Kalispel Tribal Youth Program

Part of the Indian Country Law Enforcement Initiative, a joint initiative of DOJ and the U.S. Department of the Interior to improve law enforcement and the administration of criminal and juvenile justice in Indian country, OJJDP's Tribal Youth Program (TYP) supports and enhances tribal efforts to prevent and control delinquency and strengthen the juvenile justice system for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth. This program is authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended and the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2009, Pub. L. 111-8.

This project will address the Tribal Youth Program category: 1) Providing interventions for court-involved tribal youth, including graduated sanctions, restitution, diversion, home detention, foster and shelter care, and mentoring by strengthening the capacity of the Tribal Court to provide interventions for court-involved tribal youth through the development of a comprehensive strategic plan and through implementing a culturally relevant 'diversion program' that employs early intervention activities designed to impact delinquent behavior early and quickly. The Kalispel Tribal Youth Program could potentially serve 61 tribal youth, ages 11 to 18, and their families living: a) on the Kalispel Indian Reservation in Usk and within Pend Oreille County; b) in Airway Heights (where the Tribe has Reservation lands); c) in Spokane where Kalispel families and youth live; and d) in Stevens and Lincoln counties (where the Spokane and Colville Confederated Tribe reservations are located) all of these are located within northeast Washington state.; and e) Bonner County in Idaho

The intervention services and activities implemented through this project will be conducted at different offices located on the Reservation (Tribal Court, Wellness Center, Tribal Council Chambers) as well as the Camas Path offices in Airway Heights. The project is an on-going court-involved 'youth intervention' program designed to impact juvenile delinquency risk factors through: 1) a culturally relevant 'diversion' program; 2) a wellness court; 3) deferred prosecution; and 4) elder mentors. The planned project seeks to strengthen the capacity of the Kalispel Tribal Court to implement OJJDP-Tribal Youth Program intervention activities that will mitigate risk-behaviors and lead youth to a path of wellness, renewed interest in culture and tradition and a positive direction for their future. CA/NCF