Grantees - Alaska (TYP)

The Native Village of Kongiganak is a federally recognized tribe in Alaska and will provide prevention services to juvenile tribal members ages 12 to 17 in order to impact risk factors for delinquency. Kongiganak is a remote Alaska Native village, located 450 miles west of Anchorage with a population of approximately 340 residents. The community embraces a traditional Yup'ik culture including, including a fishing and subsistence lifestyle. The Village is facing a growing problem with more than half of children scoring “not proficient” in reading writing and match, and a graduation rate of only 22%. There has been an increase in juvenile delinquency within the Village consisting of mostly misdemeanor crimes on the local level, including break-ins and curfew violations. Alcohol use among children is also a growing problem, despite a local option law that was passed banning the possession and sale of alcohol. This prevention program will be school-based and take place year-round. The program will encompass after school activities, truancy and school drop-out prevention programming, as well as parenting education programming. Outcome objectives for this program include: a 50% decrease in the school drop-out rate among program participants, the creation and retention of 18 mentoring partnerships, the operation of an after school program that meets a minimum of 156 days each calendar year, and the operation of a parenting program that meets a minimum of once monthly.

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Village of Old Harbor

Project Title: Old Harbor Circle of Care Mental Health Project

Categories: IV, V

The federally recognized tribe of Old Harbor will provide mental health and substance abuse prevention and intervention services to Alaska Native youth at risk of delinquency. The Circles of Care Program includes a community coalition comprised of village leaders, service providers, and school personnel that together form the Care Team. The population of Old Harbor located on Kodiak Island , Alaska is 237 according to the 2000 Census. The number of juveniles age 17 and younger that the project will serve is 71. The project will take place in Old Harbor , the setting includes the culture center, school, and a summer camp. Year round services include increased itinerant mental health and substance abuse counseling, prevention strategies, after-school activities, in school support, and local training. The services address Tribal Youth Program Category I by offering after-school and prevention activities, and Category V by offering counseling for co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues. Included is the development of an improved collaboration and service delivery plan between the village and regional service agencies, and the development of a prevention plan. The tribe supports this project through draft resolution 2006-001. The Council was established in 1972 as a tribal government comprised of seven elected members with three year staggered terms. The desired outcomes are to have a healthier community through culturally relevant activities and services that model healthy behaviors and focus on the rich Alutiiq culture.

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Saint Paul Island

Project Title: Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Youth Program

Categories: I, III

St. Paul Island is a federally recognized tribe with a total community population of 532 (2000 census data), 460 (86.5 %) are Aleut or Alaska Native. The tribe will provide prevention services to impact risk factors for delinquency and implement practices to improve the tribal juvenile justice system. An estimated 97 juveniles between 5 and 17 will be served by the project; 78 juveniles between 8 and 17 will be specifically targeted by the project. The location of the project is St. Paul Island, AK, a remote, rural Alaska Native village. The project is a year-round community-based prevention, intervention and after-school project. The planned activities include research and training for project personnel; collection of data through behavior counts, participant attendance, surveys and interviews; risk and protective factor identification for the community, school, families, and individuals; development and implementation of programs which focus the increased use of indigenous youth justice and support for existing juvenile justice programs to increase follow through, as well as after school activities, community and parent education programs, coordination of programs; ongoing evaluation of program effectiveness through collection of data; revision of programs and materials based on analysis of data and evaluations of program effectiveness, and finally transition of program operations to Tribal Government staff.

2005 Tribal Youth Program Grantees

Akiachak Native Community, AK

Project Title: Preventing Juvenile Delinquency Using a Culture-Based After-School/Summer Program for At-Risk Tribal Youth

Category: I

Using a culture-based program, Akiachak tribal members are committed to conducting a year-round after-school and summer program using age-appropriate cultural activities to impact risk factors for delinquency. They will work with 40 delinquent/at-risk youth in elementary, middle, and high school, out of a total population of 150 children aged 9-18 (4th through 12th grades). Program activities will consist of age- and gender-appropriate (per cultural tradition) group projects pursued in 2-hour sessions 5 days per week year-round except for Christmas break. During summer months scheduling adjustments will focus activities on harvesting and preserving food for winter, emphasizing subsistence economic/cultural skills.

