses. Registering a business with the government is required before bidding on federal government

contracts (nearly $100 billion of federal contracts go to small businesses every year). However, businesses

can take advantage of several programs designed especially to promote small businesses. The following are

examples.

n The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled at least 51 percent by socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs

to gain access to the economic mainstream of American society. The programs help thousands of

aspiring entrepreneurs to gain a foothold in government contracting.

n The Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program authorizes contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for eligible firms, which are at least 51 percent owned and controlled

by one or more women, and primarily managed by one or more women.

n The Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain increased access to federal procurement opportunities. Small businesses

may be eligible for HUBZone certification by employing staff who live in a HUBZone and maintain-

ing a principal office in one of these specially designated areas.

n Energy-Efficient Companies: Various laws, executive orders and procurement regulations now require federal agencies to purchase green (bio-based, recycled content, and energy efficient) products.

Other Resources:

n Find your local SBA office or call the SBA Answer Desk: 1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722).

n http://www.sba.gov may be translated into multiple languages by clicking on “Translate” in the top right corner.

n USASpending.gov is your source for information about government spending through contracts awarded by the U.S. government.

n The largest governmentwide contracts are established by the U.S. General Services Administration

under its GSA Schedules program. Vendors interested in becoming GSA Schedule contractors should review the Getting on the GSA Schedules page.

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35

Social Security Administration (SSA)

How it can assist AAPIs

The SSA is an independent agency of the federal government that administers Social Security, which encom-

passes several social welfare and social insurance programs for the elderly, families, disabled persons, and survivors.

SSA issues Social Security Numbers (SSNs), which are required to get a job, collect Social Security benefits, and receive other government services. Visit the website to apply for an SSN or to find more information.

n Disability benefits are paid to people who cannot work because they have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death. While some federal programs give money to people

with partial disabilities or short-term disabilities, Social Security does not. In general, to get disability benefits, you must meet two different earnings tests: a “recent work” test regarding how much time

you worked prior to becoming disabled, which is based on your age at the time you became disabled,

and a “duration of work” test to show that you worked long enough to qualify under Social Security.

n Retirement benefits are the foundation on which you can build a secure retirement. The program bases retirement benefit calculations on your earnings during a lifetime of work under the Social

Security system. For most current and future retirees, Social Security will base its payments on an

average of your 35 highest years of earnings.

n Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income and few resources. SSI provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and

shelter. The program also pays benefits to disabled children. Many people who are eligible for SSI also may be entitled to receive Social Security benefits.

n Survivor’s benefits are Social Security benefits that may be available if you are the survivor of a spouse or child of a worker who died who worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits.

n Medicare is the U.S. health insurance program for people age 65 or older, but certain younger people also can qualify. See page 11, the Department of Health and Human Services for more information.

SSA provides free interpreter services in languages, including Vietnamese, Tagalog, Laotian, Korean, Japa-nese, Hmong, Chinese, and Cambodian, to help you conduct your Social Security business. You can reach

interpreters by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting your local Social Security office.

Business Services Online (BSO) enables organizations and authorized individuals to conduct business with and submit confidential information to Social Security. You must register to use this resource. Registered users may request, activate and access various BSO services and functions, such as verifying employee SSNs.

Other Resources:

n SSA’s website provides information in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and other languages.

36

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

conclusion

The White House Initiative on AAPIs engaged with thousands of diverse stakeholders in cities and towns

across the country on how the federal agencies may better meet the needs of the growing AAPI population.

Of all the issues that were raised—from the need to collect and analyze data across ethnic subgroups, to disparities in educational attainment and health outcomes in the AAPI community—one issue emerged time

and time again: the need to help build the capacity of community-based organizations, coupled with the

general lack of awareness of what services and resources the federal government offers to improve the qual-

ity of life of AAPIs. During these conversations with community members, the seeds of this Guide to Federal Agency Resources were planted. We hope this guide provides individuals and organizations with a starting point and ideas on how to access federal resources available to help improve the quality of life of AAPIs.

Spotlight Grantee: Pacific American Foundation; Kailua, Hawaii

Federal Program: CARE Grant Program: EPA

The Pacific American Foundation (PAF) is a nonprofit organization that plans and administers programs

serving Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. PAF found the CARE grant appealing because of the

high priority placed on enabling affected communities to empower themselves. With a CARE grant, PAF

led the Wai’anae Coast Oahu project to examine the impact of pollutants from human activity on four

streams in the area. Human activities, including those producing runoff from agricultural and urban lands

adversely affected the subsistence and recreational use of the Wai’anae coastal waters, and the CARE

grant enabled extensive data collection to more accurately assess the problem. PAF Executive Direc-

tor Herb Lee Jr. describes his experience applying for a CARE grant, and shares advice for prospective

grantees.

The application process was straightforward, comprehensive, and thought provoking. Support at the

EPA Regional level in giving guidance and answering questions was superb. PAF does not have a

grant writer on staff and most grants are done in-house or by a contractor with specific skills and

experience. EPA was very helpful for both the Level I and Level II application processes.

For those interested in this grant program, do your homework. Start early. Consult with all potential

partners early and engage partners and community participants with specific agenda of items to be

accomplished. Allow all participants an opportunity to have ownership of the process early. As a

result, project outcomes and community solutions will have a much better chance of success.

Treat EPA, or any federal agency, as a true community partner. Create specific expectations for all

partners early so everyone knows how to contribute to the final outcome. EPA staff were cooperative

and supportive in answering questions we had about the application process, sharing successes in

other parts of the country, and really caring about applicants submitting a quality, well-thought-out

application. Even though we did not win a grant on our first attempt at a Level II, the process inspired us even more to persevere for the sake of our community and all our motivated partners.

For more information on the CARE Grant, visit http://www.epa.gov/care.

Guide to Federal Agency Resources | 2011

37

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders’

mission is to improve the quality of life and opportunities for Asian

Americans and Pacific Islanders by facilitating increased access to and

participation in, federal programs where they remain underserved.

www.whitehouse.gov/aapi

Document Outline

Contents

Introduction

Searching for Federal Assistance and Grants

Resources by Federal Department

Additional Federal Agencies

Conclusion