FY 2014 Citizenship and Integration Direct Services Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services

Program Overview and PrioritiesThe Office of Citizenship (OoC), within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS),Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is charged with promoting instruction and training onthe rights and responsibilities of citizenship. USCIS recognizes that naturalization is an important milestone in the civic integration of immigrants. Naturalization requirements, such as knowledge of English and of U.S. history and civics, encourage civic learning and build a strong foundation upon which immigrants can exercise their rights and responsibilities. Through preparing for naturalization, immigrants will gain the tools to become successful citizens—ready to exercise their rights and meet their responsibilities as United States citizens.The goal of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is to expand the availability of highquality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents in communities across the nation. Additional activities that support this goal include making citizenship instruction and naturalization application services accessible to low-income and other underserved lawful permanent resident populations; developing, identifying, and sharing promising practices in citizenship preparation; supporting innovative and creative solutions to barriers faced by those seeking naturalization; increasing the use of and access to technology in citizenship preparation programs; working with local libraries, which serve as a vital resource for immigrant communities; and engaging receiving communities in the citizenship and civic integration process.