Yerington Paiute 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.

The Yerington Paiute Tribal Council proposes to develop effective prevention strategies through input from a Project Advisory Board, which will play a leadership role in planning and implementing the project. Currently, the tribe has no prevention program targeting tribal youth at-risk for delinquency or drop out from high school. The primary goal of the prevention program is to decrease juvenile delinquent activity and substance abuse among Tribal youth. A second goal is to increase graduation and attendance rates. The proposed goals will be accomplished through prevention programs targeting tribal youth ages 10 to 17, using the American Indian Skills Development curriculum promising practice as well as other evidence-based programs. A Tribal Youth Case Manager will be responsible for the development of the program's 3 phases: strategic planning, education, and implementation. Long-range goals include developing Tribal Education, Tribal Court, Tribal Social Services and other Tribal programs. Collaboration with outside partnering agencies is also another key component of the grant. At a minimum the following performance measures will be addressed: number of program youth and/or families served; number of service hours completed by youth/families; percentage of program youth who offend or re-offend; and percentage of program youth and/or families who exhibit change in targeted behaviors (i.e. substance use, anti-social behavior, truancy, gang involvement, etc).

CA/NCF