[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 8 (Friday, January 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2045-2055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-56]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Public Comment on the Proposed Adoption of ANA Program Policies 
and Procedures

AGENCY: Administration for Native Americans (ANA), Administration for 
Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Public Comment on the Proposed Adoption of ANA 
Program Policies and Procedures.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 814 of the Native American Programs Act of 
1974, as amended by 42 U.S.C. 2991b-1, the Administration for Native 
Americans (ANA) herein describes its proposed interpretive rules, 
general statements of policy and rules of agency procedure or practice 
in relation to the Social and Economic Development Strategies 
(hereinafter referred to as SEDS), Native Language Preservation and 
Maintenance (hereinafter referred to as Native Language), Environmental 
Regulatory Enhancement (hereinafter referred to as Environmental) 
programs, Environmental Mitigation (hereinafter referred to as 
Mitigation), and Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative 
(hereinafter referred to as NAHMI). Under the stature, ANA is required 
to provide members of the public an opportunity to comment on proposed 
changes in interpretive rules, general statements of policy, and rules 
of agency procedure or practice and to give notice of the final 
adoption of such changes at least 30 days before the changes become 
effective. This notice also provides additional information about ANA's 
plan for administering the programs.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments is 30 days from the date of 
publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments in response to this notice should be addressed to 
Sheila K. Cooper, Director of Programs Operations, Administration for 
Native Americans, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Mail Stop: Aerospace 2-
West, Washington, DC 20447. Delays may occur in mail delivery to 
Federal offices; therefore, a copy of comments should be faxed to (202) 
690-7441. Comments will be available for inspection by members of the 
public at Administration for Native Americans, Aerospace Center, 901 D 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila K. Cooper at (877) 922-9262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 814 of the Native American Programs 
Act of 1974, as amended, requires ANA to provide notice of its proposed 
interpretive rules, general statements of policy and rules of agency 
organization, procedure or practice. The proposed clarifications, 
modifications, and new text will appear in the five ANA FY 2008 Program 
Announcements (PA): SEDS, Native Language, Environmental, NAHMI and 
Mitigation. This notice serves to fulfill this requirement.
    Introduction. This Notice of Public Comment (NOPC) addresses two 
groups of changes:
     Changes made across all program areas (Part I of NOPC). 
These are changes to text that is found in each PA program area. 
Therefore, the changes cited in Part I apply to all PAs.
     Changes made to specific program areas (Part II of NOPC). 
ANA has made significant changes to the Native Language, NAHMI, SEDS 
and Mitigation programs. These changes are outlined in Part II.
    1. All program announcements will be revised to clarify program and 
application submission requirements for the public. These changes 
appear in the following sections: Definitions (Part A of NOPC), Funding 
Restrictions (Part B of NOPC), and Evaluation Criteria (Part C of 
NOPC). In addition, language and formatting changes have been made to 
various program area PAs in order to standardize the PAs across all 
program areas. These document formatting changes do not appear in this 
NOPC because the changes do not significantly affect or change the 
intent or meaning of the program information. Finally, funding 
restriction information will be applicable to all program areas and all 
PAs.
    (A) ANA Administrative Policies: As required by Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) appropriations acts, all HHS recipients 
must credit HHS/ACF on materials developed using ANA funds. Therefore, 
the following bullet has been modified to meet this agency requirement 
to credit HHS/ACF.
    The FY 2008 PA revised administrative policy will be:
    All funded applications will be reviewed to ensure that the 
applicant has provided a positive statement to give credit to HHS/ACF 
on all materials developed using HHS/ACF funds.
    (B) ANA Definitions: ANA has added six new definitions and 
clarified the definition of eight words. These new and revised 
definitions are provided for areas that applicants have historically 
found difficult to understand, have previously prompted numerous 
questions and have created application and project development 
inconsistencies. In addition, the revisions reflect changes in the 
evaluation criteria for FY 2008 PA. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) 
and (d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3.)
    i. New Definitions: The FY 2008 PA includes definitions for the 
following terms: impact, impact evaluation, project goal, project 
period, results and benefits, and statement of need.
    The FY 2008 PAs will include these new definitions:
    Impact: The change in the physical, economic, social, financial, 
governmental, institutional, behavioral, language or cultural 
conditions in a community as a result of the ANA-funded project.
    Impact Evaluation: Site visits conducted by ANA to provide grantees 
the opportunity to share, through qualitative and quantitative 
information, how the project goal and objectives were accomplished and 
how the identified community was impacted by the ANA-funded project.
    Project Goal: The specific result or purpose expected from the 
project. The project goal specifies what will be accomplished over the 
entire project period. The project goal relates to the community goal 
and is achieved through the project objectives and activities. The 
project goal should directly relate to the statement of need.
    Project Period: The total time for which the recipients' project or 
program is approved for support, including any extension, subject to 
the availability of funds, satisfactory progress and a determination by 
HHS that continued funding is in the best interest of the Government.
    Results and Benefits: Measurement descriptions used to track the 
progress

