Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 17 CIS 010 002
The FY 2017 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Department of Homeland Security through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), specifically USCISs Office of Citizenship (OoC). The program is rooted in USCISs mission to promote instruction and training on the rights and responsibilities that come with US citizenship. It treats naturalization not just as a legal step, but as a major civic milestone that supports the broader assimilation of immigrants into American community life.
At its core, the opportunity is designed to expand the reach and availability of high quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents across the country. The program emphasizes that preparing for naturalization helps immigrants build practical civic knowledge and skills, particularly by strengthening English proficiency and understanding of US history and civics, which are central requirements of the naturalization process. The intent is that, through structured preparation and support, lawful permanent residents are better equipped to succeed in the naturalization process, become engaged citizens, and participate more fully in American society.
The grant focuses on two closely linked service areas: citizenship instruction and naturalization application services. Citizenship instruction typically includes English language learning connected to the citizenship test, civics and history education aligned with the naturalization exam, and broader training on what citizenship means in practice. Naturalization application services generally involve helping eligible lawful permanent residents navigate the naturalization process, including preparing and completing application materials and supporting individuals through procedural steps that can be confusing or intimidating without guidance. Together, these services aim to reduce barriers to naturalization by improving readiness for the test and interview while also improving access to reliable, community based support.
In addition to direct services, the opportunity highlights several supportive activities meant to raise overall program quality and long term impact. These include developing, identifying, and sharing promising practices in citizenship preparation so that effective models can be replicated across communities. The program also encourages increasing the use of and access to technology in citizenship preparation, which can include digital learning tools, online resources, and technology supported instruction that broadens access for learners with scheduling, transportation, or geographic constraints. Another emphasized strategy is collaboration with local libraries, recognizing libraries as trusted, accessible community institutions that often serve as important hubs for immigrant communities by offering space, internet access, learning resources, and community programming. Finally, the program calls for incorporating strategies that foster welcoming communities, reflecting an understanding that successful civic assimilation is not only about individual knowledge and test preparation, but also about community environments that support integration, belonging, and civic participation.
The funding opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number DHS 17 CIS 010 002 and CFDA 97.010, with an education activity category and a grant as the funding instrument. The total award ceiling is listed as 9,000,000, with an expected 36 awards, indicating an intent to fund multiple local or regional providers rather than concentrating funding in a small number of large grantees. The posting indicates a creation date of July 25, 2017 and an original closing date of August 6, 2017. Eligibility is broadly summarized as Others, with additional eligibility details referenced as being provided in the full opportunity materials. Overall, the opportunity aims to strengthen community based capacity to deliver effective, accessible citizenship preparation and application assistance, while also promoting innovation, collaboration, and supportive local conditions that help lawful permanent residents move from permanent residency to full civic membership through naturalization.Apply for DHS 17 CIS 010 002
- The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2017 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.010.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 25, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 06, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $9,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 36 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY 2017 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program (USCIS) - FAQs
What is the FY 2017 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), specifically USCIS's Office of Citizenship (OoC). The program supports efforts that help lawful permanent residents prepare for naturalization through citizenship instruction and naturalization application services.
Which federal agency administers this grant?
The grant is administered by DHS through USCIS, with oversight from USCIS's Office of Citizenship (OoC).
What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to expand the reach and availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents across the United States. It is designed to reduce barriers to naturalization by improving readiness for the naturalization test and interview and by expanding access to reliable, community-based support.
How does the program describe the role of naturalization?
The program frames naturalization not only as a legal step, but also as a major civic milestone that supports broader assimilation into American community life, including increased civic participation and engagement.
Who is the intended population to be served?
The opportunity emphasizes services for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who are preparing for the naturalization process.
What are the two main service areas funded under this opportunity?
The grant focuses on two closely linked service areas: (1) citizenship instruction and (2) naturalization application services.
What is meant by "citizenship instruction" under this program?
Citizenship instruction typically includes English language learning connected to the citizenship test, civics and U.S. history education aligned with the naturalization exam, and broader training on what citizenship means in practice, including the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.
What is meant by "naturalization application services" under this program?
Naturalization application services generally involve helping eligible lawful permanent residents navigate the naturalization process, including preparing and completing application materials and providing support through procedural steps that may be confusing or intimidating without guidance.
How do citizenship instruction and application services work together in this grant program?
Together, they aim to reduce barriers to naturalization by improving both substantive readiness (English, civics, history, and interview/test preparation) and practical readiness (access to assistance completing and navigating the naturalization application process).
What outcomes is the program trying to support?
The program intends that, with structured preparation and support, lawful permanent residents are better equipped to succeed in the naturalization process, become engaged citizens, and participate more fully in American society.
Does the opportunity encourage any supporting activities beyond direct services?
Yes. In addition to direct service delivery, the opportunity highlights supportive activities intended to improve program quality and long-term impact, such as sharing promising practices, expanding use of technology in citizenship preparation, collaborating with libraries, and incorporating strategies that foster welcoming communities.
What does the program mean by "promising practices"?
The opportunity calls for developing, identifying, and sharing promising practices in citizenship preparation so effective models can be replicated across communities.
What role does technology play in the program's priorities?
The program encourages increasing the use of and access to technology in citizenship preparation. Examples mentioned include digital learning tools, online resources, and technology-supported instruction intended to broaden access for learners who face scheduling, transportation, or geographic constraints.
Why does the opportunity emphasize collaboration with local libraries?
The grant highlights collaboration with local libraries because libraries are trusted, accessible community institutions that can serve as hubs for immigrant communities by offering space, internet access, learning resources, and community programming.
What are "welcoming communities" strategies in the context of this opportunity?
The opportunity encourages incorporating strategies that foster welcoming communities, reflecting the idea that successful assimilation is not only about individual knowledge and test preparation, but also about community environments that support integration, belonging, and civic participation.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DHS-17-CIS-010-002.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 97.010.
What is the activity category for this grant?
The activity category is listed as education.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the total funding amount (award ceiling) listed for this opportunity?
The total award ceiling is listed as $9,000,000.
How many awards does USCIS expect to make under this opportunity?
The posting indicates an expected 36 awards.
What does the expected number of awards suggest about how funding will be distributed?
An expected 36 awards suggests an intent to fund multiple local or regional providers rather than concentrating funding among a small number of large grantees.
When was this funding opportunity created and when was it originally due?
The posting indicates a creation date of July 25, 2017 and an original closing date of August 6, 2017.
Who is eligible to apply based on the summary provided?
Eligibility is broadly summarized as "Others." The posting indicates that additional eligibility details are provided in the full opportunity materials.
Where can applicants find more detail about eligibility requirements?
The summary notes that additional eligibility details are referenced as being provided in the full opportunity materials.
Is this opportunity focused on improving English and civics knowledge for naturalization?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes strengthening English proficiency and understanding of U.S. history and civics, describing them as central requirements of the naturalization process.
Does the program explicitly aim to reduce barriers to naturalization?
Yes. The opportunity states that the combined services aim to reduce barriers by improving readiness for the test and interview and improving access to reliable, community-based support.
What is the overarching mission connection for USCIS described in the opportunity?
The program is rooted in USCIS's mission to promote instruction and training on the rights and responsibilities that come with U.S. citizenship.
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