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FEBRUARY 1, 2001

The Department of Justice on Wednesday awarded nearly $8 million in grants to 38 tribes and Alaska Native villages seeking to prevent and control juvenile violence and substance abuse in their communities.

Combined with another $1 million in grants to support mental health initiatives for tribal youth, the grants were awarded as part of the Tribal Youth Program, a joint venture of the Justice and Interior Departments. With American Indian and Alaska Native youth experiencing some of the highest rates of arrest, drug use, detention, and victimization in the country, the grants will support a number of programs aimed at addressing the growing needs of the juvenile population.

For the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians in Coos Bay, Oregon, a $75,000 grant will allow tribal youth to enjoy the services of a local Boys and Girls Club they wouldn't be able to afford otherwise. The tribes have entered into a partnership with the club to combat jointly a number or problems which tribal administrator Francis Somday attributed to a decrease in economic opportunity over the last 15 years.

"What this community is experiencing economically certainly has generated a higher crime rate, a higher rate of substance abuse and the whole county, including the tribes, are working together with local governments, community members, and community organizations like the Boys and Girls Club to try and prevent as much of this as possible," said Somday.

Somday points to "frightening" statistics, including one of the highest rates of methamphetamine usage in the state and a juvenile arrest rate three times the national average, as evidence of the issues facing the local and tribal communities. Through recreational and educational services provided by the Boys and Girls Club and managed by tribal members, Somday said the the tribes' grant benefit youth in the entire community.

Next door in North Bend, the Coquille Tribe experiences much of the same problems as their neighbors. The tribe's health department conducted a survey which identified a number of at-risk behaviors facing their youth, leading the tribe to develop what tribal librarian Chris Tanner called a preventative program.

Tanner, who helped write the grant, said the $75,000 award will fund a unique inter-generational mentor program which pairs up tribal elders with tribal youth. The tribe's court will be able to appoint elders on a case-by-case basis to juveniles in the justice system.

Get a list of tribes/Alaska Native villages awarded grants:
List of tribes awarded grants (Tribal Law 2/1)

Relevant Links:
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, US Department of Justice - ojjdp.ncjrs.org

Related Stories:
Ad campaign targets youth drug use (The Medicine Wheel 09/07)
Juvenile crime subject of report (Tribal Law 08/02)
Tribes awarded key funding (Tribal Law 7/7)
Indian youth more likely to be jailed (The Talking Circle 05/01)