[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58594-58603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23662]


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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), 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. 2992b-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 following Program Announcements: Social and Economic 
Development Strategies (hereinafter referred to as SEDS), Social and 
Economic Development Strategies for Alaska (hereinafter referred to as 
SEDS-AK), Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Assessment 
(hereinafter referred to as Native Language Assessment), Native 
Language Preservation and Maintenance Planning (hereinafter referred to 
as Native Language Planning), Native Language Preservation and 
Maintenance Implementation (hereinafter referred to as Native Language 
Implementation), Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Immersion 
(hereinafter referred to as Native Language Immersion), Family 
Preservation--Improving the Well-Being of Children Project Planning 
(hereinafter referred to as Family Preservation Planning), Family 
Preservation--Improving the Well-Being of Children Project 
Implementation (hereinafter referred to as Family Preservation 
Implementation) and Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (hereinafter 
referred to as ERE).
    Under the statute, 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 
Christopher Beach, Acting Director of Program 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: Christopher Beach 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 nine ANA FY 2009 Program 
Announcements (PA): SEDS, SEDS-AK, Native Language Assessment, Native 
Language Planning, Native Language Implementation, Native Language 
Immersion, Family Preservation Planning, Family Preservation 
Implementation and ERE. 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). 
Changes in Part I apply to all PAs.
     Changes made to specific program areas (Part II of NOPC). 
ANA has made significant changes to the SEDS, SEDS-AK, Native Language 
Assessment, Native Language Planning, Native Language Implementation, 
Native Language Immersion, Family Preservation Planning, Family 
Preservation Implementation, and ERE. These changes are outlined in 
Part II.

    Note: The Environmental Mitigation program area is no longer 
offered through ANA. Most funds from the appropriation under 8094A 
of Pub. L. 103-335 were expended. A nominal amount of funding was 
returned to the Treasury due to low public demand for the program 
area.

    I. All PAs will be revised to clarify program and application 
submission requirements for the public. These changes appear in the 
following sections: ANA Administrative Policies (Part A of NOPC), 
Definitions (Part B of NOPC) and Application Evaluation Criteria (Part 
C of NOPC).
    (A) ANA Administrative Policies: Two statements will be revised to 
clarify ANA's policies. The first statement relates to the CFDA number 
and clarifies that grantees cannot be funded in more than one program 
area at the same time. The division of program announcements from four 
to nine does not impact this policy. Furthermore, the statement 
clarifies that grantees cannot have both a SEDS project and a Family 
Preservation Planning or a Family Preservation Implementation grant at 
the same time. The second statement relates to applications from 
Tribally authorized divisions.
    The revised statements in the FY 2009 PA will be:
    An applicant can have only one active ANA grant per CFDA number 
operating at any given time.
    ANA will not accept applications from Tribal components that are 
Tribally chartered or authorized divisions of a Tribe unless the ANA 
application includes a Tribal resolution.
    (B) ANA Definitions: ANA has added two new definitions and 
clarified the definition of two words. These new and revised 
definitions are provided for areas that applicants have found difficult 
to interpret, have previously prompted numerous questions or have 
created application and project development inconsistencies. (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 2009 PA includes definitions for the 
following terms: contingency plan and governing body.
    The FY 2009 PAs will include these new definitions:
    Contingency plan: A plan that identifies specific actions to be 
taken in the event a specific challenge arises. The purpose of a 
contingency plan is to reduce the negative impacts on the project. The 
contingency plan should ensure that the project will be successfully 
completed within the proposed funding timeframe. A contingency plan is 
not to pre-empt challenges, but rather to address challenges if they 
arise.
    Governing Body: A body: (1) Consisting of duly elected or 
designated representatives, (2) appointed by duly elected officials or 
(3) selected in accordance with traditional Tribal means. The body must 
have authority to provide service to, and to enter into contracts, 
agreements and grants under this part on behalf of the organization or