The program will be based at the Youth & Elders Center . The Yupiit School District is a partner in this project and will provide statistics relating to school behavior and accomplishments. Also involved will be the Village Public Safety Office, which responds to and records daily calls for assistance, as well as culturally competent adults and tribal elders who are making long term commitments to provide program activities and services.

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Native Village of Nanwalek , AK

Project Title: New Direction

Category: IV

The Nanwalek IRA Council (Council) will implement a project titled, New Direction, in the Native Village of Nanwalek (a.k.a. English Bay ). The purpose is to provide prevention activities for the youth of Nanwalek who have been identified as at-risk for delinquent behavior. This project will include alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs and services and drug and/or alcohol education. The age groups of youth that will be targeted are 12-17 years of age and of Sugpiaq/Aluutiq descent. The approximate number of youth involved will be 35 in the first year and 19 more in the subsequent two years of the grant. The Council will operate a year round after school prevention program. The program will provide safe, educational, and fun activities for the youth, which will prevent the youth from having both time and energy for delinquent behavior.

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Nome Eskimo Community, AK

Project Title: Nome Eskimo Community Tribal Youth Program

Category: I and IV

Nome Eskimo Community (NEC) will provide prevention services to impact risk factors for delinquency and provide alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs. Nome Eskimo Community’s Tribal Youth Program provides services to tribally-enrolled and Alaska Native/American Indian youth age 17 and younger. There are 693 students enrolled in the Nome Elementary and High School, 518 are Alaska Native/American Indian children, and the program will serve a minimum of 150 children in three years. The project will be implemented in several local settings including the Elementary and High School, Nome Recreation Facility, and the Nome Youth Center. The program has four goals that address the categories of youth delinquency, truancy, and alcohol and drug abuse prevention. Activities are designed to enhance school performance, leadership and asset building, increase parental engagement, and coordination of local youth services.

2004 Tribal Youth Program Grantees

Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes

Project Title: Central Council Tlingit & Haida Tribal Youth Program

Category: II

The Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is proposing a 3 year urban/rural demonstration project to adapt and export a Native Youth Delinquency Prevention Program to provide prevention factors to impact juvenile delinquency and provide interventions for court involved youth. The program will target Native youth ages 14-21 at risk for delinquency, academic failure, substance abuse, and involvement with the juvenile justice system, and will provide prevention and intervention services to these youth within the context of the Tribe's cultural values, and social services case management models. This project focused on a regional assessment of Native Youth delinquency needs and issues, and the development of a program model including counseling and culturally based prevention/intervention activities for the target population of Native youth at risk and families within the Juneau urban area.

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Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government

Project Title: Native Village of Barrow Tribal Youth Program

Category: II

The Native Village of Barrow is applying for a Tribal Youth Program grant to provide prevention services to impact risk factors for delinquency and to provide interventions for court-involved youth. The program, Strengthening Our Youth With Inupiat Culture & Subsistence Camps, will serve tribal member youth, non-member Native youth from other villages and non- native youth as they are referred and present to the program. We are cognizant of the need to take a family approach when dealing with troubled youth as many of today's modern families are a blend of diverse cultures due to intermarriage, adoption, and divorce. The program will serve 125 juveniles over the course of the grant ranging in age from 12 - 18 years old. The Strengthening Our Youth With Inupiat Culture Camps is a culture-based program aimed at pre-delinquent at-risk youth and court-involved delinquent youth. The program will bring together troubled youth, cultural leaders, and community through a variety of activities including weekly gatherings and subsistence camping. There is no other program in Barrow that offers traditional Inupiat based activities and camps on a regular basis for regular that troubled youth can utilize as an alternative to negative behavior.

