FY 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Innovations in Citizenship Preparation

OCPE is charged with promoting instruction and training on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. USCIS recognizes that naturalization is a key milestone in the civic integration of immigrants. Naturalization requirements, such as knowledge of English and U.S. history and government, encourage civic learning and build a strong foundation upon which immigrants can fully integrate into American society. Through preparing for naturalization, immigrants gain tools to become successful citizens and meet their responsibilities as United States citizens.The goal of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program (CIGP) is to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for immigrants across the nation and to provide opportunities for immigrants to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate into the fabric of American society.Since it began in 2009, the CIGP has awarded more than $132 million through 579 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Now in its 15th year, the program has helped more than 300,000 lawful permanent residents (LPRs ) prepare for citizenship. The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program supports the objectives of Executive Order 14012, Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024 by promoting integration, inclusion, and citizenship. The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program also addresses the DHS mission to enforce and administer our immigration laws (captured in the Third Quadrennial Homeland Security Review) and USCIS’ mission and values, as the program provides immigrants instruction on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and information on how to apply for naturalization within the authorized practice of immigration law.The Innovations in Citizenship Preparation (Innovations) funding opportunity is designed to support and amplify innovative approaches to preparing immigrants for naturalization and encouraging the civic, linguistic, economic, and cultural integration of immigrants into their communities. While USCIS’ other funding opportunities support specific citizenship preparation services, the Innovations program invests in initiatives that develop, test, and share creative solutions for overcoming barriers to naturalization and expanding access to citizenship education and preparation services. Through this funding opportunity, organizations develop, test, and share creative solutions for overcoming traditional barriers to naturalization. Because we want to provide this opportunity widely, Innovations is open to public, non-profit, and for-profit institutions of all sizes.
Categories: Community Development.