The ST. Croix chippewa indians of wisconsin and ST

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded a $500,000 Project Grant under the Tribal Youth Program (CFDA 16.731) to the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin and their Tribal Education Department. The primary goal of this 5-year grant is to implement a culturally responsive mentorship program to address school truancy and promote positive youth engagement within the tribal community. The funding will allow the tribe to hire two cultural mentors to lead group sessions, activities, and talking circles that foster cultural involvement, positive relationships, improved mental health, and reduced delinquency. This effort aims to keep tribal youth positively engaged in school and their community, serving as both an intervention and prevention strategy to improve community safety and well-being.

Croix tribal education department have identified school truancy as an area of focus to improve the well-being and safety of the ST. Croix tribal community. The primary goal of this program would be to keep youth positively engaged within the community, in their school, and in their schoolwork. Instead of monetary fines for delinquency, the courts would be able to appoint a mentor for disengaged youth and their families on a case-by-case basis, but the program would also function as a prevention effort. This funding would allow the program to expand truancy intervention services by hiring two cultural mentors to create and operate a culturally responsive mentorship program. These positions would be funded for up to 32 hours per week and these mentors would lead programs for youth and potentially programs for youth and families together. Programming would include culturally enriched group sessions with students or with students and families, such as facilitated talking circles, educational activities, cultural activities, etc. To be held in the community and at school. The intent will be to foster or promote positive experiences at school, cultural involvement, positive peer relationships, positive family relationships, improve mental health, improve truancy, prevent delinquency, and improve community safety.