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Village of Salamatoff

Project Title: Village of Salamatoff Tribal Youth Program

Category: I

The Village of Salamatoff proposes to provide ongoing prevention services to impact risk factors for delinquency in Alaska Native youth. School-based tutoring and expanded culturally relevant educational opportunities will promote academic success while building key protective factors to reduce the risk of delinquency in tribal youth on the Kenai Peninsula. The approach is to tutor the student, but to also reach out to the home by contacting parents, encouraging them to participate, and ideally resulting in improved academic functioning, attendance, and family participation in education. The total number of youth to be served is estimated to be 150 in year 1, 200 in year 2, and 250 in year 3. The children range in age from 4 to 14 years old.

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Curyung Tribal Council

Project Title: Curyung Tribal Youth Program

Category: IV

The Curyung Tribal Council and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska, Dillingham Clubhouse are applying under these two categories: 1) Provide prevention services to impact risk factors for delinquency and 2) Provide alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs. Youth ages 6 to 18 will be served by this project. At least 40 youth per year will be served in the SMART Moves program annually. The SMART Moves Instructor will provide a variety of group activities and individual support at the Boys & Girls Club of Dillingham. The partners propose to implement SMART Moves as well as a variety of other youth recreation programs. SMART Moves is a recognized best practice and is based on a resistance training and social skills model that uses small group activities to teach young people to recognize and resist media influences and peer pressures to engage in alcohol and other drug use, and in early sexual involvement.

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Organized Village of Kake (IRA)

Project Title: Organized Village of Kake Tribal Youth Program

Category: I, III

The Organized Village of Kake intents to provide prevention services to impact risk factors for delinquency and improve the tribal juvenile justice system. The targeted age of the juveniles being served is 10-17 years old. It is anticipated that 96 youth will be served by the project. The Tribal Youth Program will be a delinquency prevention program utilizing the Circle Peacemaking Process (akin to justice system). Also, under the "Improve the Tribal Juvenile Justice System" the OVK Tribal Youth Program will enact Codes and Ordinances for the OVK Youth Circle Peacemaking, and enhance the juvenile probation services. OVK will actively use the Circle Peacemaking Process to hinder incidences of negative behaviors associated with drugs and alcohol.

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Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes

Project Title: Central Council Tlingit & Haida Mental Health Initiative

Category: V

This project will develop and implement a traditional mental health services treatment model which will target 300 Native youth ages 8-18, and their families, at risk for serious mental health problems. The project will develop and implement a culturally relevant service delivery model for youth within the context of Native cultural values. In Year 1 and 2, the project will pilot test the model in the service area and present to other Native communities within the region to which Central Council delivers services. In Year 3, a model will be refined and exported to other Native communities within southeast Alaska with similar challenges in the area of youth mental health issues. Central Council will be developing a model around key questions. What is the long term vision for Native youth mental health services; what has worked in the past; what need to be changed; what constitutes a healthy community based on Tlingit and Haida values and what should a mental health services program look like for Tlingit and Haida youth and families confronted with financial and cultural barriers; how has traditional culture address issues of healing and mental health, and what are the resources required to address child mental health needs.

2003 Tribal Youth Program Grantees

Villages of Chistochina and Mentasta

Project: Tribal Youth Mental Health Program

Category: I. Prevention Services To Impact Risk Factors for Delinquency; IV. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programs

The Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium serves two rural Indian villages in Alaska through a coalition of tribal members, council members, service providers, and others. The Tribal Youth Program is part of a larger community effort to promote healing in the villages and provide needed mental health and substance abuse services. A professional counselor provides culturally appropriate diagnostic and outpatient treatment services, referrals, and case management for youth at-risk for generational transmission of addictions and abusive behavior. The counselor also provides education and training for local staff and educational presentations on substance abuse and mental health issues to the villages. The project includes a referral system through local schools and community events.

