2022 OJJDP Tribal Youth National Conference

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Tribal Youth National Conference is a multi-faceted event that offers opportunities for OJJDP-funded Tribal Youth Programs, Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts, federally recognized tribes, as well as Tribal and non-Tribal youth-serving organizations to engage in tribal youth-specific dialogue. The event promotes peer learning opportunities and positive youth development prevention and intervention approaches that can be implemented and sustained within Tribal communities.

At the conference, a range of Tribal-specific tools, resources, and beneficial information were provided in an effort to advance opportunities for Native youth to increase their connection to Native lifeways and thrive within their families, schools, and communities. The conference offered sessions with Native youth leaders, OJJDP Tribal Youth & Juvenile Healing to Wellness grantees, and other nationally recognized experts in the fields of Tribal youth leadership, empowerment and best practices in juvenile justice prevention, intervention, and alternatives to detention.

The 2022 OJJDP Tribal Youth National Conference was held in-person on December 13-15, 2022, in San Diego, California. The theme of the Conference was “Imagini ng a New Future: Justice, Healing, and Empowerment for Native Youth .” The conference was coordinated and presented by the Tribal Youth Justice Resource Center at the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, in partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Alaska Native youth training and technical assistance provider The Resource Basket, and the National Native Children’s Trauma Center.

Looking for previous sessions?

The Conference planning team was astounded and encouraged by the high level of participation in the 2021 OJJDP Tribal Youth Virtual National Conference, “Shaping Brighter Futures with American Indian, Alaska Native Youth, and Tribal Communities – Strengthening Resilience, Promoting Healing, Restoring Culture.” The conference, coordinated and presented in partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Alaska Native youth training and technical assistance provider The Resource Basket, and the National Native Children’s Trauma Center, hosted a record number of Tribal and non-Tribal conference attendees from across the country. Our team and partners were honored to lift up the voices of Elders and Youth throughout the week and to hear from Tribal community prevention and intervention staff working to support Tribal youth in a variety of ways. The TYJRC team extends our gratitude to all 2021 conference attendees, presenters, and event organizers.

Click below to see sessions from the 2021 OJJDP Tribal Youth Virtual National Conference.

2021 Conference Sessions