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National Park Service

The summer program features a 12-week internship (employment opportunity) tailored to various NPS career tracks for 100 participants. NPS Academy Summer internships will be made available in a variety of fields, including visitor services, education, resource management and more. The Academy Program, to include intern positions, are funded by the WASO, Youth Programs Division. NPS sites completed a rigorous application process in order to secure an intern through this summer program.

Fish and Wildlife Service

The purpose of this proposal is to provide $100,000 in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) funds to the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Program, managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). This funding will be used to support National Wildlife Refuge Friends organizations through a competitive grant process. These grants provide funding for Refuge Friends organizations to implement on-the-ground projects and to increase their organizations capacity. Need: Community-based partnerships between Refuge Friends organizations and National Wildlife Refuge Systems have played an increasingly vital role in building visibility and support for Refuges nationwide. Refuge Friends organizations provide many important and needed services to the Refuge System including community outreach, education program, habitat restoration, special event support, volunteer staff, and fundraising. Specifically, grants may focus on one of the following three areas: 1. Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants Funds will be provided to assist both starting and established refuge Friends organizations to build their capacity. Funds for newly forming organizations may include formative and/or initial operational support. For example, funds may be requested for such things as membership drives, tuition for training, brochure and newsletter development, logo design, or consultant fees for website development. Funds for established refuge Friends organizations may include activities that strengthen an organization s ability to fully achieve its mission and sustain itself over time. For example, funds may be requested for a communications strategy for an existing event, strategic plan, volunteer recruitment planning, membership development, new software, or contributing to the building of a new community partnership. 2. Project Specific Grants Funds will be provided to refuge Friends organizations seeking support for projects initiated and managed by the Friends. For these grants, Friends must clearly demonstrate their involvement in all elements of the project in their narrative, including how the project will benefit the Friends and foster increased engagement of the public, community, volunteers and/or members. For example, funds may be requested for a Friends organization which proposes to develop and deliver environmental education programs for local schools, manage a habitat restoration project from start to finish, manage the construction of an observation tower and how the Friends intend to use the facility to increase engagement with the Friends organization, or develop interpretive materials and programs that will be used by or delivered by the Friends organization. 3. Peer-to-Peer Coaching (P2P) Funds will be provided to refuge Friends organizations who propose to coordinate and execute a Friends training workshop for a minimum of four other refuge Friends organizations. Timeline: NFWF anticipates releasing the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Program RFP during the third quarter of fiscal year 2017. Subawards will likely be awarded during the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 with disbursements to grantees taking place over the next two years. The pace of NFWF invoicing will be based on the cash needs of the subrecipients. NFWF will invoice -FWS on a reimbursable basis for the funding. Outcomes: NFWF will continue to work with FWS to administer the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Program. This program is designed to increase the effectiveness of Refuge Friends through supporting on-the-ground and capacity building projects. Evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to the following elements: Program Goals and Priorities If applicable, Project contributes to the Program s overall habitat and species conservation goals, and has specific, quantifiable performance metrics to evaluate project success. Project addresses one or more of the program priorities outlined in the Request for Proposal. Technical Merit Project is technically sound and feasible, and the proposal sets forth a clear, logical and achievable work plan and timeline. When appropriate, Project engages appropriate technical experts throughout project planning, design and implementation to ensure activities are technically-sound and feasible. Budget Costs are allowable, reasonable and budgeted in accordance with NFWF s Budget Instructions cost categories. Federally-funded projects must be in compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance as applicable (OMB Uniform Guidance). Authorizing statues include Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C. 2901-2911); Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742(a)-754); Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k(4)); National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd); Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1701-1706); Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470aa-47011); The National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-57); National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-327); Federal Aid for Highways, HR 4348 (23 U.S.C. 201-204 and 206, Public Law 112-141).

