Teen Development 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) 2016 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 Squaxin Island Tribe Teen Development Program will build on past efforts and address barriers. The goal of this project is to provide strong protective factors for teens through the Education Department and Tu Ha’ Buts Learning Center by supporting activities that develop social competence, cultural pride, and leadership skills. One objective is to increase consistent teen participation by 20% for each year of the project. Another objective is to increase the number of teen planned and implemented activities from zero to eight per year. A Teen Development Coordinator will be hired to oversee the program. This person will provide activities for teens that focus on Squaxin tribal culture, promote inclusivity, foster the development of individual responsibility and leadership skills. The coordinator will work with the Tribal Youth Council to develop and implement a strategic plan based on the needs of Squaxin Teens. Evaluation of this program will be based on the number of teens who consistently participate, the number of teen-led activities, and a survey that will provide an ongoing assessment of social competence, leadership skills and cultural pride in Squaxin teens.
CA/NCF