OJJDP Defending Childhood 2016 AI/AN Policy Initiative

This American Indian/Alaska Native Policy Initiative is designed to increase the capacity of tribes to enhance their juvenile justice and related child serving systems, such as child welfare and education, and to improve the lives of tribal youth exposed to violence. This program is authorized pursuant to paragraph (3)(A) under the Juvenile Justice heading and paragraph (11) under the State and Local Law Enforcement heading in the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2016 Pub. L. No. 114-113, 129 Stat. 2242, 2307, 2309.

The goals of the White Earth Reservation Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court and Dually Involved Youth Program project are: 1) promote a multi-disciplinary approach with Juvenile Justice, Tribal Partners, and other services to bring trauma-informed, culturally appropriate services to Reservation children and youth involved in Juvenile Justice Systems, and 2) develop standard of care and practices that provide culturally-appropriate screening and assessment to better identify and provide effective early and sustainable intervention for children and youth involved in juvenile courts and justice systems. The project will ground its work in a collaborative, comprehensive team approach and direct its efforts at addressing the interplay of factors children and youth today face: alcohol and drugs, trauma, disruption of families, homelessness, and involvement in juvenile justice systems. The project seeks to bring resources for training and technical assistance to a multi-disciplinary team comprised of representatives from Judicial Services, Probation, Mental Health, Treatment providers, Courts, Education, Human Services, Tribal Leaders, and other stakeholders. The three-year collaborative process involves one year of planning, and implementation of a plan in years two and three that includes trauma-informed and culturally appropriate standard of care and practice. CA/NCF