National Park Service

: Groundwork USA is a national non-profit organization that coordinates, supports, and strengthens local Groundwork trusts operating across the United States. Each local trust is dedicated to renewing and restoring distressed neighborhoods through environmental projects and programs that bring local residents, government, youth, and businesses together. Groundwork trusts, which are independent non-profits, are established in places with an industrial past that have been largely left behind by economic growth in the last few decades. Groundwork USA was established in the United States through the leadership of the National Park Service s Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program and the USEPA Brownfields Program. To further this work, in collaboration with the National Park Service, Groundwork USA will recruit 60 youth ambassadors and youth leaders to attend a multi-day training program, October 11-15, 2017, in Richmond, Virginia. The purpose of this training is to recap the ways NPS has engaged Groundwork Green Team and Corps members at 16 National Parks over the past year, to evaluate the roles and jobs Groundwork youth have played at each park (including the skills necessary to complete the work), and to codify recommendations for future Groundwork training and expansion of competencies. Groundwork youth will also hear of other NPS programs such as Urban Archaeology and Mountains to Main Street to learn how the skill sets they utilize advance the mission goals of the National Park Service. During the training, Groundwork youth will visit a various national parks and learn from NPS officials how the Service uses federal lands for Americans enjoyment and edification, and about how Groundwork corps programs can become stepping stones for careers in conservation, recreation management and preservation both in the public and private sectors. These parks will include Fredericksburg National Military Park, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Tradegar Iron Works National Historical Monument, as well as sites with work and training programs run by other federal agencies.

National Park Service

Develop and implement two Vermont Youth Conservation Community Corps crews. Crews will consist of six crew members and two crew leaders and will work for four weeks. The crews will address critical resource management projects while offering local young adults opportunities to explore concepts in conservation stewardship, leadership, and work skills.

Department of Housing and Community Development

Rather than utilizing a set-aside within the standard Homekey Program, this NOFA operates independently and is tailored to meet the specific affordable housing needs of California Tribes. Funds offered under this NOFA and the criteria specified herein are available solely and exclusively to eligible Tribal Entities. Funding available under this NOFA provides an opportunity for Tribal Entities to develop multifamily Rental Housing Developments, including rehabilitation of existing housing, new construction of apartments, town homes, or single-family rental homes, including manufactured housing, or conversion of non-residential space to residential housing. Projects developed using Homekey Tribal funding shall provide Permanent Housing for the Target Population. Keywords: Tribal, Tribal Entities, Native American, NAHASDA, Seniors, Youth, Homeless, At Risk of Homelessness.

National Park Service

Activities supported under this agreement include conducting coordinated programs for getting young people onto their urban waterways in key cities, providing opportunities to learn outdoor and environmental skills, and providing a continuum of experiences through access to additional opportunities for recreation, career information, and skill development.

FIC - John E. Fogarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences

In Vietnam, adolescent and young men vulnerable to HIV through sexual behaviors are among those most affected by the infection, with an HIV prevalence that quadrupled from 3% in 2011 to 13% in 2020. More than 20% of Vietnamese young men living with HIV had moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety symptoms. These youths experienced extensive stigma related to their HIV status and sexual behaviors. There is a dearth of youth-friendly mental health services in Vietnam where there is less than one psychiatrist per 100,000 people. Project YES+ is an intervention integrating two evidence-based interventions, Project YES! and Self-Help+ to improve mental health, stigma, and HIV outcomes among youth living with HIV in Zambia (5R01TW012411). Youth Engaging for Success (Project YES!) is an HIV clinic-based peer mentoring CDC-designated intervention that successfully decreased HIV self-stigma and increased viral suppression. Self-Help+ is a group-based lay-delivered program endorsed by WHO that effectively prevents the onset of mental disorders and reduces mental health symptoms in different cultures. We propose to adapt Project YES+ for adolescent and young men living with HIV in Vietnam to create To Hieu (I Understand) and to pilot test the adapted intervention. The specific aims are to (1) Adapt Project YES+ to create To Hieu to improve mental health and reduce internalized HIV stigma for adolescent and young men living with HIV in Vietnam and (2) Examine acceptability and feasibility of To Hieu among adolescent and young men living with HIV through a pilot randomized controlled trial. In Aim 1, the adaption will follow the 8-step ADAPT-ITT framework.38 We will conduct in-depth interviews with adolescent and young men living with HIV (N=20) to explore preferences for the core components and formats of To Hieu. We will hold a human-centered design workshop to engage adolescent and young men living with HIV in co-design activities to refine To Hieu. In Aim 2, we will recruit 80 adolescent and young men living with HIV with depression or anxiety symptoms at two HIV clinics in Hanoi, Vietnam and randomize them 1:1 into two arms. The intervention arm will receive To Hieu in 4 months, while the control arm will receive standard of care at the clinics. The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework will guide the measurement of the outcomes. We will calculate participation rates of participants (Reach) at baseline. We will assess acceptability through the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire and feasibility through intervention attendance (Adoption) at 4 months. Depression, anxiety symptoms, internalized HIV and sexual stigma, ART adherence and viral suppression of participants will be evaluated at baseline, 4 months and compared between groups (preliminary Effectiveness). We will conduct exit interviews with participants, youth peer mentors and HIV providers (N=30) to explore acceptability, feasibility (Implementation) and sustainability (Maintenance) of To Hieu. This research will build local capacity and develop networks for collaborative research on mental health and stigma among adolescent and young men living with HIV between Vietnam and the US.

NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health

The objective of the proposed K23 research and training plan is to support Dr. Emily Tilstra-Ferrell in obtaining training needed to become an independent clinical scientist with a program of research focused on developing highly scalable, efficient evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can be delivered in accessible, real-world, multidisciplinary settings. Over four million adolescents in the United States (US) have PTSD. Although PTSD EBTs are available, only one third (37%) of adolescents access these treatments. Among the few who access PTSD EBTs, over one-third (34%) prematurely drop out due to barriers including lengthy protocols (the majority of dropout occurs before session seven). The proposed study directly addresses this clinical gap by adapting Written Exposure Therapy (WET), an EBT for adult PTSD, for adolescents. WET is an efficient, five-session PTSD treatment that is non-inferior to lengthier gold-standard PTSD EBTs for adults. WET addresses many barriers faced by adolescents who seek EBTs for PTSD due its brevity and related cost-effectiveness. However, WET has not been formally adapted or rigorously tested with adolescents. In Aim 1, WET will be adapted following a systematic model: Assessment, Decisions, Administration, Production, Topical Experts, Integration, Training, and Testing (ADAPT-ITT). In Aim 2, a proof- of-concept randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be employed to compare WET to Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (the gold-standard PTSD EBT for youth) delivered in a pediatric primary care setting to adolescents with PTSD. The final exploratory aim will examine the potential emotional (fear extinction) and cognitive (changes in ruminative cognition) mechanisms of action in WET. The mentorship team is comprised of numerous highly experienced mentors with NIH-funded research related to the proposed project including RCTs for adolescents with PTSD (Primary Mentor: Dr. Carla Kmett Danielson), ADAPT-ITT (Dr. Cristina López), advanced qualitative and mixed methods (Dr. Byron Powell), WET (Dr. Christine Hahn), dissemination and implementation science and EBTs for trauma-exposed youth in primary care settings (Dr. Rochelle Hanson), and longitudinal data analysis (Dr. Naomi Brownstein). The research opportunities, mentorship, and formal coursework afforded by the proposed K23 will ensure Dr. Tilstra-Ferrell gains the following skills needed to achieve her career goals: (1) conducting clinical trials with trauma-exposed adolescents, (2) using qualitative and mixed methods design to adapt and implement EBTs, (3) longitudinal data analysis, (4) dissemination and implementation science methods, and (5) improved scientific communication. The candidate will complete all proposed activities at the Medical University of South Carolina in the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, which is internationally renowned for research on adolescent PTSD EBTs with a strong history of catapulting early career scientists to independence. The proposed K23 will ultimately prepare Dr. Tilstra-Ferrell to launch a program of research developing efficient and scalable PTSD EBTs for adolescents.

