Project afanali, which means to guide in choctaw, aims to provide tribal youth with opportunities to engage in courses designed to encourage good citizenship and positively shape their adult lives

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma $546,353 on October 1, 2025, under the Tribal Youth Program (CFDA 16.731) to deliver Project Afanali, a life skills and behavioral health curriculum for tribal youth.

Project Afanali addresses critical gaps in life skills education and behavioral health challenges affecting Choctaw youth through age-specific courses for elementary, intermediate, and high school students. The curriculum covers personal goal setting, critical thinking, leadership, financial literacy, health and nutrition, and family dynamics from a Native American perspective, while also addressing bullying, peer pressure, delinquency, substance use, and other harmful behaviors. Participants will complete exit surveys designed to capture age-appropriate feedback and help identify and address curriculum gaps.

Performance occurs in Durant, Oklahoma, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. The Tribal Youth Program supports prevention and reduction of juvenile delinquency, services related to tribal youth healing and wellness courts, and strengthened juvenile justice responses for American Indian and Alaska Native youth.

The choctaw nation of oklahoma designed this project to address a critical GAP in life skills education while tackling behavioral health challenges affecting tribal youth. Project afanalis curriculum covers essential topics such as personal goal setting, critical thinking, leadership skills, financial literacy, health and nutrition, and family dynamics from a native american perspective. IT also addresses issues such as bullying, peer pressure, delinquency, substance use, and other harmful behaviors. The curriculum is age-specific, tailored for elementary, intermediate, and high school students, ensuring that each participant receives developmentally appropriate skills aligned with their age and abilities. To continually improve the program, participants will complete exit surveys designed to capture feedback relevant to their age group and experience, helping the project director identify and address any curriculum gaps. Conference activity description: N/a