Mechoopda Indian Tribe's Tribal Youth Program

The Justice Department's grant-making components have created a streamlined approach for federally recognized Tribes, Tribal consortia, Alaska Native villages and corporations, as well as authorized tribal designees to apply for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 funding opportunities. The Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) serves as a single solicitation for existing tribal government-specific grant programs administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The CTAS solicitation is designed to assist tribes with addressing crime and public safety issues in a comprehensive manner. The CTAS grant-application process was inspired by and developed after consultation with tribal leaders, including sessions at the Justice Department's Tribal Nations Listening Session in 2009, and has been updated based on continued tribal consultations and listening sessions.

The Mechoopda Indian Tribe of the Chico Rancheria will implement the Tribal Youth Program to address the needs of Tribal youth under age 17 considered at risk or involved in negative behaviors including delinquency, gangs, substance abuse, truancy, and school dropout. The Mechoopda Tribe will implement a multi-component initiative which will include: a 12-step gang intervention program that incorporates Native American values and traditional cultural activities; the evidence-based Strengthening Families Program to increase resilience and reduce substance abuse, depression, aggression, and school failure; the Parenting Wisely Program CD ROM program which helps increase the competency and confidence of parents; and a mentoring program particularly for those youth lacking a positive role model due to parental incarceration or substance abuse. The Mechoopda will assess and report on the achievement of the following program outcomes: reduction in youth drug activities; improvement in school performance and attitudes; development of positive parent and guardian relationships with children; reduction in youth involvement in the juvenile justice system; and a decrease in the number of youth joining gangs.

CA/NCF