Project Evaluator

Upper Mohawk, Inc. is seeking a candidate to work with the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in Washington, DC. The mission of ANA is to promote the goal of social and economic self-sufficiency of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and peoples of Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Duties: Work with ANA staff to develop methods to maximize quality and availability of social and economic development services. Plan and conduct offsite project evaluations, analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative results/data, and report writing. Compile results and present trends and best practices. Assist in training coordination/delivery.

Qualifications: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, data collection and analysis, monitoring and evaluation, project management, familiarity with grants and community development. Experience conducting interviews and working with Native American or other distressed communities. BA or BS degree with at least two years experience.

Send cover letter, resume, and references to croy@acf.hhs.gov

Salary: mid-40Ks. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis.

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Grants and Projects Specialist – Washington, DC

Upper Mohawk, Inc. is seeking a candidate to work with the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in Washington, DC. The mission of ANA is to promote the goal of social and economic self-sufficiency of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and peoples of Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Duties: provide guidance to grantees on community development projects; review budgets and work plans; analyze and evaluate grant applications; monitor and evaluate grantee performance; draft memos, briefing papers, reports, and correspondence.

Qualifications: B.A./B.S.; two years relevant experience; excellent communication and project management skills; community development experience; familiarity with writing grants and evaluating grant proposals; experience working with distressed communities. Salary: low 40Ks. Send cover letter and resume to: croy@acf.hhs.gov.

Applications are being reviewed on a continuing basis.

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Formatting Requirements

• Original and copies of the application must be unbound
  All pages must be numbered consecutively starting with the SF 424
  All applications must be labeled with a section heading
  Paper size shall be 8.5 x 11 and single sided
  A ½ inch top/bottom/left/right margin is the minimum allowed
  Font must be Times New Roman and cannot be smaller than 12 point
• Exceptions to the appendix page limit include third party agreements and business plans (if applicable)

Required Forms: Project Narrative, Budget Narrative, Other Attachments (required and optional).

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Scoring Criterion
There are now six criteria that applicants must address in their applications. Please read the program announcements to ensure that you include the correct components required for each criterion. There are also new point values assigned to each criterion.

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Program Areas of Interest
Program Areas of Interest have been established for each competition and can be found in the program announcements. Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that fall within these areas of interest.

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• A reference to the applicant organization’s listing in the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations
• A copy of the currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate
• A statement from a State taxing body, State Attorney General, or other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders of individuals
• A certified copy of the organization’s certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status
• Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that he applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate

Non-Profit Survey
Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey of non-profit organizations. Click here to download the survey.

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• An approved agreement that covers the proposed budget period
• A statement on letterhead from the cognizant agency which states that they have received the indirect cost agreement proposal and that the current rate is extended until the new rate is approved
• The cognizant agency can issue a memo to the applicant stating they have the indirect cost proposal and it is pending review. Applicants choosing this option should know that if considered for funding, the costs will be disallowed unless the applicant submits an approved rate or revised the budget to make the expenses direct costs.

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Healthy Marriage and Fatherhood Grants   http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/funding/index.html   http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/   http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ofa/   http://www.healthymarriageinfo.org (Resource Center)
Online Technical Assistance: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/tech_assistance/index.html#onlineFatherhood Initiative:http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/index.shtml

Faith-based and Community Initiative:
Developing Quality Grant Proposals Presentation: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/developing-quality-grants-200510.pdf#Section1
Example of a Program Announcement from the Federal Register: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/developing-quality-grants-200510.pdf#Section2
Sample of a Successful Grant Proposal: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/Section3
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: http://12.46.245.173/cfda/cfda.html  includes Applying for Assistance at: http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.APPL_FED_ASSIST_DYN.showWriting Grant Proposals at:http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.GRANT_PROPOSAL_DYN.sho

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Report Filing
ANA Grantees are encouraged to send copies of the quarterly Objective Progress Report (OPR) and the Financial Status Report (SF269 Long Form) directly to the ANA program office. NOTE: This submission is in addition to the original reports that ANA Grantees are required to submit to the ACF Office of Grants Management (OGM). We recommend that ANA Grantees use certified mail services (this is an allowable grant expense) or email when submitting their reports to ANA.

