Deadline: 28-Jul-23
Apply for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Community and Regional Integration Network Grant to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for immigrants across the nation and to provide opportunities for immigrants to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate into the fabric of American society.
OCPE is charged with promoting instruction and training on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. USCIS recognizes that naturalization is a key milestone in the civic integration of immigrants. Naturalization requirements, such as knowledge of English and U.S. history and government, encourage civic learning and build a strong foundation upon which immigrants can fully integrate into American society. Through preparing for naturalization, immigrants gain tools to become successful citizens and meet their responsibilities as United States citizens.
The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program also addresses the DHS mission to enforce and administer their immigration laws (captured in the Third Quadrennial Homeland Security Review) and USCIS’ mission and values, as the program provides immigrants instruction on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and information and support on how to apply for naturalization within the authorized practice of immigration law.
The Community and Regional Integration Network Grant (CARING) funding opportunity supports organizations providing extended civic integration services to vulnerable immigrant populations. These integration services build upon, but are not intended to replicate, resettlement services funded by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Objectives: In fiscal year (FY) 2023, approximately $1 million in federal funding is available for eligible organizations to provide integration services to vulnerable immigrant populations (please note that throughout this document, the specific immigrant populations included in this program, as outlined in Appendix D, will be referred to as “program participants” or “program participant” in the singular).
Priorities
- Certain immigrants, such as those who entered the United States through USCIS’ humanitarian programs, may experience unique challenges with civic, linguistic, economic, cultural, and institutional integration when resettling in the United States, which may impact their progress toward full civic integration. It is critical to provide vulnerable immigrant populations with opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to fully integrate into American society.
- Immigrants who entered the United States or adjusted status in one of the following categories are eligible for services under this program:
- Refugees;
- Asylees;
- Cuban or Haitian entrants;
- Victims of human trafficking or criminal activity;
- Abused spouses, children, or parents of U.S. citizens; and
- Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs)
- Individuals on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV).
Components
- Proposed services must include all three of the following components:
- Integration Services: Grant recipients will assess each program participant’s integration needs and then formulate individualized integration plans. Grantees will also be responsible for the provision of or referral to integration services, and for monitoring the progress of the integration plans.
- Citizenship Instruction Services: Grant recipients will offer civics-based literacy instruction, civics-based English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, or citizenship instruction to provide enrolled immigrants with the skills and knowledge needed to prepare for citizenship.
- Naturalization Application Services: Within the scope of the authorized practice of immigration law, grant recipients will assist qualified program participants in preparing and submitting a Form N400, Application for Naturalization, preparing for the naturalization interview, and providing ongoing case management as needed.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $300,000
- Award Floor: $150,000
- Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2023
- Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2025.
Eligibility Criteria
- State governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- City or township governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Special district governments
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- County governments.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.