The LA jolla band of luiseno indians will work with 60 youth who participate in the tribal education program

The La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians was awarded a $500,000 Project Grant by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Tribal Youth Program (CFDA 16.731). The grant funding will support the tribe's efforts to work with 60 youth participating in the Tribal Education Program, providing prevention and intervention services to address behavioral and learning challenges such as ADHD, autism, and trauma-related issues. The project will integrate cultural healing as a key component to reverse declining educational attainment and support positive identity formation among tribal youth. This aligns with the Tribal Youth Program's goal of helping federally recognized tribes develop comprehensive approaches to juvenile justice, prevention, and community development.

An unusually high number of tribal children experience behavioral and learning challenges such as attention deficit disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, and trauma-related issues. The education department will work with the tribe's domestic violence program, avellaka, to provide both prevention and intervention services. Cultural healing will be included as a major component of reversing declining educational attainment and supporting positive identity formation and educational attainment.