ANA Mailing Address:
Administration for Native Americans
Mail Stop: 8th Fl. West Aerospace Center
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW
Washington, D.C. 20447-0002

ANA Electronic Submission:
anareports@acf.hhs.gov

OGM Mailing Address:
[Grants Management Specialist Name]
Office of Grants Management
Mail Stop: 6th Fl. East Aerospace Center
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW
Washington, D.C. 20447-0002

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Attention Grantees
As many of you know, ANA is recommending that grantees use a new, standardized format to submit their quarterly Objective Progress Reports (OPRs). This format will soon be mandatory for all grantees and therefore it is a good idea for everyone to get in the habit of using it. Using this standardized form allows ANA to compare similar outcomes across projects and better serve ANA grantees in the implementation of their projects. All ANA forms are available via the website under “Forms” (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana/documents/OPR.doc).

Upcoming 2007 Report Due Dates

1/31, 4/30, 7/31, and 10/31Grantees can submit their quarterly reports: 1) Via e-mail to a new e-mail address: anareports@acf.hhs.gov (recommended method).2) Via e-mail directly to your program specialist.3) Via fax at (202) 690-8145 or (202) 690-7441.4) Via mail to the Administration for Native Americans, 370 L’Enfant Promenade SW, 8th Floor West, Washington, DC 20447.Please remember that a copy of the OPR and SF269 must be submitted to ANA and the originals must be sent to the Office of Grants Management. ANA has improved its monitoring and evaluation processes and is intensively reviewing reports and flagging grantees that are not submitting in a timely manner. The importance of submitting quarterly reports on time cannot be overstated and failure to do so can result in serious consequences forgrantees, as outlined in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Standard Terms and Conditions:“Failure to submit reports (i.e., financial, progress, or other required reports) on time may be the basis for withholding financial assistance payments, suspension, termination or denial of refunding. A history of such unsatisfactory performance may result in designation of ‘high risk’ status for the recipient organization and may jeopardize potential future funding from DHHS.”

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SAMHSA Broadcast
TO:    

Tribal Leaders                                                                                              
National Tribal Organizations                                                                     
Regional Indian Health Boards                                                                   
Other Interested Parties                                                         

FROM:

Eric. B. Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H
Acting Deputy Administrator
Assistant Surgeon General
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SUBJECT:    Funding Available for Drug-Free Communities Grants The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the availability of new, Drug-Free Communities (DFC) support program grants on February 15, 2007. The Drug-Free Communities program is a collaborative Federal program sponsored by ONDCP and administered in partnership with SAMHSA that aims to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit agencies, and Federal, State, local and Tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance abuse.The deadline to submit applications for Drug-Free Communities grants is Tuesday, April 17, 2007. ONDCP expects to award approximately 60 new grants, totaling approximately $6 million, bringing the number of Federally- funded Drug Free Community coalitions to nearly 750.

A Native American Applicant Workshop is scheduled for February 28, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV.  This workshop provides an opportunity for coalitions operating on Native American reservations, Urban Indians, Native Alaskans, and those that represent Native peoples living in other areas, to gain an understanding of the DFC application process. Representatives of coalitions from Native American reservations and organizations, including those who have successfully obtained a DFC grant, will be present to provide information about the application process and how the DFC grant can provide substantial assistance to address drug and alcohol problems in a manner that is consistent with Native American beliefs and traditions.  Registration and attendance are free to attend this workshop.  Information on DFC Grant Application Process and the Native American Applicant Workshop is available at: http://www.ondcp.gov/dfc/. 

