Parenting Capacities and Health Outcomes in Youths and Adolescents Grant. This program announcement solicits research applications aimed at increasing the parenting skills and capacities of parents and caregivers to improve the health outcomes of their young and adolescent children. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible to apply. Eligible principal investigators must have the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out proposed research. There are multiple submission dates -  see full announcement for details. The number and size of the awards will depend on the number of applications received, their relative scientific merit, and the general availability of funds. To view the full announcement, visit http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/NIH/NIH/PA-06-098/listing.html

Funding for Service-Learning Projects

Approximately $40 million in grant funds will be available, subject to congressional appropriation, to support service-learning projects in a variety of settings. The grant funds will be divided between school-based, community-based, higher education, and tribal and U.S. territory programs. The funding is for the 2006-2007 school year, with possible continued funding for two more years.

"Service-learning programs provide an on-ramp to national service and are instrumental in fostering good citizenship," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation, which oversees Learn and Serve America. "Every year the case grows stronger that students engaged in service-learning improve their academic achievement and strengthen their skills by using them to help of their communities."

Learn and Serve America supports and encourages service-learning throughout the United States, and enables over one million students each year to make meaningful contributions to their community while building their academic and civic skills. Underlining the importance of the grants, Learn and Serve America director Amy Cohen said, "These grants develop lasting programs that engage young people in meaningful service as a part of their academic activities. Through service-learning, students and their schools or colleges become assets within the community."

The grant competition supports the Corporation's four strategic goals for 2005-2010: providing more opportunities for citizens to serve and volunteer, harnessing experience to meet 21st century challenges, engaging students in their communities, and ensuring a brighter future for all of America's youth. This competition is particularly focused on ensuring that more youth in disadvantaged circumstances are able to engage in service-learning and on expanding the use of service-learning to more schools, colleges, and community organizations. Funds are available to intermediary organizations and may be used to create curriculum materials; support training and technical assistance activities; and make sub-grants to local partnerships to carry out service-learning.

Information and application instructions are at www.learnandserve.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp .

Opportunities from the Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives would like to share with you ongoing grant opportunities.

Through the Department of Commerce's domestic economic development arm, Economic Development Administration (EDA) targets its investment assistance on attracting private capital investment and creating higher-skill, higher-wage jobs in those communities and regions that are suffering from economic distress as defined in 13 CRF 304.2. EDA investments are focused on locally-developed, regionally-based economic development initiatives that achieve the highest returns on the taxpayers' investment and that directly contribute to economic growth. EDA is authorized to partner with non-profit organizations and units of local government.

As an example of EDA investment assistance to faith-based and community organizations, in 2002, EDA awarded $50,000 to the African American Ministries in Pennsylvania, to develop ways to increase the volume and effectiveness of job training, new building initiatives, business incubation, the use of credit unions, investment clubs, and commercial ventures. In that same year, EDA also awarded $900,000 to the Carver Community Center in Cumberland Maryland to support a micro-enterprise business incubator and training program facility.

We strongly encourage your organization focused on community and economic development to sign up on our listserv at http://www.osec.doc.gov/fbci/DOCFBCI_ListServ.htm or contact the Center's Director, Kathryn Knapp at 202-482-4355 or kknapp@doc.gov . We will be sending out information periodically on grant programs, upcoming events and other useful information.