Tribal Youth Program on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation to Decrease Substance Abuse and Prevention of Violence Among our Youth

The Federally recognized Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation resides on 77,000 acres in the Northeast quadrant of the State of Kansas. The predominantly rural area is home to many of the 4,884 enrolled members. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is served by Royal Valley School District a small rural district adjacent to the Reservation. The goal of their Tribal Youth project is to organize and implement prevention programs and services that focus on risk factor identification and preventive substance abuse activities. This will be accomplished by placing a Tribal Police Officer present in Royal Valley Schools to impact risk factors of Native American Youth and by holding four annual community education gatherings that emphasize drug abuse prevention and violence intervention. The Youth Action Coalition will act as the Advisory Board to the project and assist with the community gatherings and pow wow's to ensure cultural competence in program delivery. CA/NCF