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Villages of Chistochina and Mentasta

Project: Tribal Youth Program-Part A

Category: I. Prevention Services To Impact Risk Factors for Delinquency; IV. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programs

The Mt. Sanford Tribal Consortium serves two rural native villages in interior Alaska. The consortium is addressing high school dropout rates and resultant social problems among tribal youth. The project is identifying specific risk factors and developing strategies for prevention. A coalition of tribal members, council members, and service providers from both villages provides direction and oversight for project activities. A prevention coordinator provides structure for the project and training and information for the coalition. Project activities not only address current issues but are designed to provide education and community development training for local staff and administrators that will enable them to develop related local services and programs with minimal outside assistance.

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Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc.

Project: Comprehensive Mental Health Program for Tribal Youth

Category: I. Prevention Services To Impact Risk Factors for Delinquency; II. Intervention for Court-Involved Youth; IV. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programs

The Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc. (EAT) provides health care services to seven tribal communities in frontier Alaska. The TYP program provides increased access to mental health services for at-risk Alaska Native youth and court-involved youth through outreach, psychological assessments, alcohol and drug counseling, and prevention activities. The project coordinates efforts between the current tribal juvenile justice system and behavioral health clinicians through a mental health component added to the court intake assessment tool. Project training for EAT staff focuses on traditional juvenile justice issues. Project staff includes a master’s level behavioral health clinician who works with clinicians at each of the seven villages. By increasing access to assessment, treatment, and prevention resources, the project reduces problems among youth and enhances the skills of local health care providers and juvenile justice practitioners.

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Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Project: Youth Justice Program

Category: I. Prevention Services To Impact Risk Factors for Delinquency; III. Improvement of Tribal Juvenile Justice Systems

The Kenaitze Indian tribe, located in the Kenai, serves tribal members in both rural and small town settings. Through this project, the tribe is collaborating with local schools, the juvenile justice system, and mental health providers to implement this Youth Justice Program that provides culturally relevant strategies for intervening with first offenders. Strategies include conflict resolution, restitution, and community service. An interdisciplinary youth justice council develops and implements the strategies and also provides referrals for additional mental health and substance abuse services. The project provides home-based tutoring to students at risk of academic failure and dropping out. Tutors are matched to students for extensive tutoring sessions at home or at other convenient locations. Tutors also link youth to cultural activities, family activities, and prevention resources.

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Ketchikan Indian Corporation

Project: Tribal Youth Program

Category: I. Prevention Services To Impact Risk Factors for Delinquency; II. Intervention for Court-Involved Youth; IV. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programs

The Ketchikan Indian Corporation provides services to the Alaska Native and American Indian people of Ketchikan. The TYP program, a component of the Tribal Social Services Department, provides prevention services for at-risk youth, intervention services for court-involved youth, and substance abuse prevention. Prevention activities include workshops on dating violence and anger management, a juvenile offender tracking program, and the Wisdom Keeper’s program, a mentoring program designed to preserve and perpetuate native traditions, values, and skills. The tracking program follows court-referred, high-risk youth for 6 months, providing case management, referrals, and the monitoring of recidivism. Interventions include substance abuse assessments and referrals and group, individual, and family counseling. Substance abuse prevention includes nicotine cessation, parenting workshops, and substance abuse education activities for teens.

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Seldovia Village Tribe

Project: Boys & Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula Juvenile Justice Project

Category: I. Prevention Services To Impact Risk Factors for Delinquency

The Seldovia Village Tribe, located in rural Alaska and accessible only by boat or airplane, is partnering with the local Boys & Girls Club to provide supervised activities and substance abuse prevention programming for native youth. In an improved facility, the project is offering the SMART Moves program, extended hours of operation, and training for club and project staff. SMART Moves is a nationally tested Boys & Girls Club program that helps young people develop skills necessary to resist peer pressure that can result in delinquent activities, drug use, and premature sexual activity. Activities are provided after school and on weekends and efforts are being made to increase teen participation. Information on delinquency prevention and substance abuse is available to all youth in the community. Staff training includes instruction in implementing SMART Moves, gender inclusiveness, developing self-esteem in youth, and substance abuse prevention.