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individuals who elected, designated, appointed or selected them in 
accordance with traditional Tribal means.
    ii. Revised Definitions: The FY 2009 PA clarifies definitions for 
the following terms: leveraged resources and resolution.
    The FY 2009 PA revised definitions will be:
    Leveraged Resources: The non-ANA resources, as expressed as a 
dollar figure, 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.
    Resolution: Applicants are required to include a current signed and 
dated Resolution (a formal decision voted on by the official governing 
body) in support of the project for the entire project period. Tribally 
chartered or authorized divisions must submit a Resolution from the 
Tribe's official governing body if the division falls under the 
jurisdiction of the Tribe. The Resolution must indicate who is 
authorized to sign documents and negotiate on behalf of the Tribe or 
organization. The Resolution must indicate that the community was 
involved in the project planning process, and indicate the specific 
dollar amount of any eligible matching funds (if applicable).
    (C) ANA Application Evaluation Criteria: In order to clarify for 
the applicant specific information requests in the evaluation criteria, 
additional explanation is included for the following sub-criteria: 
Community Involvement in Objectives and Need for Assistance criterion; 
Project Strategy, Project Challenges and Contingency Planning, and 
Objective Work Plan in Approach criterion; and Budget Justification/
Cost Effectiveness in Budget and Budget Justification criterion.
    i. Community Involvement sub-criterion in Objectives and Need for 
Assistance criterion. A sentence was added to identify for applicants 
what details are needed for documentation of community meetings. (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 2009 PA text for Community Involvement will be:
    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 within the project proposal how 
the identified community participated in the development of the 
project. 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.
    Documented support should include the date and topic of the meeting 
and a summary of the meeting outcome.
    ii. Project Strategy sub-criterion in Approach criterion. The 
description was expanded to clarify for applicants that the strategy 
should be an overview of the Objective Work Plan and that the 
applicants should clearly identify how the proposed project is 
different from similar, previously ANA-funded projects. (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 2009 PA text for Project Strategy will be:
    Project Strategy (10 points): Present a narrative on the project 
strategy and implementation plan (Objective Work Plan--see below) 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. 
Discuss how the current proposed project differs from previously ANA-
funded projects, which may be similar in nature to the current proposed 
project.
    iii. Project Challenges and Contingency Planning in Approach 
criterion. The description was expanded to clarify for applicants what 
ANA is requesting in a contingency plan. (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 2009 PA text for Project Challenges and Contingency 
Planning will be:
    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 decision 
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 plans (see Definitions) that 
will be implemented to overcome those challenges. The contingency plan 
should ensure that the project will be successfully completed within 
the proposed funding timeframe. A contingency plan is not to pre-empt 
challenges, but rather to address challenges if they arise.
    iv. Objective Work Plan sub-criterion in Approach criterion. The 
description was expanded to clarify for applicants the instructions for 
completing the OWP form (OMB Control No. 0980-0204). (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 2009 PA text for Project Strategy will be:
    Objective Work Plan (20 points): The ANA Objective Work Plan (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. If 
submitting an electronic application, some objectives will require more 
than one form. In addition, some objectives may last more than one 
budget period. Ensure that the

[[Page 58596]]