Fish and Wildlife Service

The National Wildlife Refuge Association (Refuge Association) partnered with the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service (Service) in 2010 to develop Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation, a vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System in the 21st century. Since then, the Refuge Association and the Service have cooperated together to implement the Conserving the Future vision across the nation and across many different constituencies of the Refuge System.The National Wildlife Refuge Association is the only nonpartisan, nongovernment, independent organization exclusively focused on advancing the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Building on a 41-year history of partnership, the Refuge Association works to amplify, assist and elevate the Refuge System s wildlife conservation and public engagement activities by providing expertise and assistance in partnership development, communications, outreach, education, land conservation and planning, as appropriate.In 2016 and 2017, we look forward to further collaborative work in our core areas of expertise and common interest: constituency-building, strategic habitat conservation and landscape conservation design, and communications and outreach. Building on work begun under similar cooperative agreements in 2014 and 2015, our activities in the coming year will include:Building Vibrant Partnerships: Strengthening grassroots partnerships across the nation by working with Refuge Friends Groups, Partners for Conservation, sportsmen's groups, NGO colleagues, and youth and university groupsCollaborative Landscape Conservation: Implementing strategic habitat conservation initiatives through our Beyond the Boundaries program work in selected landscapes across the nationGo Wild Raising the Profile of Refuges and Connecting with Refuge Visitors: Assisting the Refuge System in putting its communications strategy into action and developing a complementary branding and outreach campaign by the Refuge Association known as Go Wild, designed to connect with refuge visitors and engage them as refuge champions for the next generation.Authorizing statues for this program include the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, for the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of fish and wildlife species and their habitat (16 U.S.C. 661 and 742 et seq.); Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 753); Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544, 87 Stat. 884).

Afterschool Alliance

Funds afterschool programs providing safe, enriching learning environments for youth.

Education Department

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the AFRI s Education and Workforce Development program areas to support:1. professional development opportunities for K-14 educational professionals;2. non-formal education that cultivates food and agricultural interest in youth;3. workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges;4. training of undergraduate students in research and extension; 5. fellowships for predoctoral candidates;6. fellowships for postdoctoral scholars; and7. education and workforce development workshop grants.

Allstate Foundation

Funds youth empowerment programs, financial literacy, and domestic violence prevention through community-based organizations.

American Hotel & Lodging Foundation

Supports hospitality workforce development, education, and career programs for underserved youth and veterans.

American Legion Foundation

Grants for programs supporting veterans, military families, and youth through education, patriotism, and service.

American Legion Foundation

Supports veterans assistance, youth programs, national security education, and community service through American Legion posts.

National Park Service

The goal for the program is to provide the NYC experience to deaf and hard of hearing youth so that they may have the same enriching experiences as their peers. This project has been successful by fully supporting accessible communication, which requires hiring professional interpreters as crew leaders and providing ASL interpretation at orientation, graduation, program presentations, question and answer sessions, skills trainings, safety trainings, recreation and games, weekend sites and general group interactions. This concept has worked extremely well for delivering this experience to interns during the past 3 years. ASLP crews work with NPS units throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, introducing participants to career opportunities at individual Park units and Park staff to the ability and work ethic of these youth. ASLP crews live on the project site for up to five weeks at a time. While learning valuable lessons of teamwork and responsibility, youth gain a sense of pride that comes with hard work and a job well done. ASLP nurtures and encourages leadership development, diversity and cultural exchange among the youth and leaders in the program. The ASLP will provide an exclusive Corps opportunity for 20 deaf or hard of hearing youth with a five week long program during the summer of 2016, and provide five deaf or hard of hearing young adults with an eight week long AmeriCorps program. The ASLP will also provide opportunities throughout 2016 for up to 10 deaf or hard of hearing youth participants in other programs offered at Northwest Youth Corps.

National Park Service

The goal for the program is to provide the NYC experience to deaf and hard of hearing youth so that they may have the same enriching experiences as their peers. Providing ASL interpretation at orientation, graduation, program presentations, question and answer sessions, skills trainings, safety trainings, recreation and games, weekend sites and general group interactions.

