Promoting Access with a Language Services Assistance Symbol
Can you apply?
This grant is for demonstration projects that test and evaluate a universal symbol for language assistance services in health settings. Eligible applicants include private nonprofit and public organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, and American Indian/Alaska Native organizations located in a U.S. state or territory. Projects must not restrict participation based on protected characteristics.
Organizations must be registered in SAM.gov and submit through Grants.gov. The project must demonstrate the symbol's effectiveness and progress toward Healthy People 2030 health communication objectives. Multi-year projects are possible with non-competing continuation applications required for additional budget periods.
Key dates
- Aug 1, 2024 Applications open
- Jul 2, 2025 Application deadline
- Sep 15, 2025 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2025 Project start
Program description
The Office of Minority Health announces the anticipated availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 300u-6 (Section 1707 of the Public Health Service Act) for demonstration projects that support and evaluate the use of a universal symbol to inform people about the availability of language assistance services in health settings. Demonstration projects are time-limited projects for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of an approach or intervention toward reaching a desired outcome. We expect award recipients under this opportunity to consider approaches to sustainability beyond the end of the support provided by OMH. This initiative aligns with Make America Healthy Again Commission goals, and supports Executive Order 14224 by improving access to healthcare for new Americans with limited English proficiency, as well as individuals with communication disabilities.Individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and people with disabilities face barriers to health care and social services that increase their risk for poor health outcomes. Language assistance services are all oral, written, and signed language services needed to assist effective communication for individuals with LEP and people with disabilities. This initiative aligns with Make America Healthy Again Commission goals, and supports Executive Order 14224 by improving access to healthcare for new Americans with limited English proficiency, as well as individuals with communication disabilities.During Fiscal Year 2024, OMH is developing a universal symbol that will indicate the availability of language assistance services. We intend for funded projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of the universal symbol in raising awareness and prompting individuals to request language assistance services in health settings. OMH also expects funded projects to demonstrate progress towards health care communication related Healthy People 2030 objectives. Related information can be found at https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/health-communication#:~:text=Developmental-,Health%20Care,-Increase%20the%20proportion. Eligible applicants include any private nonprofit or public entity located in a State. “State” includes, in addition to the several States, only the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any agency or instrumentality thereof exclusive of local governments. (42 U.S.C. § 201(f) (PHS Act, Section 2(f)), 45 C.F.R. § 75.2). Eligible entities include private nonprofit or public faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native American (AI/AN/NA) organizations. Recipients must not restrict participation in the project on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or another protected characteristic.Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, and applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration when submitting an application. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the registration process for both systems early. We typically fund awards in 12-month budget periods. We may approve shorter budget periods or periods of performance to accommodate administrative factors or funding constraints. For multi-year projects, recipients must submit a non-competing continuation (NCC) application for each budget period after the first. Continuation funding is contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, appropriate stewardship of federal funds, and the best interests of the government. Funding for all approved budget periods after the first is generally the same as the initial award amount subject to any offset with funds unused in the previous budget period.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Private Foundation
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Community Health Center
- County Government
- Faith-based Organization
- Nonprofits
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 and SF-424 Supplement
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity Documentation
- Letters of Support from Partners
- Evaluation Plan
- Sustainability Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Stacey Williams
- 📧 OMHGrants@hhs.gov
- 📞 240-453-8444
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.137 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$39,747,109
-
$19,372,001
-
$5,458,457
-
$5,370,000
-
$4,000,000
-
$4,000,000
-
$3,998,575
-
$3,981,701
-
$3,966,820
-
$3,942,222
Top States by Funding
- GA 5 awards $51.6M
- TX 4 awards $30.5M
- CA 11 awards $29.5M
- OK 4 awards $12.6M
- MD 4 awards $12.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.137). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $44,441,315 | |
| 2025 | $27,435,264 | |
| 2026 est. | $33,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Private nonprofit, public, faith-based, community-based, and American Indian/Alaska Native organizations are eligible. Organizations must be located in a U.S. state or territory and registered in SAM.gov.
What is the funding amount and duration?
Awards range from $500,000 to $600,000. Typical projects run 12-month budget periods, but shorter periods may be approved based on administrative or funding constraints.
What types of activities should the project include?
Projects must test and evaluate the universal symbol's effectiveness in increasing language assistance requests. Projects should demonstrate progress toward Healthy People 2030 health communication objectives.
Can projects continue beyond the initial award?
Yes, multi-year projects are possible through non-competing continuation applications. Continuation funding depends on satisfactory progress, appropriate fund stewardship, and funding availability.
What is the application deadline and how do I apply?
The deadline is July 2, 2025. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, and applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration before submitting.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize how your symbol design and messaging will reach people with limited English proficiency. Be specific about target populations and communication strategies.
- Include detailed evaluation plans tied to Healthy People 2030 health communication objectives. Show how you'll measure awareness and behavior change.
- Plan for sustainability beyond the grant period. Funders want to see how the symbol will be maintained and used after OMH support ends.
- Address barriers faced by your target populations. Demonstrate clear understanding of health access challenges for people with LEP and disabilities.
- Build partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and patient advocates. Strong collaborations strengthen applications and demonstrate real-world implementation readiness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak evaluation plans that don't connect to Healthy People 2030 objectives. Vague sustainability strategies that assume continued funding rather than planning for independence.
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