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 type of activity (e.g., workshops, retreats 
and seminars), the type of audience, 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.
    The preceding instructions are recommended for the OWP form found 
on the ANA Web site http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana/, which can be 
added as an attachment to an application on http://www.grants.gov. This 
form allows for an unlimited number of activities and characters so 
applicants can adequately communicate the project plan. For applicants 
using the form in http://www.grants.gov, note that each objective is 
limited to eight activities and each section has a limitation of 180 
characters, which may not allow the applicant enough space to 
adequately communicate the project plan. Furthermore, those applicants 
that use http://www.grants.gov must use absolute dates for timeframe 
and can identify the source of the non-salaried personnel hours in the 
narrative. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants use the OWP 
available on the ANA Web site and attach the completed OWP to the 
http://www.grants.gov submission.
    The results and benefits section of the OWP is used to track the 
grantee's quarterly progress of accomplishing an individual objective 
and should be broken down by quarter. 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.
    v. Budget Justification/Cost Effectiveness sub-criterion in Budget 
and Budget Justification criterion. The first paragraph was expanded to 
clarify for applicants that a separate justification is requested for 
each budget period. (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 first paragraph text for the FY 2009 PA Project Strategy 
will be:
    Budget Justification/Cost Effectiveness (10 points): Submit 
justification narratives that support and align with the Federal and 
applicant match requirement. A budget justification narrative must be 
submitted for each budget period. 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 necessary details to 
facilitate the determination of allowable costs and the relevance of 
these costs to the proposed project.
    II. ANA FY 2009 Program Specific Changes. ANA FY 2009 PAs will be 
revised to break down Program subcategories into a stand-alone PA. ANA 
is developing individual PAs to comply with new guidance established by 
the Administration for Children and Families. Therefore, in FY 2009 ANA 
will publish nine PAs. Furthermore, to support this new requirement for 
separate PAs, it is necessary that ANA make additional programmatic 
changes to support and clarify each new PA.
    (A) ANA Native Language Preservation and Maintenance: The former 
PA, Native Language Preservation and Maintenance, included all four 
separate program categories under one PA; namely, Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Assessment (hereinafter referred to as 
Native Language Assessment), Native Language Preservation and 
Maintenance Planning (hereinafter referred to as Native Language 
Planning), Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Implementation 
(hereinafter referred to as Native Language Implementation), Native 
Language Preservation and Maintenance Immersion (hereinafter referred 
to as Native Language Immersion). Except for where noted in this 
notice, these four PAs are the same as the 2008 Native Languages PA, 
but in order to clarify submission requirements and program areas for 
the public, ANA will now release each category as a separate 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 and Pub. 
L. 109-394.)
    i. Native Language Assessment. The Executive Summary and Funding 
Area Description were revised to reflect the separation of priority 
areas. The Priority Area Description was revised to include analysis in 
language assessment. (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.)
1. Executive Summary
    The FY 2009 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) 2009 funds for new community-based 
activities under ANA's Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
Assessment program area. Native Language Assessment grants are used to 
conduct the assessments necessary to identify the current status of the 
Native American language(s) to be addressed.
2. Funding Opportunity Description
    Paragraphs seven and eight of the Funding Opportunity Description 
for the FY 2009 PA will be:
    ANA will release four separate program announcements for funding 
opportunities for the Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
program area: Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Assessment, 
Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Planning, Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Implementation and Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Immersion.
    The ANA Native Language program areas of interest are projects that 
ANA considers supportive to Native American communities. Funding is not 
restricted to projects of the type listed in this program announcement.

[[Page 58597]]

3. Priority Area Description
    The Priority Area Description for the FY 2009 PA will be:
    The purpose of a Native Language Assessment project is to conduct 
an assessment of the current status of the Native language(s) within an 
established community. The program area of interest is:
     A project that compiles, collects, analyzes 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).
    ii. Native Language Planning. The Executive Summary and Funding 
Area Description were revised to reflect the separation of priority 
areas. The Priority Area Description was revised to include all areas 
of language program planning. (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.)
1. Executive Summary
    The FY 2009 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) 2009 funds for new community-based 
activities under ANA's Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
Planning program area. Native Language Planning grants are used to plan 
a language project.
2. Funding Opportunity Description
    Paragraphs seven and eight of the Funding Opportunity Description 
for FY 2009 PA will be:
    ANA will release four separate program announcements for funding 
opportunities for the Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
program area: Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Assessment, 
Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Planning, Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Implementation and Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Immersion.
    The ANA Native Language program areas of interest are projects that 
ANA considers supportive to Native American communities. Funding is not 
restricted to projects of the type listed in this program announcement.
3. Priority Area Description
    The Priority Area Description for FY 2009 PA will be:
    The purpose of a 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. Planning projects are for 
planning and design only, and do not include activities that call for 
direct language learning or instruction. Testing of any material and 
curriculum developed is limited to a maximum of five students. Program 
areas of interest include:
     Projects to plan and design Master/Apprentice programs;
     Projects to plan and design 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 to record, transcribe and archive oral testimony;
     Projects to plan and design language resource materials 
using recorded oral testimony;
     Projects that plan and design multi-media language 
learning tools;
     Projects that plan and design teacher certification 
programs;
     Projects to train teachers, interpreters or translators of 
Native languages.
    iii. Native Language Implementation. The Executive Summary and 
Funding Area Description were revised to reflect the separation of 
priority areas. The Priority Area Description was revised to identify 
all areas of language program implementation. (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.)
1. Executive Summary
    The FY 2009 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) 2009 funds for new community-based 
activities under ANA's Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
Implementation program area. Native Language 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).
2. Funding Opportunity Description
    Paragraphs seven and eight of the Funding Opportunity Description 
for FY 2009 PA will be:
    ANA will release four separate program announcements for funding 
opportunities for the Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
program area: Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Assessment, 
Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Planning, Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Implementation and Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Immersion.
    The ANA Native Language program areas of interest are projects that 
ANA considers supportive to Native American communities. Funding is not 
restricted to projects of the type listed in this program announcement.
3. Priority Area Description
    The Priority Area Description for FY 2009 PA will be:
    The purpose of Native Language Implementation 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 include:
     Projects to produce and disseminate culturally relevant 
printed stories for children using the Native language of the 
community;
     Projects to facilitate and encourage intergenerational 
teaching of Native American language skills;
     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 implement an educational site-based immersion 
project.
    iv. Native Language Immersion. The Executive Summary and Funding 
Area Description were revised to reflect the separation of priority 
areas. Furthermore, in order to clearly identify the certification that 
is required at the