2002 Tribal Youth Program Grantees

Alakanuk Tribal Council

Project: Tribal Youth Program

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

The Alakanuk Tribal Youth Program is hiring a youth specialist to coordinate achievement of program goals, which are to strengthen families and the community, reduce juvenile crime, develop intervention services for court-involved youth, and improve tribal court responses. The program uses elders to work with high-risk youth and initiate campaigns to promote community pride and to organize and hold parenting classes. Youth are served through afterschool and summer education programs that incorporate cultural and recreation programs and counseling programs. Initiatives to improve the tribal court include training and development of aftercare services and an advocacy and mentoring program.

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Algaaciq Tribal Government

Project: Tribal Youth Program

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

The Algaaciq Tribal Government Tribal Youth Program reduces youth crime and delinquency and strengthens connections between youth and adults through organized, communitywide cultural events such as potlatches and building a Qusgiq, a traditional structure for cultural and spiritual activities. The program provides prevention and intervention services, based on cultural approaches and western models, by effectively coordinating existing school, regional, and community resources and services. The tribal court will be strengthened through development of a juvenile code and training for court personnel. A youth court modeled after an elder court uses traditional sanctions and restitution for youth offenders. To address the lack of activity for youth, boredom, and cultural loss, a youth council and Boys & Girls Club are being established. Increased cultural activity and education enrichment occur through collaboration with the Yu’Pik Language & Skills Department, and using elder mentors and women’s groups.

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Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska

Project: Native Youth Delinquency Prevention/Intervention Initiative

Category: II. Intervention for Court-Involved Youth; III. Improvement to Tribal Juvenile Justice Systems

The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska Tribal Youth Program provides culturally appropriate assessments, counseling, and case management services for 150 youth ages 10 to 18. The program aims to connect at-risk youth and families to needed services, work with at-risk youth and families on unresolved personal issues, and work at the community levels to develop a Circle of Care using existing resources and the juvenile justice system. The program works with youth and communities to develop local capacity to address the risk issues of local youth. The TYP is to be implemented in Juneau during the first year; then, as the model and approaches are strengthened and refined, the TYP will be replicated in two or three selected villages in the southeast region of Alaska.

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Ketchikan Indian Corporation Tribal Council

Project: Tribal Youth/Family Healthy Lifestyles Project

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime

The Ketchikan Tribal Youth Program focuses on youth ages 11 to 18 and emphasizes deterrence to prevent youth and family involvement with the juvenile justice system. TYP uses mental health services, advocacy, and referral services to help families in need in three major areas: case management and advocacy for non-adjudicated tribal youth sex offenders ages 11 to 18; provision of culturally appropriate family intervention and treatment for families with youth at-risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system; and provision of traditional intergenerational parenting to reduce, control, and prevent youth crime and delinquency. Program objectives support the three major focus areas with family prevention, intervention, and treatment services and by an 8-week program per cycle of traditional, intergenerational parenting services.

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Metlakatla Indian Community-Boys & Girls Club

Project: Tribal Youth Program

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

The Metlakatla Tribal Youth Program (TYP) focuses on primary and secondary prevention strategies aimed at empowering youth to acquire knowledge and skills to choose healthy and alcohol-free lifestyles. The TYP is sponsored through the Metlakatla Boys & Girls Club. The TYP targets 73 youth ages 13 to 18 to join the club and participate in afterschool and weekend programs. Programs include implementation of the national Boys & Girls Club programs for Life Savers and/or SMART Leaders. In addition, club members participate in a school-sponsored Keystone Club, which engages students in community service projects. By keeping youth engaged in positive community-based activities, the Metlakatla program will achieve its overall goal to empower youth to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring community leaders.