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of accomplishing an individual objective. The results and benefits must 
directly relate to the objective and the activities outlined in the 
Objective Work Plan (OWP) and include target numbers used to track the 
project's quarterly progress.
    Statement of Need: A clear, concise and precise description of the 
nature, scope and severity of a problem. A statement of need typically 
identifies the specific physical, economic, social, financial, 
governmental, institutional, behavioral, language or cultural 
challenges of the community. The statement of need is the problem that 
the proposed project will address.
    ii. Revised Definitions: The FY 2008 PA clarifies definitions for 
the following terms: budget period, completed project, impact 
indicators, in-kind contributions, letter of commitment, leveraged 
resources, objective and OWP.
    The FY 2008 PA revised definitions will be:
    Budget Period: The interval of time into which a project period is 
divided for budgetary and funding purposes, and for which a grant is 
made. A budget period usually lasts one year in a multi-year project 
period.
    Completed Project: A project funded by ANA is finished, self-
sustaining or funded by other than ANA funds and the results and 
outcomes of the funded project goal are achieved by the end of the 
project period.
    Impact Indicators: Measurement descriptions used to verifY the 
impact or the achievement of the project goal. Indicators must be 
quantifiable and documented. Impact indicators include target numbers 
and tracking systems. ANA requires three impact indicators per project. 
Impact indicators are separate from the results and benefits section of 
the Objective Work Plan (OWP).
    In-kind Contributions: In-kind contributions are the value of goods 
and/or services that benefit a Federally assisted project. In-kind 
contributions are provided without charge to a recipient (or sub-
recipient or cost-type contractor under a grant). Any proposed in-kind 
match must meet the applicable requirements found in 45 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Part 74 and Part 92.
    Letter of Commitment: A letter documenting the commitment to 
provide cash or in-kind contributions to meet the applicant match 
requirement. The letter of commitment may be from the applicant or a 
third-party. The letter of commitment must state the dollar amount (if 
applicable), the length of time the commitment will be honored and the 
conditions under which the organization will support the ANA project. 
If a dollar amount is included, the amount must be based on market and 
historical rates charged and paid. The in-kind contributions to be 
committed may be human, natural, physical or financial, and may include 
other Federal and non-Federal resources.
    Leveraged Resources: The non-ANA resources acquired during the 
project period that support the project and exceed the 20 percent 
applicant match required for ANA grants. Such resources may include any 
natural, financial and physical resources available within the Tribe, 
organization or community to assist in the successful completion of the 
project. An example would be an organization that agrees to provide a 
supportive action, product, service, human or financial contribution 
that will add to the potential success of the project.
    Objective(s): Specific outcomes or results to be achieved within 
the proposed project period that are specified in the OWP. Completion 
of objectives must result in specific, measurable outcomes that would 
benefit the community and directly contribute to the achievement of the 
stated project goals. These measurable outcomes are documented in the 
results and benefits section of the OWP. Applicants should relate their 
proposed project objectives to outcomes that support the community's 
long-range goals. Each objective should be Specific, Measurable, 
Achievable, Results-oriented and Time-bound (SMART). Objectives are the 
foundation for the OWPs. A project cannot have more than three 
objectives per project period. Objectives may last more than ore budget 
period for multi-year projects.
    Objective Work Plan (OWP): The ANA form that documents the project 
plan the applicant will use to achieve the objectives and produce the 
results and benefits expected for each objective. The OWP provides a 
project goal statement, objectives and detailed activities proposed for 
the project and how, when, where and by whom the activities will be 
carried out. ANA will require separate OWPs for each year of the 
project (the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) No. 0980-0204, expo 
12/31/2009).
    (C) ANA Disqualification Factors: In order to align to the new OMB 
format for Announcement of Federal Funding, ANA is relocating and 
clarifying the long standing Tribal Resolution Administrative policy 
statement. The Administrative Policy statement will be removed from 
Section I Funding Opportunity Description, ANA Administrative Policies 
to Section III.3 Disqualification Factors.
    The FY 2008 PA new disqualification factor will be:
    Applications, including Tribally authorized components and 
divisions, must include a Resolution (a formal decision voted on by the 
official governing body) approving the application. The Resolution must 
be current, signed, dated and cover the entire project period. 
Applications that do not include a complete Resolution will be 
considered non-responsive and the application will not be considered 
for competition.
    (D) ANA Funding Restrictions: To reduce uncertainty, ANA has 
clarified its funding restriction policies. The first three bulleted 
statements identified below provide clarity on program project funding 
overlaps. This change ensures that ANA provides project funding to the 
greatest number of needy communities. The fourth bulleted statement 
clarifies the realignment of ANA goals across all program areas, 
provides clarity on funding restrictions applicable to projects 
submitted with critical gaps in the project plan and requires 
significant revisions to the OWP, project approach or the 
implementation strategy. The fifth bulleted statement restricts funding 
for projects that support Native languages that do not have living 
speakers. This restriction ensures that ANA's limited funds preserve 
and maintain currently spoken languages, especially those in danger of 
losing living speakers. It also promotes intergenerational 
communication so that speakers, generally elders, teach youth. (Legal 
authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American 
Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3.)
    The FY 2008 PA text will be:
     Projects that allow any one community or region to receive 
a disproportionate share of the funds available for award. When making 
decisions on grant awards ANA will assess and consider whether the 
community or region is already receiving funding for a SEDS, Native 
Language or Environmental project from ANA.
     Applicants that submit a project that is essentially 
identical or similar in whole or in part, to previously funded 
projects.
     Projects that are essentially identical or similar in 
whole or in part to previously funded projects in the same community.
     Projects that do not further the three inter-related ANA 
goals of economic development, social development and

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cultural preservation or are unlikely to be successful based on the 
proposed project approach and implementation strategy.
     Projects that seek to revive Native languages that do not 
have any living speakers.
    (E) ANA Application Evaluation Criteria: In order to clarify for 
the applicant the necessity to provide appropriate information under 
each evaluation criteria, ANA has further defined application titles, 
reconfigured the assigned criteria weight and clarified the text within 
each criterion to avoid duplication of information requested.
    i. Titles and Assigned Weight: In the FY 2008 PA ANA will adjust 
the weighted scores for all criteria in all program areas. The weighted 
score adjustments are made to indicate the value of the evaluation 
criteria and the criterion titles are changed to add clarity to the 
focus of the criterion section. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and 
(d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 
42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3.)
    For the FY 2008 ANA Program Announcement, the criteria weighted 
scores will be:
    Criterion One--Project Summary (3 pts.);
    Criterion Two--Need for Assistance (18 pts.);
    Criterion Three--Project Approach (40 pts.);
    Criterion Four--Organizational Capacity (17 pts.);
    Criterion Five--Project Impact/Evaluation (7 pts.);
    Criterion Six--Budget and Budget Justification/Cost Effectiveness 
(15 pts.).
    ii. ANA Evaluation Criteria.
    a. Criterion One--Project Summary: The request for an introductory 
summary narrative text will be removed from the FY 08 PA because the 
same information is also requested for the ANA Project Abstract form. 
This change reduces redundancy in the application process. (Legal 
authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American 
Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3.)
    The new FY 2008 PA text for Criterion One will be:
    Project Summary: This criterion will be evaluated to the extent the 
ANA Project Abstract form is present and properly completed. The 
Project Abstract provides crucial project information in a concise 
format and is used by the independent review panel, ANA staff and the 
Commissioner during all phases of the review process. The project 
summary section of the abstract focuses on the specific purpose of the 
proposal. The summary must include a brief statement of need, the 
project goal, project objectives and impact indicators. The Abstract 
must clearly indicate the Priority Area for which the applicant is 
submitting the application for funding consideration.
    b. Criterion Two--Need for Assistance: Through project evaluations, 
ANA has determined that there are several factors in this criterion 
that are critical to project management, monitoring, and success. 
Therefore, in the FY 2008 PA this criterion is categorized into five 
subcriteria with weighted scores and includes expanded instructions to 
encourage applicants to more fully describe each of the critical 
factors. Furthermore, ANA is adding a request for a statement of need 
and a project goal. ANA anticipates that these inclusions will result 
in better defined project scopes and objectives. (Legal authority: 
Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 
1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3.)
    The new FY 2008 PA text for the Objectives and Need for Assistance 
criterion will be:
    Need for Assistance: This criterion will be evaluated to the extent 
the applicant describes the community to be served by the project, 
identifies the community goal(s), defines the need, describes community 
involvement and relates the project goal to the community goal(s).
     Identification of Community (2 points): Provide 
appropriate background information on the community to be served, 
including geographic location of the project, where the project will be 
administered and a description of the community to be served by the 
project. A description of the community can include, but is not limited 
to, the following: (1) A description of the population segment within 
the community to be served or impacted; (2) the size of the community; 
(3) a geographic description or location, including the boundaries of 
the community; (4) demographic data on the target population; and (5) 
the relationship of the community to any larger group or Tribe.
    Applicants from national and regional Native organizations must 
describe their organizational membership. Explain how the organization 
serves and impacts Native communities.
     Community Goals (2 points): Provide information on the 
community's long-range goals. Information can include, but is not 
limited to, materials such as excerpts from a community strategic plan 
or the mission statement of a non-profit organization.
     Statement of Need (3 points): A statement of need is a 
clear, concise and precise description of the nature, scope and 
severity of a problem. Create a statement of need that identifies the 
specific physical, economic, social, financial, governmental, 
institutional, language or cultural challenges of the applicant to be 
addressed by the proposed project.
     Community Involvement (6 points): Describe in detail how 
the community to be served was involved in the planning process and the 
origins of the project idea. Describe the community participation in 
writing the project proposal. Demonstrate and document community and/or 
Tribal government support for the project. Discuss the relationship of 
any non-ANA-funded activities supportive of the project. Documented 
support is a critical element of this evaluation criterion and 
includes, but is not limited to, materials such as letters of support, 
testimonials and community meeting minutes.
     Project Goal (5 points): Introduce the project goal and 
briefly state the project objective(s). The project goal is the 
specific result or purpose expected to be accomplished over the entire 
project period. The project goal should directly relate to the 
statement of need and an identified community goal.
    c. Criterion Three--Project Approach: The FY 2008 PA criterion is 
organized into four subcriteria with respective weighted scores to 
identify critical factors in project implementation, management, 
monitoring, and leading to overall project success. The OWP 
instructions will be clearly separate from the project strategy. 
Descriptions for both contingency plans and sustainability plans will 
be expanded. ANA will limit the number of objectives to a maximum of 
three per project period. Finally, as a result of project monitoring 
and evaluation reviews, ANA is limiting the number of objectives for 
each project to three. This change will allow applicants to focus on 
the activities that are necessary to meet the project goal and 
objectives. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the 
Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 
2991b-3.)
    The Criterion Three text in the FY 2008 PA will be:
    Project Approach: This criterion will be evaluated to the extent 
the applicant includes a narrative that addresses the project strategy, 
the challenges and contingency plan, the sustainability plan, and the 
ANA OWP form.