NIDA - National Institute on Drug Abuse

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Family processes such as parental monitoring of the teens’ whereabouts or provision of discipline are core treatment targets in our most potent clinical interventions to reduce or prevent adolescent substance use, but we know relatively little about how family processes drive change. The dominant paradigm for studying the role of family processes consists of examining cross-sectional or longitudinal covariation between multiitem rating scales measuring “typical” parenting behavior over an extended recall period and teen reports of substance use over the past year/month. Because this data collection paradigm aggregates heavily across behaviors, time, and context, it precludes a precise, nuanced, or temporally sensitive understanding of how family processes drive changes in drinking and drug use, limiting translation relevance. To remedy this gap, we will develop a novel paradigm for collecting real-time, real-world intensive longitudinal data on the sequence of discrete parent and youth behaviors before and after episodes of substance use (i.e., antecedents and consequences). N=90 teens who use substances will complete 28 consecutive days of 4x/day EMA surveys, yielding ~120 observations of family processes per family over a 1-month period. Using this rich data, we pursue two aims. First, we will obtain validity, feasibility, and acceptability evidence for the novel paradigm and refine it for large-scale data collection (Aim 1). Validity evidence will be gathered by linking our momentary- and day-level assessments to pre-existing measures from the field’s standard paradigm. Usability, acceptability, and feasibility data for the paradigm will be gathered through structured interviews at baseline and exit assessments. Data from survey responses and interviews will be used to refine the paradigm in anticipation of future large-scale data collection (e.g., delete or replace poorly performing items, adjust schedule/frequency of surveys). Second, to demonstrate the value of the new paradigm, we will test 6 substantive hypotheses about which specific antecedent/consequent parent behaviors, performed when, for how long, and in which contexts, lead to changes in substance use and intent to use. Results will be proof-of-concept that the episode-based paradigm can reveal clinically useful insights not accessible with traditional, aggregated parenting rating scales. The expected outcome of this project is a new paradigm for studying which specific parenting behaviors, performed when and in which contexts, reduce risk for adolescent substance use over what timescale and for how long. If successful, findings obtained in a research program employing the new paradigm will replace the generic parenting advice offered in existing clinical interventions with precise, concrete, actionable recommendations on how busy and burdened parents can achieve greater impact with less effort. This developmental/exploratory (R21) proposal is expected to lead to a R01 submission to collect larger-scale data that will probe additional family processes, longer-term effects, and changes during clinical treatment.

National Park Service

Youth Engagement and Development Program. The project objective is to provide education and training to young adult crew in the areas of invasive species management; overgrown vegetation restricting water flow and causing flooding; and grave restoration and headstone alignment in the national cemetery at the Andersonville National Historic Site.

