MIHILAKAWNA Youth Justice Development and intervention services

The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians in Sonoma County, CA, plans to improve their tribal juvenile justice system for juveniles aged 12-17, including developing and implementing indigenous justice strategies and providing alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs. Through the Dry Creek Rancheria Band's new Tribal Court system, the tribe intends to put into service the Tribal Juvenile Justice Services Program that focuses on connecting youth to their culture and addressing the root causes of delinquent behavior. The program will focus on diversion, intervention, and prevention services to tribal youth, who are either at risk of delinquent behavior, are charged with committing a delinquent act, or are in need of supervision (such as truancy, runaway, etc). Sonoma County also has significant issues with methamphetamine and marijuana abuse among tribal youth, so the program will focus on interventions that address substance abuse risk factors. The tribe will report on the mandatory performance measures for the Tribal Youth Program. CA/NCF