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     Project Strategy (10 points): Present a narrative on the 
project strategy and implementation plan for the entire project period. 
Be clear and concise. Provide a clear relationship between the proposed 
project goal and the project objectives. Discuss how the project 
objectives will support and assist the achievement of the project goal. 
Discuss how the project goal will support and assist the achievement of 
the community's long-range goals.
    (Note: for SEDS projects only) If relevant to the project, 
applicants must provide a Business Plan as an attachment.
    Project Challenges and Contingency Planning (5 points): Based on 
ANA's project funding history and information gathered from project 
impact evaluations, ANA has determined that all projects encounter 
challenges and therefore need to have a contingency plan should a 
significant challenge arise. Challenges can arise because applicants 
make assumptions about critical events, conditions and/or decisions 
outside of the control of project management. The applicant needs to 
identify challenges that may arise during the project's initial start-
up and throughout the project period. Consider such challenges as 
difficulty hiring and retaining key staff, difficulty recruiting 
community members and/or volunteers for project activities, difficulty 
recruiting target audience (e.g., students, children, elders), 
difficulty securing agreed upon support from partners to provide 
services/funding, planning shortfalls, possible disruption of the 
project timeline due to Tribal elections and difficulty securing 
permits or licensing from government entities. Identify potential 
challenges and explain the contingency plan that will be implemented to 
overcome those challenges. The contingency plan should ensure that the 
project will be successfully completed within the proposed funded 
timeframe.
     Sustainability Plan (5 points). Establish whether the 
project will be completed, self-sustaining, or funded by other than ANA 
funds at the end of the project period. If the project is to be 
completed, explain why the project does not need to continue. For 
projects that are expected to continue after ANA funding has expired, 
present the vision showing how this project will be sustained. For 
example, explain how a self-sustaining project will generate sufficient 
funds to continue.
     Objective Work Plan (20 points). The ANA OWP form is the 
blueprint for the project. The OWP provides detailed descriptions of 
the project goal, the project objectives, supporting activities and the 
results and benefits to be expected. It provides the what, how, when, 
where, and by whom of the project. As such, it is a stand alone 
document that should provide sufficient information for an application 
reviewer, ANA staff or a project manager to understand the project and 
how it will be implemented. The OWP is the basis for reporting on the 
project.
    A project cannot exceed three objectives per project period. 
Complete an ANA OWP form for each objective per budget period. Some 
objectives will require more than one form, especially if submitting an 
electronic application. In addition, some objectives may last more than 
one budget period. Ensure the objective is correctly stated in the OWP, 
the project narrative and on the ANA Abstract form.
    The objective statement should contain the following basic 
elements: What will be accomplished during the project period and when 
it will be accomplished. Each objective should be Specific, Measurable, 
Achievable, Results-oriented and Time-bound (SMART).
    For each objective, list activities that provide a road map to 
achieve the objective. Each activity is a step in the logical 
progression of the project. Include specific and significant activities 
(e.g., hiring staff developing first draft), ongoing activities (e.g., 
meetings and classes), the submission of required ANA reports and 
attendance at ANA post-award training. Especially useful are activities 
that show progress and/or results on a quarterly basis. Explain how the 
activities outlined in the OWP will lead to the successful achievement 
of the project objectives and goal.
    Identify the position responsible for the completion of each 
activity by identifying the title(s) of the salaried project staff 
person(s). Identify time periods that are realistic to complete each 
activity. Use elapsed times from the start of the project (e.g., month 
1, month 2) rather than absolute dates. September 30 is the start date 
for each budget period. Identify the non-salary personnel hours, 
including non-salaried contributors (paid or in-kind) to the project. 
List hours according to who is providing them (e.g., Committee person--
10 hours; ABC Consultant--5 hours). Provide supporting documentation 
for the hours listed in this column. If applying on http://www.grants.gov, be aware that each objective is limited to eight 
activities on the OWP form. Furthermore, each section has a limitation 
on the number of characters (i.e., 180) that are allowed.
    The results and benefits section of the OWP is used to track the 
progress of accomplishing an individual objective. The results and 
benefits must directly relate to the activities that support the 
accomplishment of an objective in the OWP. The results and benefits are 
used to monitor the project's quarterly progress and must include 
target numbers. The criteria for evaluating the results and benefits 
expected are of the applicant's choosing and need to be documented and 
verifiable.
    d. Criterion Four--Organizational Capacity: The FY 2008 PA 
criterion will be organized into two subcriteria with weighted scores 
and expanded instructions to identify factors related to organizational 
capacity (management structure, administrative structure and financial 
competence) and project staffing, which are critical to project 
success. Additional information on the staffing pattern will ensure 
applicants consider the time to hire, qualifications needed and 
requisite staff responsibilities. ANA has determined that difficulty 
achieving target dates for hiring often results in the need for budget 
modifications and project extensions or results in the inability to 
meet the project's objectives and goal. (Legal authority: Section 
803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3.)
    The FY 2008 Criterion Four text will be:
    Organizational Capacity: This criterion will be evaluated to the 
extent the applicant demonstrates their organizational capacity and 
ability to staff and implement the proposed project.
     Organizational Capacity (12 points): Provide information 
on the management structure of the applicant such as personnel and 
financial policies. Describe the administrative structure of the 
applicant and the systems to track the funding and progress of the 
project. Demonstrate the applicant's capacity and ability to administer 
and implement a project of the proposed scope. Include an 
organizational chart that indicates where the ANA project will fit in 
the existing administrative structure.
    List all sources of Federal funding the applicant currently 
oversees. Include information on the funding agency, purpose of the 
funding and amount. Provide the most recent certified signed audit 
letter for the organization. If the applicant has audit exceptions, 
these issues should be discussed within this criterion, detailing any 
steps taken to overcome the exceptions.

