The yurok tribe will enhance the yurok youth wellness court (yywc) to meet the significant needs of youth in the yurok community

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Yurok Tribe $400,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program (CFDA 16.585) to enhance the Yurok Youth Wellness Court and address substance use and justice system involvement among Yurok youth.

The project delivers a comprehensive, traditionally informed approach to youth wellness services in the Klamath, California community, serving both high-risk/high-need youth and low- and medium-risk youth to ensure early prevention, intervention, and improved outcomes. The program operates through September 30, 2030. The Yurok Youth Wellness Court integrates substance use disorder treatment, mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services in a judicially supervised setting. The Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program supports implementation and enhancement of treatment courts—including juvenile drug courts and tribal healing to wellness courts—to reduce recidivism, overdose fatalities, and involvement in criminal, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems.

The proposed yywc project will address identified needs by providing a comprehensive, traditionally informed approach to substance use and justice system-involvement among yurok youth. The program will focus on both high-risk/high-need youth and low- and medium-risk youth to ensure early prevention and intervention and improved outcomes.