U.S. Mission to Tajikistan

Purpose of Public Diplomacy Grants: PDS Embassy Dushanbe invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the United States and Tajikistan in priority program areas (see below) in order to highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation. All proposed programs must include an American element, either through a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institutions/s, usage of American educational/informational resources, or any other activities that promote or contribute to increased mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of Tajikistan. Competitive proposals will promote continued and sustainable cooperation between the people of the United States and Tajikistan even after the project concludes. Competitive proposals will include partnership with Tajik governmental bodies, and to organizations that have a demonstrated track record of implementing such programs. Examples of programs could include, but are not limited to: Academic or professional exchanges, lectures, seminars, trainings, speaker programs, or workshops; and Artistic, cultural, or sports workshops, masterclasses, joint performances, and/or exhibitions. PDS welcomes proposals that support one of the following priority program areas: TOPIC 1: Counter Gender-based Violence (GBV) Domestic violence (DV) and gender-based violence (GBV) remains a serious issue in Tajikistan and much of the world. In a USAID-funded survey in Tajikistan, 97% of men and 60% of women believed spousal abuse was justified. Cases of GBV and DV are underreported because victims wish to avoid humiliation, reprisal, or social stigmatization, or believe it may have been warranted. Further, authorities wishing to promote traditional gender roles frequently dismiss domestic violence as a family matter or only gave a warning or fine. Government resources for survivors are also limited. Project Audience(s) may include: Religiously or socially conservative communities, especially Tajik men (18-50 years old) High school students (14-18 years old.) Youth and emerging leaders (18-35 years old.) University teachers and students. Labor migrants and spouses of labor migrants. Tajik advocacy groups. Government bodies. Independent media including bloggers and vloggers Countering Gender-Based Violence Project Goal: Empower civil society and communities in Tajikistan to prevent and prosecute cases of Domestic Violence (DV) or Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through community-led initiatives. Project Objectives (may address one or more of the following): Messaging campaigns or awareness raising activities, such as sports diplomacy, should engage and target both men and women. Having men as the face of campaigns, or having men speak to men standing against GBV, demonstrates solidarity and emphasizes that eradicating gender-based violence is the collective responsibility of everyone, regardless of gender. Improve collaboration between civil society, independent media, and the government to identify and address gaps in existing laws and policies that criminalize GBV/DV, provide protections for victims, and establish legal frameworks for persecution. Raise awareness among vulnerable populations about laws, rights, and support services concerning early marriage, domestic abuse, harassment, divorce, alimony, and other civil rights. TOPIC 2: Promoting Women s Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Due to the high rate of male labor migration and unemployment, more Tajik women are exploring ways to financially support their households and communities. However, women entrepreneurs' activities are highly dependent on the effectiveness of the business environment in the country. Moreover, the mountainous regions throughout the country challenge the development of entrepreneurship, as does lack of information, limited access to financing for starting a business, and other socio-economic conditions. Nevertheless, successful small business development creates new employment opportunities in Tajikistan and helps women support themselves and their families. Small businesses are fast becoming the main source of income for women in Tajikistan. Proposed projects should enhance women s participation, promotion, and longevity in the Tajik economy and ability to assume leadership positions. Projects should clearly support the protection of economic rights for women and increase respect for women s rights in society to improve their independence and proactive role in Tajik society. Project Audience(s) may include: Women from rural areas (including the spouses of labor migrants) and women entrepreneurs. Small businesses in rural areas. Business associations. Financial and government institutions. Tourism agencies (including guesthouse and small hotels). Community leaders and youth demonstrating leadership potential in these areas. Women s Economic Empowerment Project Goal: Increase the capacity of women from underserved, rural communities, including the spouses of labor migrants, to participate or increase their participation in the Tajik economy. Improve women's economic opportunities in Tajikistan by increasing the capacity of women to start, establish, or expand their own companies. Project Objectives (may address one or more of the following): Develop the business and technical skills of women in rural communities to increase employability, launch and/or improve their own businesses. Establish and conduct activities with a professional network for women from under-represented communities, including the spouses of labor migrants, to support mentorship relationships and collaborative initiatives among network members that go beyond the conclusion of project activities. o Projects could connect women s entrepreneurship in the development of tourism around newly recognized UNESCO heritage sites. o Increase awareness of tourism initiatives and employment opportunities centered around newly designated UNESCO heritage sites. o Projects could seek to increase participation of women from underserved and target communities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Increase women s knowledge and understanding about their legal rights in society and how to advocate for the respect of those rights. o Increase women s knowledge and understanding about their legal rights in the workplace, including rights related to employment, equal pay, job security, and access to economic opportunities. o Equip Tajik women with the ability to advocate for the recognition and enforcement of these rights. Promote women s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship through support from start-up hubs, corporate social responsibility, and/or access to finance. Emphasis should be placed on strengthening chambers of commerce, entrepreneurs, and core private sector industries through interactions or linkages with U.S. counterparts. o Facilitate access to funding resources and financing opportunities for women entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses. o Strengthen organizational capacities of chambers of commerce to support business development of aspiring female entrepreneurs. o Facilitate interactions and linkages between women entrepreneurs, chambers of commerce, startup hubs, and private sector industries in Tajikistan and their U.S. counterparts. TOPIC 3: Sharing America with Tajikistan The United States values innovation, creativity, critical thinking, freedom of expression, democratic principles, economic growth, and security. The United States supports a sovereign and independent Tajikistan, which includes support for a well-informed, discerning public who can inoculate itself against disinformation. Both the United States and Tajikistan have rich cultural traditions as shown in literature and storytelling, theater and performing arts, film, music, dance, sport, and education. Educational, cultural, and other exchange activities are a great way to engage the public, especially at-risk youth and those with neutral views or misconceptions about the United States, in order to bridge our cultures, deepen understanding, and discuss topics of mutual importance. Proposed projects should strengthen understanding between the United States and Tajikistan and advance areas of mutual interest by leveraging the experiences and lessons learned from the United States, while respecting cultural differences. Project Audience(s) may include: Tajik audiences who have not had exposure to the United States before. Youth 16-35. Academia, professors, and teachers. Civil society, non-government organizations, and associations/organizations promoting shared values or areas of mutual interest. Information professionals (media outlets, managers, editors, journalists, influencers). Religious and community leaders. Entrepreneurs and business community advocacy organizations. National and subnational government officials. Project Goal: To share American values, such as freedom of expression, respect for human rights, and celebrate/promote respect for diversity and social inclusion, while also improving access to objective information and increase media literacy and critical thinking skills to analyze mis and disinformation aimed at the United States. Project Objectives (may address one or more of the following): Raise awareness about shared U.S.-Tajik values and partnerships through trainings, workshops, masterclasses, joint performances, or other projects by U.S. and/or Tajik experts. Increase access to American content by Tajik audiences (such as book translations) that promote U.S. democratic and rights-based values. Increase collaboration between local, state, and civil society actors/stakeholders on well-defined social issues affecting both the United States and Tajikistan by sharing U.S. models of government-community engagement, or by working with U.S. experts/peers. Increase the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and coalitions working to advance and/or advocate for respect and the promotion of human rights. Strengthen the ability of Tajik media professionals to develop accurate and fact-based informational media campaigns through digital skills building and training initiatives based on U.S.-best practices. Increase production and publication of objective, fact-based and editorially diverse media content by Tajik media professionals. Increase critical thinking skills, especially for youth and publics with a neutral or view or misconceptions about the United States, to identify and critically analyze sources of misinformation and disinformation. In addition to the specific requirements listed above by program area, all proposals must: 1. Clearly indicate the primary activity area to which it is being submitted for consideration. 2. Focus on the key public diplomacy audiences and activities specified in the areas, provide programs for underserved geographic regions of Tajikistan, as well as non-elite schools (if applicable); 3. Clearly delineate how elements of their program will have a multiplier effect and be sustainable beyond the life of the grant; 4. Provide a traditional and/or social media plan for marketing program activities and outcome, if applicable 5. Identify the cities/districts in which activities will take place. 6. Identify specific outcomes to be achieved by the end of the grant period. 7. Identify any tools (surveys, beneficiary interviews, focus groups, etc.) that will be developed for Monitoring and Evaluation purposes. Applicants must also demonstrate competency to manage all financial aspects of the project, including participant costs and transparent arrangements of sub-grant relationships with partner organizations, if applicable.