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    Applicants are required to affirm that they will credit ANA and 
reference the ANA-funded project on any audio, video and/or printed 
materials developed in whole or in part with ANA funds.
    A consortium applicant must identify the consortium membership and 
describe roles and responsibilities of each member in relation to the 
proposed project. One member of the consortium must be the recipient of 
the ANA funds. A consortium applicant must be an eligible entity as 
defined by this program announcement and the ANA regulations. Include 
documentation signed by the membership supporting the ANA application. 
ANA will not fund activities by a consortium of Tribes that duplicate 
activities for which member Tribes also receive funding from ANA. 
Include a copy of the consortia legal agreement or memoranda of 
agreement.
    List all of the applicant's partners that will be providing support 
to the project's implementation. Include information on the current 
organizational relationship between the applicant and the partner. The 
experience and expertise of these partners must align with the 
activities stated in the OWP that they will be supporting. This 
information should state the nature, amount and conditions under which 
another agency, organization or individual will support a project 
funded by ANA.
     Project Staffing Plan (5 points): Provide staffing and 
position data that includes a proposed staffing pattern for the 
project. Describe the process and general timeframe to hire staff (such 
as advertising or recruiting from within the community). Explain how 
the current and future staff will manage the proposed project. Full 
project position descriptions are required to be submitted as an 
attachment. Brief biographies and/or resumes of identified key 
positions or individuals will be included as an attachment. Project 
positions discussed in this section must match the positions identified 
in the OWP and in the itemized budget.
    Note: Applicants are strongly encouraged to give preference to 
qualified Native Americans, in accordance with applicable laws, in 
hiring project staff and in contracting services under an approved ANA 
grant. (In the last statement, ANA is clarifying the suggested hiring 
preference for Native Americans for ANA-funded projects (42 V.S.C. 
2991b-2(c)(6)).
    e. Criterion Five--Project Impact/Evaluation: The FY 2008 PA 
criterion text will focus on impact indicators and remove results and 
benefits expected. Furthermore, the number of required impact 
indicators is reduced from five to three and the list of possible 
impact indicators has been removed. ANA anticipates that these changes 
and the revised description of impact indicators will result in the 
selection and tracking of project-specific, applicant-selected impact 
indicators. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the 
Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 
2991b-3.)
    The FY 2008 PA Criterion text will be:
    Project Impact/Evaluation: This criterion will be evaluated to the 
extent the applicant addresses the relationship between the project 
goal and the impact indicators.
    ANA conducts on-site community impact evaluations during the last 
quarter of the project period Impact evaluations provide grantees the 
opportunity to share, through qualitative and quantitative information, 
how the project goal and objectives were accomplished and how the 
identified community was impacted by the ANA-funded project. This 
information is then submitted in an annual report to Congress.
    Impact Indicators (7 points): Impact indicators are measurement 
descriptions used to verify the achievement of the project goal and are 
separate and distinct from the results and benefits section of the OWP. 
ANA uses impact indicators to determine if a grantee has achieved the 
expected project goal. Impact is defined as the change in physical, 
economic, social, financial, governmental, institutional, behavioral, 
language or cultural conditions as a result of the project.
    Each applicant must submit three impact indicators. Two of the 
three project indicators are standard and required across all ANA 
programs and the third is directly related to the project goal. The 
required, standard ANA impact indicators are (1) the number of 
partnerships formed and (2) the amount of leveraged resources (see 
Definitions). The third required impact indicator is used to track the 
success of the project in achieving the project goal and is developed 
by the applicant. Discuss how this impact indicator relates to the 
project goal. For each impact indicator submitted provide a system to 
track the indicator and a target number. Explain the rationale used to 
choose the target number. Impact indicators are tracked throughout the 
grant and are reported quarterly.
    f. Criterion Six--Budget and Budget Justification/Cost 
Effectiveness: The FY 2008 PA criterion is organized into two 
subcriteria with weighted scores and expanded instructions. The purpose 
of assigning weighted scores for both the budget and the budget 
justification is to provide clarity and to emphasize the importance and 
need to submit itemized line-item budgets separately from budget 
justifications. It is ANA's experience that separate documents are 
essential for review and monitoring of projects. Furthermore, the 
budget justification and cost effectiveness components have been 
consolidated to emphasize the relationship between the cost 
justification and cost reasonableness. (Legal authority: section 803(a) 
and (d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as 
amended, 42 V.S.C. 2991b and 2991 b-3.)
    The FY 2008 PA Criterion text is:
    Budget and Budget Justification/Cost Effectiveness: This criterion 
will be evaluated to the extent the applicant provides information on 
the Federal funds request, applicant match requirement, and 
reasonableness of costs. ANA requires applicants to submit an itemized 
budget for the costs associated with the successful accomplishment of 
the project objectives and goal. The budget must include estimated 
costs, a budget justification and information on cost effectiveness.
     Budget (5 points): Submit itemized budgets that list the 
Federal request and applicant match requirement. An itemized budget 
must be submitted for each budget period. These budgets should align 
with each Object Class Category listed under section B-Budget 
Categories of the Budget Information-Non Construction Programs on the 
SF-424A form. These sections are explained in section II of this 
program announcement.
    The following is important to consider when preparing the budget: 
personnel costs should reflect the time needed to hire staff, if key 
personnel need to be hired and the hiring process is two months, then 
calculate the salary based on ten months, rather than twelve; include 
travel expenses for the chief financial officer and project director to 
attend a regional ANA post-award training; include local travel (e.g., 
mileage for local meetings) in the Other budget category, not in the 
Travel budget category.
     Budget Justification/Cost Effectiveness (10 points): 
Submit justification narratives that support and align with the Federal 
request and applicant match requirement. The justification should 
identify how the calculations for each of the line-items were developed 
and explain how they are important to the project. Include the

