Cultural and Indigenous Knowledge Archives - Tribal Youth Justice Resource Center

Mental Health and Wellness: Tribally Focused Strategies to Decrease Juvenile Delinquency

Written by Laura Smith on January 21, 2026.

This webinar focuses on promoting mental health in remote Tribal communities with limited resources. The session will explore tribally informed approaches, community-based strategies, and practical tools to bridge gaps in mental health access and care. By strengthening mental health support systems early and within the community, these approaches can play a critical role in preventing juvenile involvement in the justice system.

Resources:

•Screening and Brief Intervention https://www.miccsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/02-MHTTC-SBIRTShort-Screens-Brief-Assessments.pdf

•Project Venture https://projectventure.org/

•American Indian Life Skills https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED402129
LaFromboise, T. D., & Howard, H. H. (1997). American Indian life skills development curriculum. University of Wisconsin–Madison.

•Youth Mental Health Aid Resource
National Council for Mental Wellbeing & Mental Health First Aid USA. (n.d.). Help youth: Mental health first aid. https://mentalhealthfirstaid.org/individuals/help-youth/

References:

•Tribal Youth Incarceration Disparities
The Sentencing Project. (2025, August 12). Tribal disparities in youth incarceration. The Sentencing Project. https://www.sentencingproject.org/fact-sheet/disparities-in-tribal-youth-incarceration/

•Indigenous Mental Health Facts (MHA)
Mental Health America. (n.d.). Indigenous American mental health: Quick facts. Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/resources/indigenous-facts/

•Mental & Behavioral Health — American Indians/Alaska Natives (OMH)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. (2026). Mental health in American Indians/Alaska Natives. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-american-indiansalaska-natives#footnote2

•Mental & Behavioral Health Disparities by Race & Ethnicity
United Health Foundation. (2023). Mental & behavioral health data brief: Key findings — Race and ethnicity. America’s Health Rankings. https://www.americashealthrankings.org/learn/reports/mental-and-behavioral-health-data-brief/key-findings-race-and-ethnicity

•Culture as a Determinant of Health for Native Americans
Walters, K. L., Freydberg, N., & Simoni, J. (2023). The Culture is Prevention Project: Measuring cultural connectedness and providing evidence that culture is a social determinant of health for Native Americans. BMC Public Health, 23, Article 15587. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-023-15587-x

•U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (HHS OMH). (2026). Mental and behavioral health data: American Indians/Alaska Natives. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://mhanational.org/resources/indigenous-facts/

•Mental Health America. (2026). Indigenous American mental health: Quick facts. Mental Health America. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-american-indiansalaska-natives

•Kenney, M. K., & Singh, G. K. (2016). Adverse Childhood Experiences Among American Indian/Alaska Native Children: Findings from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health. Scientifica. https://www.nicwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NICWA-State-of-AIAN-Children-and-Families-Report-PART-3.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

•Masotti, P., Dennem, J., Bañuelos, K., Seneca, C., Valerio-Leonce, G., & King, J. (2023). The Culture is Prevention Project: measuring cultural connectedness and providing evidence that culture is a social determinant of health for Native Americans. BMC Public Health, 23, 741. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15587-x

I4 – Winnebago Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court and Cultural Integration

Written by Laura Smith on October 8, 2024.

This session will provide an overview of the Winnebago Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court and Cultural Integration. Participants will gain knowledge on the evaluation, assessment, and cultural assessments at the Winnebago Youth Crisis Intervention Center. The presenters will also discuss the function of the “Wagijire Hiza” Elders, including the incorporation of family, culture, and traditions into programming and recommendations.

C4 – Engagement and Community Belonging

Written by Laura Smith on October 8, 2024.

This session will cover how the Cherokee Nation Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court (JHWC) uses culture in their rehabilitation process. The presenters will share case studies demonstrating how their engagement techniques have been instrumental in helping shift youth and family member attitudes with respect to the disciplinary and justice systems.

A Deeper Dive into Restorative Approaches and Cultural Integration in the Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court: Peer-to-Peer Sharing

Written by Andrea Dickerson on November 10, 2021.

A session presented at the OJJDP 2021 Tribal Youth Virtual National Conference to allow a deeper dive into discussion around Restorative Approaches and Cultural Integration in the Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court (Session E3), this session expanded on principles and ideas shared in a related conference session and opened the floor for more extensive peer-to-peer discussion of restorative approaches to support youth within juvenile justice settings and prevention program frameworks. The session aimed to allow grantees and others to continue to learn from each other about what is working in their communities to support trust-building, open dialogue, and peer engagement.

Creativity & Innovation in the Face of COVID-19: Maskiizibii Oshki Gabeshiwin 2020Virtual Youth Conference

Written by Andrea Dickerson on November 10, 2021.

A session presented at the 2021 OJJDP Tribal Youth National Conference (Session E1). This session presented the journey undertaken in 2020 to develop, plan, and implement a virtual peer to peer mentoring and experiential youth leadership conference that encompassed poetry, photography, music, and art for middle and high school students during a pandemic. The session provided a discussion about peer to peer mentoring and cultural arts approaches that promote healing, resilience, and prevent or reduce delinquent behavior.

Restorative Approaches and Cultural Integration in the Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court

Written by Andrea Dickerson on November 8, 2021.

A session presented at the 2021 OJJDP Tribal Youth Virtual National Conference (Session A3). Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts have an opportunity to empower youth and promote accountability and restorative justice by implementing a range of approaches to support youth engagement and activities that promote healing, understanding, and support. The Restorative Circle Approach has been implemented within wellness court frameworks to support trust-building, open dialogue, and peer engagement.