San Pasqual Tribal Youth Prevention Program

The San Pasqual Tribal Youth Prevention Program (TYPP) will focus on helping tribal youth avoid involvement in delinquency through enhancing protective factors and reducing risk factors in their lives within community, families, schools and with peers. A team of two full-time program staff will co-lead the programs to manage and support the development and implementation of delinquency prevention and diversion that address the needs of tribal youth living on the reservation.  The project will enhance and expand current tribal efforts to respond to juvenile delinquency in the community and prevent delinquent activities through enhanced tribal youth outreach and engagement. San Pasqual proposes to use community-based, trauma-informed interventions guided by inter-agency services and support to implement prevention and an evidence-based diversion “Circle of Care” program.  Overall goals of the tribal delinquency prevention and diversion program are to increase opportunities for youth development and redirect youth who are considered at risk for delinquency or who have committed a delinquent offense from entering into or having deeper involvement in tribal courts or juvenile justice system.  San Pasqual Education Center will work with an advisory committee in the implementation and evaluation of its enhanced and expanded services. The Tribe plans to serve over 100 tribal youth ages 12 to 17 years old each year. The program is designed to develop and improve tribal youth leadership skills, create opportunities for peer education and new outreach; increase awareness and skills for college and career planning and goal setting; teach youth how to choose better peers and be peer role models; create understanding for the consequences of youth negative behavior; build accountability; and learn and practice respect for self, family, community, and culture.