[[Page 2050]]

necessary details to facilitate the determination of allowable costs 
and the relevance of these costs to the proposed project.
    Demonstrate cost effectiveness of the budget by explaining why this 
project and associated costs are an effective use of ANA resources. 
Indicate how the proposed budget aligns with regional costs and why 
funding is necessary to resolve the statement of need Identify source 
or include documentation of price quotations, where possible.
    Identify the source of the required applicant match and provide 
documentation in the form of letters of commitment (see Definitions).
    Submit a copy of the current Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (see 
Uniform Project Description definitions) in order to charge or 
otherwise seek credit for indirect costs. The agreement must have all 
costs broken down by category so ANA reviewers can be certain that no 
budgeted line-items are included in the indirect cost pool. Applicants 
that do not submit a current Indirect Cost Rate Agreement may not be 
able to claim the allowable cost, may have the grant award amount 
reduced, or may experience a delay in the grant award.
     (Note: For SEDS projects only) For business development 
projects, demonstrate that the expected return on the ANA funds used to 
develop the project will provide a reasonable operating income and 
investment return within a specified time period If a profit-making 
venture is being proposed, profits must be reinvested in the business 
in order to decrease or eliminate ANA's future participation. Such 
revenue must be reported as general program income. A decision will be 
made at the time of the grant award regarding appropriate use of 
program income (see 45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92).
    II. ANA FY 2008 Program Specific Changes. ANA FY 2008 PAs for the 
Native Language Program; NAHMI, SEDS, and Mitigation include changes 
specific to those programs. Changes are found throughout the PA and are 
identified below for each specific program.
    (A) ANA Native Language: Changes to the Native Languages program 
area description, definitions, and priority area descriptions reflect 
the addition of Category IV: Native Language Immersion Projects to 
include the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act 
of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-394). Each one of ANA's language categories builds 
on the other. Language Category IV is the logical next step in the 
process of cultural preservation through the implementation of language 
immersion programs. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C 
of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
2991b and 2991b-3 and Pub. L. 109-394.)
    i. Executive Summary
    The FY 2008 PA Executive Summary will be:
    The Administration for Native Americans (ANA), within the 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announces the 
availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 funds for new community-based 
activities under ANA's Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
program area. Financial assistance is provided using a competitive 
process in accordance with the Native American Programs Act of 1974, 
and the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 
2006. ANA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants for the 
purpose of assisting Native Americans in assuring the survival and 
continuing vitality of their languages. Grants are provided under the 
following four categories: Category I--Native Language Assessment 
grants are used to conduct the assessment needed to identify the 
current status of the Native American language(s) to be addressed; 
Category II--Native Language Project Planning grants are used to plan a 
language project; Category III--Native Language Project Implementation 
grants are used to implement a preservation language project that will 
contribute to the achievement of the community's long-range language 
goal(s); and Category IV--Native Language Immersion Project grants are 
only used for immersion projects with language nests and language 
survival schools in accordance with Public Law 109-394.
    ii. Funding Opportunity Description:
    The following statements will be added in the FY 2008 PA:
    (To Legislative Authority) Esther Martinez Native American 
Languages Preservation Act of 2006, Public Law 109-394
    (To Funding Opportunity Description, after the first paragraph) In 
2006, Congress passed the Esther Martinez Native American Language 
Preservation Act of 2006, Public Law 109-394. The law amends the Native 
American Programs Act of 1974 to provide for the revitalization of 
Native American languages through Native American language immersion 
programs, and for other purposes.
    (To Funding Opportunity Description, 1st sentence) For Category IV 
projects, applicants must abide by the parameters established by Public 
Law 109-394.
    iii. The FY 2008 PA will be amended to include the following 
statement prior to the Category One description:
    Please note that this announcement is divided into four priority 
areas. The first priority area is Category I--Native Language 
Assessment; the second priority area is Category II--Native Language 
Project Planning; the third priority area is Category III--Native 
Language Project Implementation; and the fourth priority area is 
Category IV--Native Language Immersion Project. Information on each 
priority area immediately follows section VIII of the preceding program 
area. The Standard Form (SF) 424 and ANA Project Abstract form must 
clearly indicate the correct priority area category (I, II, III or IV). 
An applicant cannot apply for more than one category.
    iv. ANA added definitions in order to clarify Category IV.
    The FY 2008 Native Language PA includes these definitions:
    Language Nests as defined by Public Law 109-394: Site-based 
educational programs that provide Native language instruction and child 
care through the use of a Native American language for at least 10 
children under the age of 7 for an average of at least 500 hours per 
year per student, provide classes in a Native American language for 
parents (or legal guardians) of students enrolled in a Native American 
language nest (including Native American language-speaking parents) and 
ensure that a Native American language is the dominant medium of 
instruction in the Native American language nest.
    Language Survival Schools as defined by Public Law 109-394: Site-
based educational programs for school age students that provide an 
average of at least 500 hours of Native language instruction through 
the use of 1 or more Native American language for at least 15 students 
for whom a Native American language survival school is their principal 
place of instruction, develop instructional courses and materials for 
learning Native American languages and for instruction through the use 
of Native American languages, provide for teacher training, work toward 
a goal of all students achieving fluency in a Native American language 
and academic proficiency in mathematics, reading (or language arts) and 
science and are located in areas that have high numbers or percentages 
of Native American students.
    v. The descriptions for Native Language Categories I, II and III 
will be revised and Category IV will be added.
    a. Category I--Native Language Assessment

[[Page 2051]]

