Acoma Youth 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) 2017 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 systems for American Indian/Alaska Native youth.

The Pueblo of Acoma Youth Development Program is a prevention and early intervention program that will be implemented by the Acoma Department of Education at the Sky City Community School (SCCS) and in collaboration with the Acoma Behavioral Health Services. The projected number of participants is 190 SCCS students and their families. The risks of this population include: 1) frequent re-arrests for alcohol and substance abuse related offenses; 2) high unemployment and poverty; 3) high alcohol and substance abuse related deaths; 4) high suicide risks; 5) co-occurring mental health disorders; and 6) low education attainment. The needs include: better assessment strategies; access to culturally relevant interventions; connection to culture-based prevention, intervention, relapse and recovery, and reentry support; and assistance with school success. The proposed program is comprised of four components that feature the Botvins Life Skills Training (BLST) curricula, study skills, cultural & language immersion, and coordinated behavioral health service and referral services. Key strategies include: 1) early identification of youth at-risk for school failure due to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use; 2) BLST curriculum aimed at increasing self-esteem and confidence; 3) parental involvement; 4) community involvement through structured, cultural activities delivered in collaboration with Acoma elders and cultural experts; 5) referral and linkage to needed behavioral health services; 6) data collection, management, and analysis; and 7) partnerships with program and community resources. Monthly data collection will occur using records and case management systems used by the Acoma department of education, in combination with the Acoma behavioral health services and tribal court and probation systems. Program success will be determined by the ability to follow projected timelines to hire project staff and consultants, revision and updates of codes passed by the Tribal Council, development and implementation of the BLST curriculum and culturally and language components with linkage to behavioral health services, and documented outcomes. Ongoing and new local, state and federal partnerships will be sustained and expanded.

CA/NCF