A copy of the ONDCP Press Release announcing the DFC grants is available at: http://www.ondcp.gov/news/press07/021507.html

For Further Information Contact:
Ginny Gorman-Gipp
Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs
(240) 276-2204
ginny.gorman@samhsa.hhs.gov

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SAMHSA Broadcast: Substance Abuse Treatment Funding Announcements

TO:                 Tribal Leaders                                              
                        National Tribal Organizations                   
                        Regional Indian Health Boards                   
                        Other Interested Parties                             

FROM:           Eric. B. Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H
                        Acting Deputy Administrator
                        Assistant Surgeon General
                        Substance Abuse and Mental Health
                          Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SUBJECT:    Substance Abuse Treatment Funding Announcements

Access to Recovery: Approximately $96 million is available to fund up to 18 grants in FY 2007.  Award amounts will range from $1 million to $7 million in year one (for up to a 3-year grant period).  Access to Recovery grants will give States, Tribes, and tribal organizations broad discretion to implement voucher programs to pay for a range of effective, community-based substance abuse clinical treatment and recovery support services.  Application due date: June 7, 2007.  Application information is available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2007/TI_07_005.aspx.

For questions on program issues, contact: Andrea Kopstein: Practice Improvement Branch, Division of Service Improvement Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, (240) 276-1570, andrea.kopstein@samhsa.hhs.gov. 

For questions on grants management issues, contact: Kimberly Pendleton, Office of Program Services, Division of Grants Management, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, (240) 276-1421, kimberly.pendleton@samhsa.hhs.gov. 

Targeted Capacity Expansion:Approximately $8 million is available to fund up to 16 grants in FY 2007, with an average grant amount of $500,000 per year for up to three years. The purpose of the Targeted Capacity Expansion grants is to expand and or/enhance the community's ability to provide a comprehensive, integrated, and community-based response to a targeted, well-documented substance abuse treatment capacity problem and/or improve the quality and intensity of services.  Applications are being accepted under four categories:

1) Native American/Alaska Native/Asian American/Pacific Islander Populations;
2) E-Therapy;
3) Grassroots Partnerships; and
4) Other Populations or Emerging Substance Abuse Issues. Tribes are eligible to apply under all four categories.  

Application due date: May 25, 2007.  Application information is available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2007/TI_07_008.aspx.

For questions on program issues, contact: Love Foster-Horton, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Division of Services Improvement, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, (240) 276-1653, love.foster-horton@samhsa.hhs.gov. 

For questions on grants management issues, contact: Kimberly Pendleton, Office of Program Services, Division of Grants Management, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, (240) 276-1421, kimberly.pendleton@samhsa.hhs.gov.

A complete list of SAMHSA’s FY 2007 Grant Opportunities is located at:http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2007/fy2007.aspx

For Further Information Contact: Ginny Gorman-Gipp
Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs
(240) 276-2204
Ginny.gorman@samhsa.hhs.gov

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Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program

The Administration for Native Americans is assisting the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to disseminate information regarding a new program: the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program (coupon program).

The coupon program will assist households reliant on free over-the-air television to maintain television services when full power television stations cease analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009.  Each household will be able to request up to two $40 coupons to be used for the purchase of up to two digital-to-analog converter boxes, allowing households with analog televisions to display digital television after the cessation of analog broadcasting.

It is estimated that approximately 19 million households are reliant on over-the-air broadcasting to receive television services.  The elderly, disabled, economically disadvantaged, and rural residents are among the groups most likely to be impacted by the transition from analog-to-digital programming, as they are, on average, more reliant on over-the-air television. 

The ANA network can effectively reach many of the households that will benefit from the coupon program by informing agencies who provide direct services to communities, families, and individuals of this initiative. We ask you to join us in this collaborative effort by alerting local grantees and agencies of the coupon program by including information in emails, newsletters, website links, at conferences, and/or any other mechanisms your organization deems appropriate.

Attached you will find an information sheet and brochure outlining the details of the coupon program.  Additional information is available on the NTIA website at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html. 

The contact at NITA is Mary Lou Kenny, who can be reached at 202-482-9114 or via email at mkenny@ntia.doc.gov.

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