Kalispel Tribe FY15 CTAS COPS Purpose Area No. 7 Project

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) 2015 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 Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides awards under CTAS Purpose Area 9--Tribal Youth Program (TYP) to federally recognized tribes to develop and implement programs that support and enhance tribal efforts to prevent and control juvenile delinquency and strengthen juvenile justice system for American Indian/Alaska Native youth.

With this funding, the Kalispel Tribe will continue it's existing Tribal youth services initiative, which include a juvenile diversion program and a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. The Tribe will also develop dynamic alternatives to divert at-risk youth into more healthful, healing, and culturally appropriate activities. Like many tribes of the Inner Plateau, the Kalispel are horse people. An Advisory Committee to the Juvenile Diversion Program has recommended the development of an equine therapy program. Nineteen horses have been donated for the equine therapy program; the Business Council has donated land for pasture; and Tribal members have volunteered their time for the care and training of the horses. In addition to continuing the important and significant programs designed to reduce and prevent juvenile delinquency, and to strengthen the juvenile justice system for Kalispel youth; the funding will help the tribe develop the new equine therapy program for at-risk youth. The goal of the program is to provide youth with culturally appropriate activities to teach responsibility and to divert at-risk youth from delinquent and/or criminal behavior.

CA/NCF