Helping youth ages 12 to 17 develop healthful lifestyles in a culturally relevant manner grounded in 40 Developmental Assets and the Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Gun Lake Tribe ancestors

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.

The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish-Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe (GLT), consists of 428 citizens, including 180 youth under the age of 18 (42% of citizens). Tribal members and staff report increases in drug and alcohol use as issues within households. Data from the Tribe’s 2013 Needs Assessment quantifies trends in youth and family issues faced by their community members. The profile demonstrates a dramatic rise in alcohol and drug use, as well as parenting and familial conflict. The program target within the Fiscal Year 2015 Tribal Youth Program is, “Prevention services to impact risk factors for delinquency and promote protective factors.” This project will serve youth ages 12 to 17 who reside in the Tribe’s five-county service area in Michigan (Allegan, Barry, Kalamazoo, Kent and Ottawa Counties). The anticipated number of juveniles that the project will serve is 15, with another 7 juveniles participating in some activities. The project goal is to develop Tribal youth to grow up healthful, caring and responsible community members.

The project includes intensive strategic planning during year one. A Cultural Youth Group will be formed during year one. In years two and three, Cultural Youth Group meetings will occur weekly. During Cultural Youth Group meetings, youth will participate in multiple phases of intervention activities, developed and implemented with their input: Intergenerational events, traditional cultural activities such as basket making and hoop dancing, community service, team building exercises and goal setting. Multiple approaches will be used: tribal citizens, volunteers or contractual persons, field trips and group activities. The program will be based on the Best Practice Model 40 Developmental Assets and the cultural Seven Grandfather Teachings, which will be interwoven throughout all meetings and events.
CA/NCF