Tribal Youth Reconnection Project

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 #10, Develop new demonstration projects on violence prevention and rehabilitation (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 Ponca Tribe of Nebraska seeks to assist youth and their families who are struggling from the impact of trauma and prevent violence in their community. Funding will assist hired staff to implement the ideas from the Project Venture curriculum, and their knowledge of the community. The Tribe hopes to engage at risk tribal youth in activities related to cultural preservation, through developing a referral system to assist in the identification of at risk youth, providing monthly activities in a natural environment and providing activities that allow youth to explore cultural practices. Further, the project will engage at risk youth in activities related to tribal traditions, through developing a relationship with Audubon society and working with the Ponca Energy Planner to develop a Public Awareness Campaign. Finally, the project seeks to assist youth and the community to gain an understanding of the impact of trauma by providing workshops and self monitoring skills to promote cognitive restructuring. The Violence Prevention Project staff will be responsible for collecting the data.
CA/NCF