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Village of Napaskiak Traditional Council

Project: Tribal Youth Program

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

This project focuses on three goals to address youth delinquency issues and needs: prevent juvenile crime and delinquency, develop afterschool programs, and plan and develop a youth council. Family and community strengthening activities include planning a traditional Qusgiq gathering place, parent training, and revival of cultural activities to support women, girls, and youth. A youth council provides input on the development of a youth center, programs, and strategies to meet youth needs. This group meets periodically with the tribal council. A juvenile code and court is being developed based on a traditional model. The court staff will research models to determine which best suits village and traditional needs. Afterschool and prevention programs that incorporate culture and tradition as well as academic areas are being developed and implemented at the school.

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Organized Village of the Kwethluk

Project: Tribal Youth Program

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime

The Organized Village of the Kwethluk Tribal Youth Program targets youth ages 12 to 17, but also provide inclusive activity and services for those ages 5 to 11 and 18 to 21. A communitywide prevention program that stresses early intervention and increasing known protection strategies guides program services. Partnerships with families, schools, tribal court, social services, and law enforcement support community involvement in the program. Monthly activities such as community-based workshops on topics ranging from alcohol and substance abuse to suicide prevention will be provided along with family oriented activities. A tribal youth committee assists in the design of activities and workshops to develop a mentoring program for youth.

2001 Tribal Youth Program Grantees

Chugachmiut Chugach Region of Alaska

Project: Tribal Youth Program Mental Health Project

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; II. Intervention for Court-Involved Youth

Chugachmiut is a consortium of seven native villages that is headquartered in the town of Seward. The project proposes to hire one part-time therapist to provide counseling and case management to juvenile offenders and at-risk youth. The therapist provides 12.5 hours weekly of clinical and case management services with an ongoing caseload of five to seven youth. A systems change proposal calls for bringing service providers together to revise the referral system and generate a collaborative vision for services in the region. Parenting support and education groups are proposed to augment the clinical services. Elder focus groups and ongoing elder participation in committee planning sessions are used to determine the nature and causes of youth delinquency and contribute to systems reform. The project proposes to take their model into other communities in the Chugach Region of Alaska.

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Cook Inlet Tribal Council

Project: Partnering for Justice

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; II. Intervention for Court-Involved Youth; III. Improvement to Tribal Juvenile Justice Systems

Partnering for Justice aims to reduce the overrepresentation of Alaska Native youth in the juvenile justice system by offering culturally specific, family-centered, diversion, prevention, and intervention services to at-risk youth. The project hopes to reduce youth crime through family strengthening (decreasing risk for violence and delinquency while increasing resilience), parenting education, child abuse prevention, truancy reduction, and dropout prevention. The project will also improve juvenile justice delivery to Alaska Native youth through advocacy with families, by diverting at-risk youth from justice system involvement, by providing culturally appropriate probation services by an Alaska Native probation officer, and by using an indigenous method called the Circle of Intervention. The Circle of Intervention increases youth's connection to family and community and sense of responsibility for actions within the family and community units.

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Knik Tribal Council

Project: Knik Tribal Youth Program

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; II. Intervention for Court-Involved Youth

The Knik Tribal Council serves youth ages 12 to 18 by identifying and coordinating services with local and state agencies. Memoranda of agreement are developed and implemented to ensure an effective referral and service delivery system. Coordination of services increases response to youth needs in a timely manner and reduces the number of youth in the Alaska juvenile justice system. The project provides services that reinforce traditional values essential for the well being and future of native youth. Afterschool program activities include culture and research projects through which youth learn about their own culture and other cultures within Alaska. Language, songs and drumming, traditional dance, the roles of native men and women, and traditional values are incorporated in the projects to ensure maintenance of tribal customs and traditions. Intergenerational mentoring with tribal leaders and elders and service providers within tribal organizations create a supportive network for youth as they receive services.