[[Page 58598]]

time of application submission, a definition of certification was added 
and statements about the certification were included in the following 
sections: Forms, Assurances and Certifications, Program Areas of 
Interest and Organizational Profiles evaluation criterion. In addition, 
the weighted scores for the sub-criterion found in the Organizational 
Profiles evaluation criterion were changed to highlight the importance 
of the certification. (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.)
1. Executive Summary
    The FY 2009 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) 2009 funds for new community-based 
activities under ANA's Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
Immersion program area. Native Language Immersion grants will only be 
awarded to applicants that meet the Statutory requirements for 
immersion projects with language nests or language survival schools in 
accordance with Pub. L. 109-394.
2. Funding Opportunity Description.
    To clarify the new PAs for language, paragraphs seven and eight 
were changed.
    Paragraphs seven and eight of the Funding Opportunity Description 
for FY 2009 PA will be:
    ANA will release four separate program announcements for funding 
opportunities for the Native Language Preservation and Maintenance 
program area: Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Assessment, 
Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Planning, Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Implementation and Native Language 
Preservation and Maintenance Immersion.
    For the ANA Native Language Preservation and Maintenance Immersion 
program areas of interest, applicants must abide by the parameters 
established by Pub. L. 109-394.
3. Administrative Policies
    An additional Administrative Policy will be added to FY 2009 PA:
    Upon application submission, a certification is required that the 
applicant has not less than three years of experience in operating and 
administering a Native American language survival school, Native 
American language nest, or any other educational program in which 
instruction is conducted in a Native American language.
4. Definitions
    An additional Definition will be added to FY 2009 PA:
    Certification: A document on letterhead signed by the applicant 
that shows the applicant has not less than three years of experience in 
operating and administering a Native American language survival school, 
Native American language nest or any other educational program in which 
instruction is conducted in a Native American language. This document 
is required by statue in order to consider an applicant eligible for 
competition in this program area.
5. Program Area of Interest
    An additional instruction will be included at the end of Program 
Area of Interest description in the FY 2009 PA:
    A certification needs to be included by the applicant (please see 
certification definition).
6. Forms, Assurances and Certifications
    The instruction for the FY 2009 PA on certification required for 
Native Languages--Immersion projects will be:
    The applicant must provide a certification by the applicant that 
the applicant has not less than three years of experience in operating 
and administering a Native American language survival school, Native 
American language nest or any other educational program in which 
instruction is conducted in a Native American language.
7. Evaluation Criteria--Organizational Profiles
    The FY 2009 PA Organizational Profiles criterion will be:
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILES--17 Points
    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 (6 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 used 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.
    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 their roles and responsibilities. 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 memorandum 
of agreement.
    List all of the applicant's current and existing partners that will 
be providing support to the project's implementation. Include 
information on the current organizational relationship between the 
applicant and 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.
    Certification (6 points): Applicants applying for a Native Language 
Immersion grant must include the certification at the time the 
application is submitted for consideration. Applications will be 
reviewed to the extent that the following area specific wording is 
included on their Certification:
Native American Language Nest Certification
    The (Name of Applicant) is seeking funding from the Administration 
for Native Americans (ANA) under Native Language Preservation and 
Maintenance Immersion program for a site-based

[[Page 58599]]

