Seminole Nation Tribal Youth Program

Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. launched a Department-wide initiative on public safety and victim services in Tribal communities. As part of this effort, Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership conducted a series of meetings across the country addressing violent crime in Tribal communities. As a result, DOJ developed the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, combining DOJ's existing Tribal government-specific competitive solicitations into one, and thus requiring only one application from each Tribe or Tribal consortium. This approach provides federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal consortia the opportunity to develop a comprehensive approach to public safety and victimization issues. This award was selected under Purpose Area #8, Prevent and control delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system (OJJDP - Tribal Youth Program - TYP), CFDA #16.731, authorized under the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010, Division B, Title II, Public Law 111-117, 123 Stat. 3122, 3134.

The Seminole Nation seeks funding for a project that is a continuation of existing efforts to reduce juvenile delinquency and criminal activity that is committed within the service area. The Tribal Youth Program will provide the needed knowledge on prevention services to impact risk factors for decreasing delinquent behavior. The overall goal of the Seminole Nation Tribal Youth Program will be to connect with the youth's population and introduce prevention education to prevent the tribal youth from experiencing the pitfalls that many Native American youth experience. The program will continue to provide a weekly (3 times a week) after school program for 400 Native American youth in the city of Seminole area to provide structured activities for the tribal youth in a safe and stable environment, while focusing on and teaching specific social skills to promote positive relationships using activities for interactive peer involvement. The project will also enable a Prevention Specialist to provide diversionary education/intervention during the school year that will improve the youths overall knowledge of drugs & alcohol and other unhealthy lifestyle choices. The Tribal Youth Program will continue to measure the process and outcomes through pre and post surveys, observation and progress reports. All measurable data will be collected and sent to the TYP Evaluator to put into the final report.

CA/NCF