    The FY 2008 PA Category I program area of interest will be:
    A project that compiles, collects and organizes Native language 
data in order to have a current description of the community's language 
status obtained through a ``formal'' method (e.g., work performed by a 
linguist and/or a language survey conducted by community members) or an 
``informal method'' (e.g., a community consensus of the language status 
based on elders, Tribal scholars, and/or other community members).
    b. Category II--Native Language Project Planning
    The FY 2008 PA Category II description will be:
    The purpose of a Category II--Native Language Planning Project is 
to encourage Tribes and Native organizations to plan and design Native 
language projects. Applicants are encouraged to develop a project that 
results in a comprehensive plan to preserve the Native language that 
uses current community language assessment data, reviews innovative 
methods that bring older and younger Native Americans together to teach 
and learn the language, and considers all essential elements needed to 
sustain and implement a language project. Category II--Planning 
Projects are for planning and design only and do not include activities 
that call for direct language learning or instruction. Program areas of 
interest include:
     Projects to plan and design Master/Apprentice programs;
     Projects to plan and design a comprehensive Native 
language immersion programs for a language nest or survival school;
     Projects that plan, design, and test curriculum for 
students, parents and language instructors;
     Projects that plan and design teaching materials;
     Projects that plan and design multi-media language 
learning tools;
     Projects that plan and design a teacher certification 
program.
    c. Category III--Native Language Project Implementation
    The FY 2008 Category III description will be:
    The purpose of Category III grants is to provide support to Tribes 
and Native organizations in the implementation of a Native language 
project to achieve the community's long-range language goal(s). Program 
areas of interest under Category III include:
     Projects to produce and disseminate culturally relevant 
printed stories for children, on mental and physical disabilities, 
using the Native language of the community;
     Projects to facilitate and encourage inter-generational 
teaching of Native American language skills;
     Projects to train teachers, interpreters or translators of 
Native languages;
     Projects to disseminate culturally relevant materials to 
be used to teach and enhance the use of Native American languages;
     Projects to implement an immersion, mentor or distance 
learning model;
     Projects to produce, distribute or participate in 
television, radio or other media forms to broadcast Native languages;
     Projects to compile, transcribe and perform analysis of 
oral testimony;
     Projects to implement an educational site-based immersion 
project.
    d. Category IV--Native Language Immersion Projects
    The FY 2008 Category IV description will be:
    The purpose of Category IV grants is to fund Native American 
Language Immersion projects. The only program areas of interest funded 
under this priority area are immersion projects for language nests or 
for language survival schools.
    The program area of interest for a Category IV language nest 
project as defined by statute are site-based educational programs 
that--
    [cir] provide Native language instruction and child care through 
the use of a Native American language for at least 10 children under 
the age of 7 for an average of at least 500 hours per year per student, 
provide classes in a Native American language for parents (or legal 
guardians) of students enrolled in a Native American language nest 
(including Native American language-speaking parents) and ensure that a 
Native American language is the dominant medium of instruction in the 
Native American language nest.
    The program area of interest for a Category IV language survival 
school as defined by statute are site-based educational programs for 
school-age students that--
    [cir] provide an average of at least 500 hours of Native language 
instruction through the use of 1 or more Native American language for 
at least 15 students for whom a Native American language survival 
school is their principal place of instruction, develop instructional 
courses and materials for learning Native American languages and for 
instruction through the use of Native American languages, provide for 
teacher training, work toward a goal of all students achieving fluency 
in a Native American language and academic proficiency in mathematics, 
reading (or language arts) and science and are located in areas that 
have high numbers or percentages of Native American students.
    vi. Evaluation Criteria. In addition to the newly developed 
evaluation criteria presented in Part I. C. of this NOPC, additional 
information requests for the Native Language program have been added. 
The additional information reflects the priority area-specific 
information that is necessary for project review and administration. 
(Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native 
American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3 
and Public Law 109-394.)
    a. Category I--Native Language Assessment
    The FY 2008 PA will include the following statement in Criterion 
Two--Need for Assistance, Identification of Community:
    Describe the known status of the Native American language(s) in the 
community. Indicate how many known speakers of the language(s) are in 
the community.
    b. Category II--Native Language Planning
    The FY 2008 PA will include the following in Criterion Two--Need 
for Assistance, Identification of Community:
    Describe the current status of the Native American language to be 
addressed in this planning project. Current status is defined as data 
compiled within the previous 36 months. The description of the current 
status minimally includes the following information: Age, gender and 
number of speakers; level(s) of fluency; number of first language 
speakers, number of second language speakers, and level of fluency; 
where Native language is used, e.g., home, court system, religious 
ceremonies, church, media, school, governance and cultural activities; 
rate of language loss or gain; and the source of data (formal and/or 
informal).
    Fully describe existing community language programs and projects, 
if any, in support of the Native American language to be addressed by 
the ANA project. If the applicant has never had a language program, 
include a detailed explanation of what barriers or circumstances 
prevented the establishment of a community language program.
    c. Category III--Native Language Implementation
    The FY 2008 PA will include the following in Criterion Two--Need 
for

[[Page 2052]]

Assistance, Identification of Community:
    Describe the current status of the Native American language to be 
addressed in this project. Current status is defined as data compiled 
within the previous 36 months. The description of the current status 
minimally includes the following information: Age, gender and number of 
speakers; level(s) of fluency; number of first language speakers, 
number of second language speakers, and level of fluency; where Native 
language is used, e.g., home, court system, religious ceremonies, 
church, media, school, governance and cultural activities; rate of 
language loss or gain; and the source of data (formal and/or informal).
    Describe existing community language programs and projects, if any, 
in support of the Native American language to be addressed by the ANA 
project. If the applicant has never had a language program, include a 
detailed explanation of what barriers or circumstances prevented the 
establishment of a community language program.
    The FY 2008 PA will include the following in Criterion--Three 
Approach, Project Strategy:
    Include a brief description of how the project will determine 
effective language growth has occurred in the community.
    Describe how the project's methodology, research data, outcomes, or 
other products can be shared and modified for use by other Tribes or 
Native communities. If this is not feasible or is culturally 
inappropriate, provide the reasons. The goal is to provide 
opportunities to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native 
languages.
    Describe how the products of the project will be preserved through 
archival or other culturally appropriate methods, for the benefit of 
future generations. Native language projects that produce audio or 
print media will now include a stipulation that a copy of the products 
will be provided to ANA for the Language Repository. Federally 
recognized Tribes are exempt from this stipulation and may choose not 
to submit project products.
    d. Category IV--Language Immersion Projects
    The FY 2008 PA will include the following in Criterion Two--Need 
for Assistance, Identification of Community:
    Describe the current status of the Native American language to be 
addressed in this project. Current status is defined as data compiled 
within the previous 36 months.
    The FY 2008 PA will include the following in Criterion Three--
Approach, Project Strategy:
    Fully describe the existing Native language program(s), and include 
the following: (1) The program goals; (2) the number of program 
participants; (3) the number of speakers; (4) the age range of 
participants (e.g., 0-5, 6-10, 11-18); (5) the number of language 
teachers; (6) the criteria used to acknowledge competency of language 
teachers; (7) the resources available to the applicant (e.g., valid 
grammars, dictionaries and orthographies) or describe other suitable 
resources; and (8) the program achievements.
    The FY 2008 PA will include the following in Criterion Four--
Organizational Capacity, Organizational Capacity:
    For language nest projects, the applicant shall provide information 
on the capacity of the organization to provide instruction and child 
care for at least 10 children under the age of 7 for an average of at 
least 500 hours per year per student. The applicant shall also provide 
information on the capacity of the applicant to provide classes to the 
parents of the students in the language nest.
    For a language survival school project, the applicant shall provide 
information on the capacity of the organization to provide an average 
of at least 500 hours of instruction through the use of 1 or more 
Native American languages for at least 15 students. Information must 
include a certification by the applicant that the applicant has not 
less than 3 years of experience in operating and administering a Native 
American language survival school, a Native American language nest or 
any other educational program in which instruction is conducted in a 
Native American language. Certification should include at least 3 years 
of accreditation by the State or Tribe to teach the Native American 
language to the relevant age group.
    vii. Funding Thresholds. The new FY 2008 priority area will revise 
the funding thresholds for each language category, which reflects ANA 
availability for funds in this program area. (Legal authority: Section 
803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3 and Public Law 109-394.)
    viii. Project Periods: The new FY 2008 Native Language categories 
will have specific project periods. Category I will be a 12-month 
project period; Category II will be a 12- or 24-month project period; 
Category III will be a 12-, 24-, or 36-month project; and Category IV 
will be 36-month-only project period. These project periods allow ANA 
to fund the greatest number of projects while still allowing ample time 
for projects in each category to be completed. (Legal authority: 
Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 
1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3 and Public Law 109-394.)
    ix. Forms, Assurances, and Certifications. The additional 
certification requirement was added to comply with the Esther Martinez 
Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006. (Legal authority: 
Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 
1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3 and Public Law 109-394.)
    The FY 2008 PA Category IV--Language Immersion will include an 
additional requirement:
    For applicants applying as a Category IV Native American language 
survival school, submit the following certification:
     A certification that the applicant has operated and 
administered a Native American language survival school, a Native 
American language nest, or any other educational program in which 
instruction is conducted in a Native American language for at least 3 
years. Certification may include accreditation from the applicant's 
State and/or Tribe.
    (B) ANA NAHMI: The FY 2008 PA includes two priority areas, 
specifically Category I--NAHMI Project Planning and Category II--NAHMI 
Project Implementation. The division of the NAHMI program area into two 
priority areas will make developing project proposals more feasible for 
applicants and executing projects more manageable for grantees. It also 
will lead to reduced project periods, thus reducing the challenges of 
long-term budget requirements and grant administration. ANA anticipates 
that these changes will increase applications under this program area. 
Category II includes additional program areas of interest, specifically 
projects that target fathers and absentee parents. These areas of 
interest were included because they have a direct impact on child 
welfare. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the 
Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 
2991b-3.)
    i. Executive Summary
    a. In the first paragraph the FY 2008 PA will state: * * * funds 
for projects that plan for and implement approaches to improve * * * 
and strengthening families (including absentee parent activities) in 
Native American communities.

