The united keetoowah cherokee council seeks to establish a juvenile tribal healing to wellness court

The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians received a $400,000 Project Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program (CFDA #16.585) to establish a Juvenile Tribal Healing to Wellness Court. The court will work with youth referred from law enforcement, parents, schools, and other departments to investigate, quantify, and document the scope of alcohol and drug use issues among United Keetoowah Band youth, and identify needed rehabilitative services. The goal is to rehabilitate youth so they can become productive members of the tribal community and future leaders. This 5-year grant award, effective October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2028, will fund the planning, implementation, and operation of the new juvenile court program.

The court will work with youth referred by law enforcement, parents, schools, the court, and other departments to investigate, quantify, and document the scope of the alcohol and drug use problem among united keetoowah band youth, and to research and identify the needed services to be offered in a juvenile tribal healing to wellness court. The court aspires to rehabilitate youth so they can become happy, productive people and join the next generation of tribal leaders.