Amata Congratulates ASCC for $400,000 National Science Foundation Grant
September 7, 2024 | Press Release from Washington, D.C.
Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata congratulates American Samoa Community College (ASCC) upon receiving notice of a federal grant of $400,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF). These federal funds are due to the application efforts of State Director Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola of ASCC’s Pacific Center in Human Security.
This project under State Director Tua-Tupuola is entitled 'Strengthening a Cohesive Higher Institution Engaging Faculty and Students (C.H.I.E.F.S) in STEM' with funding support beginning October 1, 2024. It is a professional development project with the ASCC Math Department on hybrid design and delivery.
“Congratulations to ASCC, President Dr. Rosevonne Pato, and State Director Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola, for this excellent grant and their plans to put it to work for our STEM students and faculty,” said Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata. “I appreciate the innovation that goes into a program like this for the improvement of ASCC, as our college is so important to our territory.”
Federal agencies supply grants through the administering programs that are created legislatively by Congress, then funded through yearly appropriations.
The National Science Foundation supports research, innovation, and discovery that provides the foundation for economic growth in this country. By advancing the frontiers of science and engineering, our nation can develop the knowledge and cutting-edge technologies needed to address the challenges we face today and will face in the future.
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PCHS at the ANA Community Partner Convening & 50th Anniversary Celebration
State Director Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola, along with co-panelists Megan Rocha, Executive Director and Planner from the Tribal Nation of Resighini Rancheria in California, and Zina Ruiz, Chamorro Cultural Elder from Para, Probuchu'n, and Taotao-ta, Inc. of Guam conducted the "Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Resiliency in a Changing Climate" workshop at the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) Community Partner Convening & 50th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C. The workshop focused on how their Native communities leverage homegrown innovations, new and old, to lead a path toward a more resilient future. American Samoa's section of the workshop highlighted the implementation of accessible design and Samoan Sign Language to center people with disabilities in disaster response, guided by the belief that we are at our most resilient when the most vulnerable among us are allowed to thrive.
The Pacific Center in Human Security is an ANA grant recipient that funds the associate's degree program, inclusive-Emergency Management, at the American Samoa Community College. Other ANA-funded project leaders and staff from The Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation and Intersections were in attendance.
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NOAA Information Session: Applying for Federal Jobs
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service Pago Pago, Meteorologist-in-Charge Elinor Lutu-McMoore, brought a team from the NOAA Human Resources Office in Seattle to provide Informational Sessions on how to navigate applying for federal jobs on USAjobs.gov.
As a close partner to the Pacific Center in Human Security (PCHS), NOAA reached out to provide the opportunity to ASCC students. The event was held on Thursday, September 5, at the Multi-Purpose Center. NOAA HR Business Advisor Layne Washington presented and covered the benefits of working for a federal government agency like NOAA, where to find federal job opportunities, how to craft a standout resume, college and scholarship pathways for those interested in meteorology, and more. The students also were able to hear from Renee Starr-Beauford, NOAA Consulting Branch A Chief, and Victorialyn Agbayani, Workforce Support Manager, NWS Pacific Region.
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This session was a follow-up to the PCHS Morning Atamai event held in May. The pilot episode of the Morning Atamai show premiered at the beginning of the Information Session. Read more in the Pacific Talk: Communications section below. | |
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Partners from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Kathryn Lipiecki, Mitigation Division Director, Sean McKenney, Region IX Pacific Area Office Director, and Michael Kern, Region IX Pacific Region Area Office Preparedness Analysis Planning Specialist, also stopped by the NOAA HR Information Session to network with students and talk about FEMA internship opportunities for those interested in the Emergency Management field. | |
Elevating Rural Disability Data for Policy Impact
The Urban Institute and the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC:Rural) are partnering to ensure that rural voices and experiences are included in ongoing data conversations. Join them to hear a diverse group of researchers, advocates, and service providers discuss the opportunities and challenges they face using data to advocate for and understand the rural disability experience. Contribute your voice to the national disability data dialogue. At this critical time, we can elevate the rural experience and explore how we can improve rural disability data to make data-informed decisions to shape disability policy.
PCHS State Director Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola is part of the 9:10 AM (SST) - Elevating Rural Disability Data in Practice panel alongside Kiana Jackson, Director of Data and Research from New Disabled Sout, Mary Willard, Public Health Outreach Coordinator from Summit Independent Living, and Susan J. Popkin, Institute Fellow and Codirector Equity Policy Initiative from Urban Insitute.
Learn more about the virtual event here and register here.
View speaker biographies here.
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PCHS at the HCBS Conference
State Director Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola and the Money Follows the Person (MFP) team attended the ADvancing States 2024 Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. With federal, state, and territory partners in attendance, State Director Tafa presented on "Navigating HCBS in a Non-C Waiver Community: American Samoa Experience." Her presentation dives into the challenges and achievements of the MFP Demonstration Project and working towards having access to HCBS for the American Samoa people and securing waivers, as well as addressing the gaps between federal requirements and local health policies.
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Homemaker Class
The class, conducted by the ASCC-ACNR Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), is designed to enhance the skill set of Homemakers to safely work with their families. Money Follows the Person (MFP) worked closely to schedule the class for those interested in working with future MFP participants. The class will cover basic housekeeping, nutrition and food safety, and meal preparation.
The class begins Wednesday, September 18, and meets for five more sessions over the course of three weeks, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at the ASCC-ACNR (Land Grant) Wellness and Nutrition Center.
For questions concerning the class and if you are ready to sign up, please contact Suelynn Molesi at s.molesi@amsamoa.edu. More details are in the flyer.
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This publication is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $4,753,644 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Award# 1LICMSS331881-01-00 | |
Morning Atamai with Elinor Lutu-McMoore
Premiering at the NOAA HR Information Session on Thursday, September 5, the first episode of Morning Atamai is with Meteorologist-in-Charge Elinor Lutu-McMoore. Elinor gives an overview of working at the US National Weather Service, tips and advice going into the field of meteorology and applying for federal jobs, and also shares her story about going to the American Samoa Community College.
View the full episode here.
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Start a Conversation
September is National Preparedness Month. Talking about bad things that could happen, like a disaster or emergency, isn't always easy. We may think we're protecting the people we love by avoiding these conversations, but they are important to start taking steps to get ready and stay safe.
Starting a conversation today can help you and your family to take more action to prepare. By taking simple steps, you can build your preparedness at your own pace:
- Set aside a time when everyone is calm and relaxed.
- It may help to hold the discussions over a set time period so decisions aren’t rushed and people feel more comfortable talking about the topic.
- Talk about steps you’ve taken to prepare and encourage others to ask questions about preparedness actions that might work for them.
Read more about National Preparedness Month at ready.gov.
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PCHS | pchs@amsamoa.edu | (684) 699 - 2722 ext. 4202
The UCEDD It! Newsletter is funded by the Pacific Basin UCEDD Public Health Workforce - Hawaii grant.
Award # 90UCPH0054.
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