[[Page 2053]]

    b. The FY 2008 PA text, beginning with the third paragraph which 
focuses on NAHMI, will be:
    The Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative (NAHMI) is a 
component of the ACF HMI (Healthy Marriage Initiative) and specifically 
promotes planning and implementing culturally competent strategies for 
fostering healthy marriages, responsible fatherhood and child well-
being to strengthen families within the Native American Community.
    ANA believes a focused strategy is needed to support the Native 
American Community because of the unique experiences of the Native 
American population, and there is a clear link between healthy marriage 
and child wellbeing. The NAHMI-focused strategy includes three 
components: (1) Education and Communication; (2) the Creation and 
Enhancement of Collaborations and Partnerships; and (3) Identifying 
Resources.
    The goal of NAHMI is to increase the percentage of youth and young 
adults who have the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions 
about healthy relationships, including skills that can help them 
eventually form and sustain a healthy marriage; increase the percentage 
of couples who are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to 
form and sustain healthy marriages; increase the percentage of Native 
American children who are raised by two parents in a healthy marriage 
environment that is also free of domestic violence; increase the 
percentage of involvement by absentee parents in the lives of their 
children; increase public awareness in Native American communities 
about the value of healthy marriages and responsible fatherhood; and 
encourage and support research on Native American healthy marriages and 
healthy marriage education.
    ii. Funding Opportunity Description
    The FY 2008 PA will be:
    This program area seeks to fund projects that engage in the 
planning and implementation of approaches to remove barriers to forming 
lasting families and healthy marriages in Native communities. The 
announcement is divided into two priority areas. The first priority 
area is Category I--Improving the Well-Being of Children/Native 
American Healthy Marriage Initiative Project Planning. Projects funded 
under Category I of this announcement will include activities that 
design and engage in a community-based planning process that identifies 
barriers to forming healthy marriages (including Traditional Native 
American marriages); assesses the need and interest of the community to 
participate in a NAHMI project; assesses existing absentee parenting 
programs; identifies strategies to implement a NAHMI project and 
develops projects that are designed to reduce or eliminate the 
challenges and barriers identified by the community. The second 
priority area is Category II--Improving the Well-Being of Children/
Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative Project Implementation. 
Projects funded under Category II of this announcement will include 
activities that provide community resources such as marriage education/
enrichment training; pre-marital education; relationship skills 
education on communication, conflict resolution, and commitment; and 
other support activities such as family outings, family strengthening 
groups, and weekend pre-marital/marital education retreats.
    iii. The FY 2008 PA will be amended to include the following 
statement prior to the priority one description:
    Please note that this announcement is divided into two priority 
areas. The first priority area is Category I-Improving the Well-Being 
of Children/Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative Project 
Planning and the second priority area is Category II-Improving the 
Well-Being of Children/Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative 
Project Implementation. The second priority information immediately 
follows section VIII of priority area one. Applicants may submit under 
either Priority Area I or Priority Area II but not both priority areas. 
The Standard Form (SF) 424 and ANA Project Abstract form must clearly 
indicate the correct priority area.
    iv. Definitions. The definition for Domestic Violence Protocol 
(DVP) will be added and the definition for logic model will be removed. 
These changes correspond to changes in the evaluation criteria. A DVP 
is required to be developed in Category I and is required for Category 
II. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native 
American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991 b and 2991 b-
3.)
    The FY 2008 PA will include one new definition:
    Domestic Violence Protocol: A protocol that describes how you will 
respond to domestic violence issues. Key components of a domestic 
violence protocol include key project partners, program description, 
mission of the healthy marriage project, scope and purpose of protocol, 
underlying principles and shared values, list of domestic violence 
shelters, definition of domestic violence, screening and assessment 
procedures, responding to disclosure of abuse procedures, 
confidentiality, training, and evaluation of protocol. For more 
information, please visit the ANA Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana/ programs/NAHMI/NAHMI--domestic--violence.html.
    v. The FY 2008 PA will include two priority areas, Category I--
Project Planning and Category II--Project Implementation. Communities 
have requested additional time to plan and develop community partners 
for comprehensive healthy marriage and fatherhood projects. Therefore, 
ANA has created two priority areas; planning and implementation, to 
allow communities the opportunity to apply for shorter project periods 
and to focus on planning activities that will ensure successful future 
NAHMI projects. The FY 2008 PA for Category II revises the number of 
required program areas of interest from three to at least one. (Legal 
authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American 
Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3.)
    a. The FY 2008 PA will include the following Priority Area 1 
description:
    Priority Area 1: Category I--Improving the Well-Being of Children/
Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative Project Planning
    Description
    The purpose of a Category I planning project is to engage in a 
community-based planning process that assesses the current status of 
available resources and barriers to marriage and child well-being 
within an established Native community. Applicants are encouraged to 
develop a project that results in a comprehensive NAHMI plan that 
includes a community assessment of the challenges and barriers that 
negatively impact marriages, parenting, child well-being, and families 
within Native American communities; identifies resources and 
partnerships; and develops a strategy to help sustain healthy marriages 
and responsible fatherhood within Native American communities. Category 
I--Project Planning is for planning and design only. Program areas of 
interest include:
     Projects that develop a plan to provide youth education in 
high schools, youth organizations, and community centers on the value 
of healthy marriages and responsible fatherhood. This can include 
education on relationship conflict resolution, communication, and 
commitment, as long as it is done in the context of promoting healthy 
marriage. Projects should use a pre-marital education or responsible 
fatherhood curriculum focused on youth.