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Native Village of Hydaburg Cooperative Association

Project: Hydaburg SMART Moves Prevention Program

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

The Hydaburg Cooperative Association, in cooperation with the Hydaburg Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club, focuses on prevention geared toward 67 Boys & Girls Club youth ages 7 to 18 from different ethnic groups and income levels. The project provides positive afterschool alternatives to help motivate teens to stay in school and to avoid behaviors that lead to suspension, early sexual involvement, and alcohol and drug use. The project is based on the SMART Moves program, which helps youth to build skills and to develop resistance to drugs and alcohol. The project focuses on youth leadership development in decisionmaking, problem solving, communication skills, and self-esteem. The project encourages youth to live healthy lifestyles. The project encompasses the entire community of parents and elders, who serve as mentors and teachers regarding culture and tradition. It provides a comprehensive approach that targets the well-being of youth.

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Southcentral Foundation

Project: Tribal Youth Mental Health Program

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; II. Intervention for Court-Involved Youth; IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

The Southcentral Foundation provides a broad array of highly individualized outpatient, mentoring, and case management services to youth through coordination of youth programs and existing community partners and resources. The project reduces, controls, and prevents crime and delinquency, both by and against native youth by identifying risk factors, strengthening families, preventing students from dropping out, providing skills for conflict resolution, and preventing child abuse. The prevention and intervention activities focus on alcohol and drug education, family substance abuse counseling, and peer counseling and incorporate both traditional and contemporary content and strategies. Community members such as elders, youth, traditional healers, educators, extended families, and state and local organizations assist with planning and implementation of activities in the program.

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Tanana Chiefs Conference, Inc.

Project: Tribal Youth Court Pilot Project

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; II. Intervention for Court-Involved Youth; III. Improvement to Tribal Juvenile Justice Systems

The Tanana Chiefs Conference evaluates, designs, and implements tribal youth courts in 14 pilot villages to address youth crime and related behaviors and to promote accountability and responsibility of youth actions through the elders and peers in the villages. The project includes six interior Alaska villages in the first year and eight more villages in the second year. Grant information, training, and technical assistance are offered to the 14 villages to organize, implement, and evaluate tribal youth courts. The tribal courts are based on tribal principles, incorporating culture and tradition in dealing with young people. Native youth are important to the tribal courts and the emphasis will be on youth ownership and accountability through support from their peers. The project drafts and adopts juvenile codes and ordinances for use by youth courts and develops sections for inclusion in tribal court handbooks. Curriculums on youth courts are being developed for training seminars and to assist villages in implementing the program.

2000 Tribal Youth Program

Bristol Bay Native Association

Project: Tribal Courts (Juvenile) Development

Category: I. Reduce, Control, and Prevent Indian Juvenile Crime; III. Improvement to Tribal Juvenile Justice Systems; IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

The goal of this project is to establish tribal juvenile courts in four Alaska Native villages, located in the southwest region of Alaska, with support from the Bristol Bay Native Association. The target group is composed of juveniles ages 10 to 16. Each participant village will assess and prioritize its juvenile court needs; have two persons (one judge and one court clerk) receive training involving at least two juvenile court models; receive basic courtroom audio equipment; draft, adapt, or adopt and implement a village juvenile code; and have their court hold hearings on juvenile matters and also collect data.

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Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc.

Project: Eastern Aleutian Tribal Youth Program

Category: IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

Although the Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc., currently has several programs in place to address adolescent substance abuse problems, there are gaps in services that will be filled through this project. It focuses on strengthening families, increasing conflict resolution skills, and supporting Child Task Force Groups in each of the six villages.

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Village of St. Michael

Project: Improve Tribal Youth Quality of Life Tribal Youth Program

Category: IV. Prevention Programs Focusing on Alcohol and Drugs

The native Village of St. Michael’s Tribal Youth Program (TYP) provides youth from preschool to age 21 with a series of weekly activities throughout the year. These activities include making artifacts with beads, sewing with skins, and learning traditional Eskimo dances, songs, and games. At least once a month, individuals from the different local organizations hold educational classes for the youth and their parents. These classes focus on prevention and include topics on child abuse, family strengthening, conflict resolution, coping skills, and drug, alcohol, and inhalant abuse. The project involves the entire community and introduces healthy alternatives into the community.