Grantees - Alabama (TYP)

The Poarch Creek Indian Youth Prevention Program will target 660 youth within the Tribal Service Area. The purpose of this program is to reduce juvenile delinquency and enhance prevention services for tribal youth through the Wellness/Activities Department. The Wellness/Activities Director will provide direct supervision of program staff and activities. However, other departments will be actively involved in the program. Family Services, Tribal Court, Education, and the Cultural Center will collaborate through involvement on a Community Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Task Force. This task force will be comprised of key staff from these departments, as well as two community members, two Tribal Elders, and two Tribal Youth representatives. Performance will be measured through specific data. The data to be collected will be the number of program youth served, the number of service hours that program youth have completed, the number of program youth who offend or re-offend, and the number of program youth exhibiting desired change in targeted behaviors compared to the total number of program youth involved.

2003 Tribal Youth Program

Poarch Band of Creek Indians

Project: Prevention and Afterschool Program

Category: I. Prevention Services To Impact Risk Factors for Delinquency; III. Improvement of Tribal Juvenile Justice Systems; IV. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programs

The recently recognized Poarch Band of Creek Indians is currently the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama. To address a rapidly growing youth population and increasing rates of delinquency and substance abuse, the project is strengthening the tribal justice system by revising the tribal juvenile codes and providing prevention activities for at-risk youth. Prevention activities include cultural elements that are offered through school-based interventions. Classes teach youth about tribal history, culture, and traditional crafts. Special projects include developing traditional herb and plant gardens, discussion groups with tribal elders, and trips to Creek historical sites. Although primarily under the direction of the Tribal Human Services Department, a multi-agency task force that includes community members, youth, and elders provides guidance and opportunities for involvement in project activities.