Presenters (left to right) Sutton King, Kaitlin Pinkerton, and Hilary Hullinger appear with Friend2Friend simulation avatars at the 2018 National Unity Conference in San Diego, CA. The simulation teaches high schoolers how to approach friends about sensitive topics. Photo courtesy of OJJDP Tribal Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center.

The United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) organization is a national network of 160 affiliated youth councils operating in 36 states and Canada and representing thousands of Native youth. UNITY’s mission is to foster comprehensive development of American Indian and Alaska Native youth, and involve them in building and unifying a self-reliant Native America. The organization held its annual conference on July 5–9, 2018, in San Diego, CA. The event drew approximately 2,200 youth and sponsors from across the country.

OJJDP has been a longstanding supporter of the conference, and partnered with UNITY on youth leadership projects as part of OJJDP’s efforts to help tribal communities prevent victimization and juvenile delinquency, reduce violent crime, and improve tribal juvenile justice systems.

On July 8, 2018, Hilary Hullinger, technical assistance coordinator at OJJDP's Tribal Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center, copresented a session on suicide prevention attended by approximately 50 youth.

During the session titled “Friend2Friend Virtual Suicide Prevention and Training Simulations for Tribal Youth,” Ms. Hullinger—alongside Kaitlin Pinkerton, a youth suicide prevention advocate and member of the Cherokee Nation, and Sutton King, a Kognito, LLC, tribal program specialist and member of the Menominee and Oneida Nations—demonstrated how the OJJDP-supported virtual simulation module, Friend2Friend, helps high school students recognize signs of psychological distress in peers and how to motivate these youth to seek help. Session attendees were encouraged to download the free app to their mobile devices and follow the simulation.

Presenter Hilary Hullinger in San Diego, CA, with OJJDP’s Tribal Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center 2018 National Unity Conference Instagram cutout. Photo courtesy of OJJDP Tribal Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center.

The youth shared stories of instances when the app could have helped them or someone else they knew and expressed an eagerness to share the simulations and help address these issues in their communities.

OJJDP also provided a resource booth at the conference that offered information about and access to Friend2Friend and two other virtual simulation modules—“Trauma-Informed Policing With Tribal Youth” and “At-Risk for High School Educators.” All three modules are available at no cost through OJJDP’s Tribal Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center.

Resources:

More information on OJJDP’s tribal youth programs and services is available online.

OJJDP’s Tribal Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center virtual training simulations and implementation information are free and available for download online.