The teen development program is a focused prevention effort serving squaxin island tribal community teens, building on years of successful implementation

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded $546,353 to the Squaxin Island Tribe on October 1, 2025, under the Tribal Youth Program (CFDA 16.731).

The award funds a focused prevention program serving Squaxin Island tribal community teens through wellness promotion, engagement in prosocial activities, and service navigation for youth who have experienced adverse childhood experiences. A coordinator will provide crisis intervention and facilitate access to community services with parental and guardian involvement. The program will refine and enhance its training component to equip teens with leadership skills and experience in planning activities, marketing, and budgeting.

The Squaxin Island Tribe, a federally recognized Indian tribe headquartered in Shelton, Washington, receives the award as prime recipient. Performance occurs in Shelton, WA. The period of performance runs through September 30, 2030. The Tribal Youth Program aims to improve services for youth at risk for and involved in the justice system and to strengthen juvenile justice system response for American Indian and Alaska Native youth.

This project will continue to RE-center youth within their community by promoting wellness, engagement, and prosocial activities. IT also aims to fill a critical GAP by providing service navigation and targeted support for teens who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and related challenges, wrapping supportive programming around these youth. As teens engage with the education department, the coordinator will provide additional support for those in crisis or requiring intervention by facilitating access to community services with the involvement of parents and guardians. The coordinator will also refine and enhance the teen development programs training component, equipping teens with leadership skills, experience in planning activities, marketing, and budgeting. Conference activity description: N/a