``Language Nest.'' In accordance with Pub. L. 109-394, (Name of 
Applicant) certifies that it:
    (1) Provides 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; and
    (2) Provides 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
    (3) Ensures that a Native American language is the dominant medium 
of instruction in the Native American language nest; and
    (4) The applicant has not less than three years of experience in 
operating and administering a Native American language nest.
    Certification for a Native American language nest should include 
all four requirements, be on letterhead and be signed by the applicant.
Native American Language Survival School Certification
    The (Name of Applicant) is seeking funding from the Administration 
for Native Americans (ANA) under Native Language Preservation and 
Maintenance Immersion program for a site-based survival school. In 
accordance with Pub. L. 109-394, (Name of Applicant) certifies that it:
    (1) Provides an average of at least 500 hours of instruction 
through the use of one or more Native American languages for at least 
15 students for whom a Native American survival school is their 
principal place of instruction; and
    (2) Develops instructional courses and materials for learning 
Native American languages and for instruction through the use of Native 
American languages; and
    (3) Provides for teacher training fluency in a Native American 
language and academic proficiency in mathematics, reading (or language 
arts) and science; and
    (4) Is located in areas that have high numbers or percentages of 
Native American students; and
    (5) The applicant has not less than three years of experience in 
operating and administering a Native American language survival school.
    Certification for a Native American language survival school should 
include all five requirements, be on letterhead and be signed by the 
applicant.
    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.
    (B) Family Preservation--Improving the Well-Being of Children: In 
FY 2009, Family Preservation--Improving the Well-Being of Children 
(hereinafter referred to as Family Preservation) program area will 
replace the Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative program area. 
This action was taken to broaden the ANA Native American Healthy 
Marriage Initiative to include other children and family projects. In 
addition, as per the Administration for Children and Families 
requirement, two PAs will be published for FY2009. The PAs reflect the 
two types of projects, project planning and project implementation. The 
changes identified below are to clearly identify the expanded scope of 
these program areas and separate the planning and implementation 
project categories. (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. Family Preservation--Project Planning.
a. Executive Summary
    The FY 2009 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) 2009 funds for projects that plan for 
approaches to improve child well-being by removing barriers associated 
with strengthening families (including fatherhood, parenting, foster 
parenting, grandparents raising grandchildren and absentee parent 
activities), forming and preserving healthy families, relationships and 
marriages (including Traditional Native American and Pacific Basin 
marriages) and sustaining healthy families, relationships and marriages 
in Native American and Pacific Basin communities. ANA's FY 2009 goals 
and program areas of interest are focused on strengthening children, 
families and communities through financial assistance to community-
based organizations including faith-based organizations, Tribes and 
Village governments.
    The goals of the ANA Family Preservation PA is to increase the 
well-being of children through family preservation activities; increase 
the percentage of children who are raised in a healthy environment free 
of child abuse and neglect; increase the percentage of youth and young 
adults who have the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions 
about healthy relationships; increase the percentage of couples who are 
equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to form and sustain 
healthy relationships and marriages; increase the percentage of 
children who are raised by two parents in a healthy family 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 communities about the value of healthy 
families, relationships, marriages and responsible fatherhood and 
encourage and support research on healthy families, relationships and 
marriages and healthy marriage education.
b. Funding Opportunity Description
    The FY 2009 PA Funding Opportunity Description will be:
    This program announcement specifically promotes planning culturally 
competent strategies for strengthening families, fostering child well-
being, healthy relationships and marriages and responsible fatherhood 
to preserve healthy families within the Native American and Pacific 
Basin Communities.
    This program announcement seeks to fund projects that engage in the 
planning of approaches to remove barriers to forming lasting families, 
healthy relationships and healthy marriages in Native American and 
Pacific Basin communities. Projects funded under this program 
announcement will include activities that design and engage in a 
community planning process that identifies barriers to forming healthy 
families, relationships and marriages (including Traditional Native 
American and Pacific Basin marriages); assesses the needs and interest 
of the community to participate in a family strengthening project; 
assesses existing absentee parenting programs, fatherhood programs, 
grandparents raising grandchildren programs, and foster parent 
programs; identifies strategies to implement a

