Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2021 ACF ANA NB 1958
The Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance - Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI) grant is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Administration for Native Americans (ANA). Its core purpose is to support community-based efforts that keep Native languages living and growing by funding immersion-based instruction. In practical terms, the program is meant to help communities create or strengthen learning environments where a Native language is used as the primary language of teaching and daily interaction, rather than being taught only as a subject for a short period of time.
Projects funded under this opportunity must fit into one of two models established under the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act (42 U.S.C. 2991b-3(b)(7)): a Native American Language Nest or a Native American Survival School. A Language Nest is a site-based early childhood program that combines instruction and child care primarily through the Native language. To qualify, it must serve at least five children under age seven and provide, on average, at least 500 hours per year per child in a setting where the Native language is the medium of instruction and care. A Native American Survival School is also site-based, but it serves school-age students and must provide at least 500 hours of instruction delivered through one or more Native American languages for at least 10 students. Importantly, for those students, the survival school must be their principal place of instruction, meaning the immersion program is not just an add-on or after-school activity but the main educational setting.
The funding is provided as a grant under CFDA number 93.587, and it falls within the federal funding activity area of income security and social services. The posted award ceiling is $300,000 per award, and the agency anticipated making about eight awards under this announcement. The opportunity was created on April 6, 2021, with an original application deadline of June 25, 2021. Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
Eligibility is broad within Native community and nonprofit spaces. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The announcement also lists an "Others" category, with the expectation that applicants check the additional eligibility clarification language in the full notice.
Overall, the EMI program is focused on outcomes that strengthen long-term language vitality by building immersion environments that meet clear minimum thresholds for enrollment and yearly hours of instruction. The structure of the grant is designed to support programs that use Native languages consistently and intensively, especially in early childhood and primary school settings where immersion can have the strongest effect on language acquisition and intergenerational transmission.Apply for HHS 2021 ACF ANA NB 1958
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ANA in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance-Esther Martinez Immersion" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.587.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 06, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2021 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance - Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI) grant?
The Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI) grant is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Administration for Native Americans (ANA). It supports community-based efforts to keep Native languages living and growing by funding immersion-based instruction.
What is the main purpose of the EMI program?
The program is designed to help communities create or strengthen learning environments where a Native language is used as the primary language of teaching and daily interaction. In other words, it supports immersion settings where the language is used consistently and intensively, rather than being taught only as a short, stand-alone subject.
Which federal agencies administer this grant?
The opportunity is offered by HHS and administered through ACF, specifically via the Administration for Native Americans (ANA).
What types of project models are allowed under this opportunity?
Funded projects must fit one of two models established under the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act (42 U.S.C. 2991b-3(b)(7)):
- Native American Language Nest
- Native American Survival School
What is a Native American Language Nest?
A Native American Language Nest is a site-based early childhood program that combines instruction and child care primarily through the Native language. The Native language must be the medium used for instruction and care (not just a subject taught briefly).
What are the minimum requirements for a Language Nest program?
To qualify as a Language Nest under this opportunity, the program must:
- Be site-based
- Serve at least five children under age seven
- Provide, on average, at least 500 hours per year per child in a setting where the Native language is the medium of instruction and care
What is a Native American Survival School?
A Native American Survival School is a site-based program serving school-age students. It provides immersion instruction delivered through one or more Native American languages and is intended to function as a student's primary educational setting rather than a supplemental activity.
What are the minimum requirements for a Survival School program?
To qualify as a Survival School under this opportunity, the program must:
- Be site-based
- Serve at least 10 students
- Provide at least 500 hours of instruction delivered through one or more Native American languages
- Be the students' principal place of instruction (not an add-on, after-school, or occasional program)
What does it mean that a Survival School must be the students' principal place of instruction?
It means the immersion program is the main educational setting for participating students. The survival school model is not meant to fund a program that is only supplemental, such as an after-school class or a short weekly language session.
How intensive does the immersion instruction need to be?
The opportunity sets a clear minimum threshold of 500 hours per year of Native-language-medium instruction (and, for Language Nests, care) for each child or student, depending on the model. This reflects the program's focus on consistent, intensive use of the language in daily learning environments.
Who is eligible to apply?
The announcement lists the following eligible applicant types:
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), as long as they are not institutions of higher education
- An "Others" category is also listed, with the expectation that applicants review additional eligibility clarification language in the full notice
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply as nonprofits?
No. The eligibility statement allows nonprofit organizations, but it explicitly notes that eligible nonprofits are those that are not institutions of higher education.
What is the CFDA number for this grant?
The funding is provided under CFDA number 93.587.
What is the federal funding activity area for this opportunity?
The announcement places this opportunity within the federal funding activity area of income security and social services.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted award ceiling is $300,000 per award.
How many awards were anticipated?
The agency anticipated making about eight awards under this announcement.
When was this opportunity created (posted)?
The opportunity was created on April 6, 2021.
What was the application deadline and submission time requirement?
The original application deadline was June 25, 2021. Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically by the stated deadline time (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date).
What kinds of outcomes does the EMI grant prioritize?
The program emphasizes outcomes that strengthen long-term language vitality by building or strengthening immersion environments that meet minimum thresholds for enrollment and annual hours. It is designed to promote consistent, intensive language use, especially in early childhood and primary school settings where immersion can strongly support language acquisition and intergenerational transmission.
Does this grant support programs where the Native language is taught only as a short class?
The core purpose described for the EMI opportunity is to fund immersion-based instruction where the Native language is the primary language of teaching and daily interaction. The survival school model also requires the program to be the principal place of instruction, which indicates the program is not intended for short or purely supplemental language classes.
Do both models (Language Nest and Survival School) require a site-based setting?
Yes. Both the Native American Language Nest and the Native American Survival School models are described as site-based programs in the opportunity summary.
What is the key difference between a Language Nest and a Survival School under this grant?
Based on the opportunity description:
- A Language Nest focuses on early childhood (children under age seven) and combines instruction and child care through the Native language.
- A Survival School serves school-age students and provides immersion instruction as the students' principal place of instruction.
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