[[Page 2054]]

     Projects that develop a plan to offer marriage education 
and marriage skills, that may include communication skills, conflict 
resolution, commitment and parenting skills to expectant couples, both 
married and unmarried, absentee parents, as well as new parents, both 
married and unmarried.
     Projects that develop a plan to offer pre-marital 
education and marriage skills training for couples, individuals, or 
engaged couples interested in marriage. Training would include a 
marital educational course and couples would learn the knowledge and 
skills (e.g. communication, conflict resolution, commitment) necessary 
to choose marriage for themselves, if they so desire.
     Projects that develop a plan to offer absentee parents 
services that help them to overcome barriers that prevent them from 
consistent involvement in their children's lives. Services would 
include activities that provide the absentee parents opportunities to 
interact with their children and increase parental involvement, and 
also promote the value and importance of healthy marriages and 
families.
     Projects that develop a plan to offer education on 
communication and conflict resolution for absentee parents to improve 
the custodial and noncustodial parental relationship and increase 
absentee parents' involvement in their children's lives.
     Projects that develop a plan to provide marriage 
enhancement/enrichment and marriage skills training programs for 
married couples to improve or strengthen their relationship through a 
certified marital education course. The course should include lessons 
on communication, conflict resolution and commitment.
     Projects that develop a plan to use married couples as 
role models and mentors in at-risk communities to teach healthy 
relationship and marriage skills. Projects should include a marital 
educational course that emphasizes communication, commitment and 
conflict resolution; weekend retreats; and mentor groups.
     Projects that develop a plan to conduct research on the 
benefits of healthy marriages and healthy marriage education.
     Projects that develop a plan to provide public advertising 
campaigns in Native American communities on the value of healthy 
marriage, parental involvement, and responsible fatherhood as a way to 
improve marriages and strengthen family relationships.
    b. The FY 2008 PA will include the following Priority Area 2 
description:
    Priority Area 2: Improving the Well-Being of Children/Native 
American Healthy Marriage Initiative--Project Implementation
    Description
    The purpose of a Category II--NAHMI Project Implementation is to 
support a community-based project focused on healthy marriage and 
families. Other activities such as relationship skills, responsible 
parenting, abstinence education, and foster parenting can be included 
in the project but must not be the primary objective and must be in the 
context of supporting healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood. The 
primary objective of these projects is pre-marital education or 
marriage education for youth, adults, and couples. Eligibility for 
funding is restricted to projects of the type listed in this program 
announcement. Applicants should choose one or more program areas of 
interest from the list below:
     Projects that provide youth education in high schools, 
youth organizations and community centers on the value of healthy 
marriages and responsible fatherhood. This can include education on 
healthy relationship skills including conflict resolution, 
communication, and commitment, as long as it is done in the context of 
promoting healthy marriage. Projects should use a pre-marital education 
or responsible fatherhood curriculum focused on youth.
     Projects that offer marriage education and marriage 
skills, that may include relationship skills, communication skills, 
conflict resolution, commitment and parenting skills to expectant 
couples, both married and unmarried, absentee parents, as well as new 
parents, both married and unmarried.
     Projects that offer pre-marital education and marriage 
skills training for couples, individuals or engaged couples interested 
in marriage. Training would include a marital educational course and 
couples would learn the knowledge and skills (e.g. communication, 
conflict resolution, commitment) necessary to choose marriage for 
themselves if they so desire.
     Projects that offer absentee parents services that help 
them to overcome barriers that prevent them from consistent involvement 
in their children's lives. Services would include activities that 
provide the absentee parents opportunities to interact with their 
children and increase parental involvement, and also promote the value 
and importance of healthy marriages and families.
     Projects that offer education on communication and 
conflict resolution for absentee parents to improve the custodial and 
non-custodial parental relationship and increase absentee parents' 
involvement in their children's lives.
     Projects that provide marriage enhancement/enrichment and 
marriage skills training programs for married couples to improve or 
strengthen their relationship through a certified marital education 
course. The course should include lessons on communication, conflict 
resolution and commitment.
     Projects that use married couples as role models and 
mentors in at-risk communities to teach healthy relationship and 
marriage skills. Projects should include a marital educational course 
that emphasizes communication, commitment and conflict resolution; 
weekend retreats; and mentor groups.
     Projects that conduct research on the benefits of healthy 
marriages and healthy marriage education.
     Projects that provide public advertising campaigns in 
Native American communities on the value of healthy marriage, parental 
involvement, and responsible fatherhood as a way to improve marriages 
and strengthen family relationships.
    vi. Evaluation Criteria: In addition to the newly developed 
evaluation criteria 35 presented in Part 1. C. of this NOPC, the FY 
2008 NAHMI will remove the request for a logic model and revise the 
requirement for the Domestic Violence Protocol. The request for the 
logic model was removed to standardize the program announcements across 
all program areas. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of 
the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b 
and 2991b-3.)
    a. The FY 2008 PA Priority Area One (Project Planning) will include 
an activity to plan and design the Domestic Violence Protocol under 
Criterion Three--Project Approach, Objective Work Plan. The text will 
read:
    Include an activity to plan and design the Domestic Violence 
Protocol (see Definitions) the proposed project will use to identify 
and provide appropriate referral or services for individuals or couples 
where violence is occurring.
    b. The FY 2008 PA Priority Area Two (Project Implementation) will 
include the following requirement under Criterion Three--Project 
Approach, Project Strategy. The text will read:
    Applicants are required to discuss the Domestic Violence Protocol 
(see Definitions) the proposed project will use to identify and provide 
appropriate

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referral or services for individuals or couples where violence is 
occurring. Applicants should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the 
information and services provided by domestic violence coalitions 
within the community.
    vii. Funding Thresholds. The funding thresholds for this program 
will be revised to reflect ANA's availability of funds within this 
special initiative program area. These thresholds allow ANA to provide 
funding to the maximum number of applicants. (Legal authority: Section 
803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991 band 2991b-3.)
    viii. Project Periods. The project periods reflect the review and 
assessment of projects monitored under this special initiative program 
area. These project periods allow ANA to provide funding to the maximum 
number of applicants. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C 
of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
2991b and 2991b-3.)
    In the FY 08 PA, project periods will be:
     Priority Area 1--Planning: 12 months.
     Priority Area 2--Implementation: 36 months.
    (C) ANA SEDS: In the FY 2008 PA for both priority areas, the 
program areas of interest (PAI) for social development projects 
changed. The Administration for Children and Families has expanded the 
focus of healthy marriage to include responsible fatherhood activities. 
In order to eliminate redundancy, this activity was added to the NAHMI 
PA. The grandparents PAI was included to promote inter-generational 
programs. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the 
Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 
2991b-3.)
    The FY 2008 PA will replace the fatherhood PAI with the following:
     Projects that address the needs of grandparents raising 
grandchildren.
    (D) ANA Mitigation: The FY 2008 PA removes all definitions related 
to in-kind contributions, including in-kind contributions, leveraged 
resources, partnerships, and letters of commitment. Furthermore, the 
required number of impact indicators is reduced to one. These changes 
are reflective of Public Law 103-335 which does not require matching 
funds. (Legal authority: Section 803(a) and (d) and 803C of the Native 
American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 2991b-3 
and Public Law 103-335.)

    Dated: January 2, 2008.
Quanah Crossland Stamps,
Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans.
[FR Doc. 08-56 Filed 1-10-08 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M