[[Page 58600]]

family strengthening project; plans and develops curricula for family 
strengthening programs; and develops projects that are designed to 
reduce or eliminate the challenges and barriers identified by the 
community.
c. Priority Area Description
    The FY 2009 PA Priority Area Description will be:
    The purpose of a planning project is to engage in a community-based 
planning process that assesses the current status of available 
resources and barriers to family preservation, healthy relationships, 
healthy marriages and child well-being within an established Native 
American or Pacific Basin community. Applicants are encouraged to 
develop a project that results in a comprehensive plan that includes a 
community assessment of the challenges and barriers that negatively 
impact families, child well-being, relationships, marriages and 
parenting within Native American and Pacific Basin communities; 
identifies resources and partnerships; and develops a strategy to help 
sustain healthy families, relationships, marriages and responsible 
fatherhood within Native American and Pacific Basin communities. 
Eligibility for funding is restricted to projects of the type listed in 
this program announcement. Project Planning is for planning and design 
of projects only.
    Applicants may only choose one or more program areas of interest 
from the list below:
    Healthy Marriage:
    Projects that develop a:
     Curriculum focused on pre-marital and marital education.
     Plan to provide youth education in high schools, youth 
organizations and community centers on the value of healthy 
relationships and marriages. This can include education on healthy 
relationship skills including conflict resolution, communication and 
commitment. Projects should use a pre-marital education focused on 
youth.
     Plan to offer marriage education and marriage skills, 
which 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.
     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 (communication, conflict 
resolution, commitment) necessary to choose marriage for themselves if 
they so desire.
     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.
     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.
     Plan to conduct research on the benefits of healthy 
relationships and marriages and healthy relationship and marriage 
education.
     Plan to provide public advertising campaigns in Native 
American and Pacific Basin communities on the value of healthy 
relationships and marriage as a way to improve relationships and 
marriages and strengthen family relationships.
    Family Strengthening/Preservation:
    Projects that develop a:
     Curriculum focused on responsible fatherhood and family 
preservation education (including parenting, foster parenting, 
grandparents raising grandchildren and absentee parent activities).
     Plan to provide youth education in high schools, youth 
organizations and community centers on the value of responsible 
fatherhood and family preservation.
     Plan to offer services to fathers to help them overcome 
barriers to positive involvement in their children's lives.
     Plan to offer education and activities focused on 
Responsible Fatherhood and Parenting.
     Plan to offer family preservation activities in a 
culturally appropriate and traditional manner within Native American 
and Pacific Basin communities.
     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 families.
     Plan to 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.
     Plan to reduce child/infant abuse and neglect and family 
domestic violence.
     Plan to address the needs of grandparents raising 
grandchildren.
     Plan to recruit, train and certify new Native American 
foster parents or promote appropriate extended family placements or to 
assist abused, neglected and abandoned Native American children, youth 
and their families.
     Plan to target family strengthening services to 
individuals with substance abuse issues as a way to support a strong 
healthy family environment.
     Plan to provide public advertising campaigns in Native 
American and Pacific Basin communities on the value of parental 
involvement, family preservation and responsible fatherhood as a way to 
strengthen family relationships.
d. Funding Restrictions
    The following funding restriction will be added to the FY 2009 PA:
    Counseling or therapeutic activities that are medically based.
    e. Evaluation Criteria. Changes were made to the Approach 
evaluation criterion, specifically Project Strategy sub-criterion and 
Objective Work Plan sub-criterion.
    The FY 2009 PA Project Strategy sub-criterion will be:
    Project Strategy (10 points): Present a narrative on the project 
strategy and implementation plan (Objective Work Plan--see below*) 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. 
Discuss how the current proposed project differs from previously ANA-
funded projects which may be similar in nature to the current proposed 
project.
     See section I.C.iv Objective Work Plan sub-criterion on 
Approach Criterion in this Notice Of Public Comment for the Objective 
Work Plan Instructions.
    The FY 2009 PA Objective Work Plan sub-criterion will have the 
following text added:
    If planning a project focused on healthy relationships, healthy 
marriages or fatherhood, include an activity to plan and design the 
Domestic Violence Protocol (see Definitions) the proposed project will 
use to identify and provide

[[Page 58601]]

