Federal Grants for Children
The federal government has made children a high priority in its grant funding. Children and youth are the future of the nation, and the government has made an investment in them by granting organizations that serve children with funds to further their work.
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Identification
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Like most funders, the federal government does not give grants directly to children. Instead, it invests funds into services and research that benefit children. This includes youth from infancy to age 18. Many of these grants also focus on families, as children are directly impacted by the health of the family. These grants cover the many needs of children, from education to safety to nutrition.
Types
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The federal government distributes grants among states and local agencies, as well as some nonprofit organizations. It does this in a couple of ways. Project grants are competitive grants for local agencies and nonprofit organizations. English Language Acquisition Grants, for schools among Native American and Pacific Islander groups, fund programs that help students reach English proficiency. Formula grants, on the other hand, are non-competitive. A formula is written into the legislation, enacting the particular grant that outlines how much money each grantee is eligible to receive. For instance, Adoption Assistance from the Administration for Children and Families allots a certain amount of money to each state to help cover the cost of adoptions of special needs children.
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Function
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Federal grants benefiting children exist to cover a wide variety of children's needs. The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program ensures childcare for children of parents in college. With this grant, public and private institutions can start or continue quality on-campus childcare, making it easy for students to find a safe place for their children during the day. Also, the USDA funds the Youth & Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects, which fund a variety of holistic youth projects through Cooperative Extensions at public and private institutions.
Geography
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Some federal grants for children are limited to specific locations. For instance, the Children's Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities projects funds organizations only within Native American tribes. This particular grant is to be used for projects that investigate child abuse and promote prevention techniques.
Considerations
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For many, the government is the first place to look when seeking grants. Government funding, however, is extremely limited. Formula grants are tightly legislated and project grants are generally given to big, research-driven organizations. Federal grants are often large sums. Usually, eligible organizations serve children on a state or national level. For instance, the Department of Health and Human Service's Abstinence Education grant is only available to state agencies. Local groups have a better chance with smaller and more local foundations.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of André Mouraux