National Park Service

The purpose of this agreement is to educate young adults of an important story in American history. The program will expand the participants knowledge of World War II by sharing the story of the Japanese American incarceration experience, the resilience of the Japanese American community and their commitment to conserving historical stories. Educational sessions throughout the program will explore and analyze the causes for the internment as well as its racial, political, and civil rights implications and its continued impact on the Japanese American community; and it will emphasize the ways in which the legacy of the incarceration remains relevant in the current age. Building off the 2017 Year-1 program, the 2018 program will also incorporate 8-week internship opportunities, which will allow three 2017 participants to gain work experience at three NPS sites: Manzanar National Historic Site, Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, and Minidoka National Historic Site.

National Park Service

The C&O Canal (CHOH) will follow Action #2 from the Director s Call to Action to recruit diverse youth for volunteer opportunities. Under Action #2, Step by Step, CHOH will engage a youth intern, recruited by the Student Conservation Association (SCA), to expand youth community outreach. The intern will work with Canal Towns along the park to engage youth that have roots in the communities adjacent to the park. The intern will also connect with local Boys and Girls Clubs, college service groups, and community youth organizations like the Latin American Youth Center to recruit youth volunteers. In order to more effectively connect with youth, the intern will also focus on C2A Action #17, Go Digital. The intern will enhance the CHOH volunteer program s social media outreach in an effort to recruit volunteers from America s next generation.

U.S. Mission to Austria

This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Purpose of Small Grants: The Austrian-American Partnership Fund (AAPF) is organized to fund projects advancing collaboration and dialogue and expand cooperation between Austria and the United States. AAPF accepts applications for funding for innovative projects that seek to bring American perspectives to Austria or connect Americans and Austrians in the following priority areas: Promote understanding of U.S. global foreign policy and economic priorities and interests among Austrian publics, particularly young people, and support U.S.-Austrian initiatives that advance these priorities. Contribute to strengthening U.S.-Austria efforts to combat shared transnational threats, such as terrorism, illegal migration, antisemitism, or drug trafficking. Enhance understanding of the United States and U.S.-Austrian shared history and celebrate American arts, film, sports, and music, particularly among youth, including in connection with America s 250th anniversary in 2026. Highlight American technological and scientific innovation and economic dynamism and create opportunities for U.S.-Austria collaboration in these fields. Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis and subject to the availability of Public Diplomacy funds for Fiscal Year 2026. The selection process can take up to two - three months. ELIGIBILITY The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from Austria, European or, U.S.-based organizations and individuals with proven experience of executing programs. Proposals that demonstrate the long-term sustainability of the proposed project will receive priority. The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations Public and private educational institutions Individuals