appropriate referral or services for individuals or couples where 
violence may be occurring.
ii. Family Preservation--Implementation Projects
a. Executive Summary
    The FY 2009 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) 2009 funds for projects that implement 
approaches to improve child well-being by removing barriers associated 
with strengthening families (including fatherhood, foster parenting, 
absentee parent activities and grandparents raising grandchildren), 
forming and preserving healthy families, relationships and marriages 
(including Traditional Native American and Pacific Basin marriages). 
ANA's FY 2009 goals and program areas of interest are focused on 
strengthening children, families and communities through financial 
assistance to community-based organizations including faith-based 
organizations, Tribes and Village governments.
    The goal of the ANA Family Preservation PA is to increase the well-
being of children through family preservation activities; increase the 
percentage of children who are raised in a healthy environment free of 
child abuse and neglect; increase the percentage of youth and young 
adults who have the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions 
about healthy relationships; increase the percentage of couples who are 
equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to form and sustain 
healthy relationships and marriages; increase the percentage of 
children who are raised by two parents in a healthy family 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 communities about the value of healthy 
families, relationships, marriages and responsible fatherhood; and 
encourage and support research on healthy families, relationships and 
marriages and healthy marriage education.
b. Funding Opportunity Description
    The FY 2009 PA Funding Opportunity Description will be:
    This program announcement specifically promotes implementing 
culturally competent strategies for strengthening families, fostering 
child well-being, healthy relationships and marriages, and responsible 
fatherhood to preserve healthy families within the Native American and 
Pacific Basin communities.
    This program announcement seeks to fund projects that engage in the 
implementation of approaches to remove barriers to forming lasting 
families and healthy relationships and marriages in Native American and 
Pacific Basin communities. Projects funded under this program 
announcement will include activities that provide community resources 
such as family strengthening programs (fatherhood, parenting, absentee 
parental involvement, foster parenting and grandparents raising 
grandchildren); healthy relationships; healthy marriages (including 
Traditional Native American and Pacific Basin marriages); 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 and 
family retreats.
c. Priority Area Description
    The FY 2009 PA Priority Area Description will be:
Family Preservation--Improving the Well-Being of Children Project 
Implementation
    The purpose of an implementation project is to support a community-
based project focused on family preservation, healthy relationships, 
marriage, parenting, foster parenting, grandparents raising 
grandchildren, fatherhood and absentee parent involvement in Native 
American and Pacific Basin communities. ANA will not fund curriculum 
development in an implementation project. Minor text and/or activity 
modification to existing curricula to make the curricula community-
appropriate will be allowed in the first two months of an 
implementation project. Eligibility for funding is restricted to 
projects of the type listed in this program announcement. Project 
Implementation is for implementation of projects only.
    Applicants may only choose one or more program areas of interest 
from the list below:
    Healthy Marriage:
     Projects that provide youth education in high schools, 
youth organizations and community centers on the value of healthy 
relationships and marriages. This can include education on healthy 
relationship skills, including conflict resolution, communication and 
commitment. Projects should use a pre-marital education 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 (communication, conflict 
resolution, commitment) necessary to choose marriage for themselves if 
they so desire.
     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 
relationships and marriages and healthy relationship and marriage 
education.
     Projects that provide public advertising campaigns in 
Native American, and Pacific Basin communities on the value of healthy 
relationships and marriage as a way to improve relationships and 
marriages and strengthen family relationships.
    Family Strengthening/Preservation:
     Projects that provide youth education in high schools, 
youth organizations and community centers on the value of responsible 
fatherhood and family preservation.
     Projects that offer services to fathers to help them 
overcome the barriers to positive involvement in their children's 
lives.
     Projects that offer education and activities focused on 
Responsible Fatherhood and Parenting.
     Projects that offer family preservation activities in a 
culturally appropriate and traditional manner within Native American 
and Pacific Basin communities.

[[Page 58602]]

