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VISTA is part of the AmeriCorps program. VISTA members serve in a variety of poverty-related programs that focus on hunger, homelessness, unemployment, health, economic development and literacy development. About 50 percent of VISTA's resources are focused on the problems of disadvantaged youth. VISTA has helped to set up drug abuse action centers, literacy programs, food distribution efforts, shelters for runaway youth, and tutoring and computer literacy activities.
Eligibility: Sponsors applying for VISTA members must be federal, state or local government agencies or private, nonprofit organizations. The project proposing to use the VISTA members must be designed to assist in the solution of poverty-related problems.
These grants support the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education by providing campus-based child care services.Funds are used to support or establish campus-based child care programs primarily serving the needs of low-income students enrolled in intitutions of higher education. Grants may be used for before- and after-school services.
Eligibility: An institution of higher education is eligible to receive a grant under this program if the total amount of all Federal Pell grant funds awarded to students enrolled at the institution of higher education for the preceding fiscal year equals or exceeds $350,000.
The Talent Search program identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to and complete their postsecondary education. The program publicizes the availability of financial aid and assist participant with the postsecondary application process.
Eligibility: Institutions of higher education (IHEs), public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and as appropriate to the purposes of the program, secondary schools.
The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.
Upward Bound projects provide academic instruction in mathematics, laboratory sciences, composition, literature, and foreign languages. Tutoring, counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment, work-study programs, education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students
Eligibility: Institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and as appropriate to the purposes of the program, secondary schools.
The Upward Bound Math-Science Program allows the Department to fund specialized Upward Bound math and science centers. The centers are designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The goal of the program is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in the fields of mathematics and science and encourage them to pursue post-secondary degrees in mathematics and science. Program participants must be eligible for Upward Bound (low-income, first generation) and must have completed eighth grade.
Eligibility: Institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and as appropriate to the purposes of the program, secondary schools.
Grants are awarded to states to assist in providing free appropriate public education for all children with disabilities. Funds may be used for salaries of teachers and other personnel, education materials, related services such as special transportation or occupational therapy that allow children and youth with disabilities to access all education services, and other education-related costs. Youth initiatives can coordinate with schools and other community providers to ensure funds are used for education and youth development activities that support disabled youth.
Eligibility: State educational agencies in the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and Virgin Islands, the Department of the Interior, and freely associated states. Local educational agencies apply to their state educational agency for subgrants.
Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.
Eligibility: State educational agencies (SEAs) and the Secretary of the Interior. Local educational agencies and Indian tribal schools are subgrantees.
Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.
Eligibility: State Education Agencies (SEA) may apply
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is designed to encourage banks and thrifts to meet the financial credit and service needs of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Unlike most government loan or grant programs, the CRA does not appropriate public funds nor does it require potential beneficiaries to submit formal applications to the government. Rather, the law simply requires that lenders use their private-sector resources to meet the financing needs of all communities in which lenders conduct business, consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
Eligibility: Individuals, for-profit and nonprofit entities in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods that benefit from the CRA.
Grants assist states and localities in establishing and carrying out programs to assist youth aging out of the foster care system. Intended beneficiaries are youth up to the ages of 21 for whom foster care maintenance payments are or have been made by the state.Grants may be used to assist youth under 18: 1) make the transition to self-sufficiency; 2) receive education, training, and healthservices; 3) obtain employment; 4) prepare for and enter post-secondary training and educational institutions; and 5) provide personal and emotional support to youth through mentors and the promotion of interactions with dedicated adults. Grants also may be used to provide financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other appropriate support and services to former foster care recipients for up to five years and/or their 23rd birthday. Youth initiatives may use these funds to support activities that assist foster care youth make the transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency.
Eligibility: This program is intended to serve: youth who are likely to remain in foster care until age 18; youth who were adopted or under kinship guardianship at age 16 or older; and young adults ages 18–21 who have aged out of the foster care system.For detailed eligibility information, you must contact your state’s Child Welfare Agency directly. You can find the State Independent Living and Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Coordinator list here.