     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 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 to reduce child/infant abuse and neglect and 
family domestic violence.
     Projects that address the needs of grandparents raising 
grandchildren.
     Projects to recruit, train and certify new Native American 
foster parents or promote appropriate extended family placements or to 
assist abused, neglected, and abandoned Native American children, youth 
and their families.
     Projects that target family strengthening services to 
individuals with substance abuse issues as a way to support a strong 
healthy family environment.
     Projects that provide public advertising campaigns in 
Native American, and Pacific Basin communities on the value of parental 
involvement, family preservation and responsible fatherhood as a way to 
strengthen family relationships.
d. Funding Restrictions
    The following funding restriction will be added to the FY 2009 PA:
    Counseling or therapeutic activities that are medically based.
e. Evaluation Criteria
    Changes were made to the Approach evaluation criterion, Project 
Strategy sub-criterion and Organizational Profiles, Project Staffing 
sub-criterion.
    The FY 2009 PA Project Strategy sub-criterion will be:
    Project Strategy (10 points): Present a narrative on the project 
strategy and implementation plan (Objective Work Plan--see below*) 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. 
Discuss how the current proposed project differs from previously ANA 
funded projects which may be similar in nature to the current proposed 
project.
    Applicants should provide information on the curricula they will be 
utilizing within their project and how it is community appropriate to 
the project. ANA will not fund curriculum development in an 
implementation grant. Minor text and/or activity modification to 
existing curricula to make the curricula community-appropriate will be 
allowed in the first two months of an implementation project.
    Applicants are required to discuss the Domestic Violence Protocol 
(see Definitions) that the proposed project will use to identify and 
provide appropriate referral or services for individuals or couples 
where violence is occurring if implementing a project focused on 
healthy relationships, healthy marriages or fatherhood. Applicants 
should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the information and services 
provided by domestic violence coalitions within the community.
    * See section I.C.iv Objective Work Plan sub-criterion on Approach 
Criterion in this Notice Of Public Comment for the Objective Work Plan 
Instructions.
    The FY 2009 PA Project Staffing Plan sub-criterion will be:
    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. Applicants should 
state any required training they will need in order to be certified in 
a particular curriculum. Certification should occur within the first 
two months of an implementation project.
    (C) ANA SEDS: ANA FY 2009 PAs were revised from FY 2008 to split 
categories into separate PAs, according to Administration for Children 
and Families requirements. Therefore, ANA will publish two PAs, namely 
Social and Economic Development Strategies (hereinafter referred to as 
SEDS) and Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska 
(hereinafter referred to as SEDS-AK). (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. SEDS. The Priority Area Descriptions for social projects were 
changed. The priority areas focused on family preservation have been 
moved to the Family Preservation program area, see previous 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 
and Pub. L. 109-394.)
Priority Area Description for Social Development
    The FY 2009 PA Priority Area Description for Social Development 
Projects removes the following bullets:
     Projects to reduce child/infant abuse and neglect and 
family domestic violence.
     Projects that address the needs of grandparents raising 
grandchildren.
     Projects to recruit, train and certify new Native American 
foster parents or promote appropriate extended family placements or to 
assist abused, neglected and abandoned Native American children, youth 
and their families.
    ii. SEDS-AK. The Executive Summary has been changed to reflect the 
new PA for SEDS-AK. A priority area for economic development projects 
was added addressing traditional energy activities. Three Priority 
Areas for social projects were removed to reflect their movement to the 
Family Preservation and Children program area, see previous 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 
and Pub. L. 109-394.)
1. Executive Summary
    The FY 2009 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) 2009 funds for new community-based 
projects under the ANA Social and Economic Development Strategies for 
Alaska (SEDS-AK) program. ANA's FY 2009 SEDS-AK goals and program areas 
of interest are focused on strengthening children, families and 
communities

[[Page 58603]]

through community-based organizations, Tribes and Village governments. 
The purpose of ANA is to promote the goal of economic and social self-
sufficiency for American Indians, Native Hawaiians, Alaskan Natives and 
other Native American Pacific Islanders, including American Samoa 
Natives.
2. Priority Area Description for Economic Development
    The FY2009 PA Priority Area Description for Economic Development 
Projects adds the following bullet:
     Projects to promote traditional energy activities and 
practices that support conservation and help to mitigate the high costs 
associated with the purchase, transportation, and storage of fuel in 
remote Alaskan Villages.
3. Priority Area Description for Social Development
    The FY 2009 PA Priority Area Description for Social Development 
Projects removes the following bullets:
     Projects to reduce child/infant abuse and neglect and 
family domestic violence.
     Projects that address the needs of grandparents raising 
grandchildren.
     Projects to recruit, train and certify new Native American 
foster parents or promote appropriate extended family placements or to 
assist abused, neglected and abandoned Native American children, youth 
and their families.
    (D) ANA ERE: The FY 2009 PA includes an additional instruction in 
the Approach evaluation criterion, Project Strategy sub-criterion. This 
change reflects the need for additional information related to the land 
area and natural resources over which the applicant has jurisdiction. 
(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.)
    The FY 2009 PA Approach evaluation criterion, Project Strategy sub-
criterion will have the following statement added:
    Applicants are required to describe a land base or other resources, 
e.g., river or body of water, over which they exercise jurisdiction to 
implement Tribal regulation of environmental quality. Maps and photos 
of the area are encouraged.

    Dated: September 30, 2008.
Quanah Crossland Stamps,
Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans.
 [FR Doc. E8-23662 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P