Strategic Planning of Tribal Youth Program to Mitigate Risk Factors Associated with Historic Trauma

With this funding, Healy Lake Village Council will develop a strategic plan to address the problems that their youth are facing, including the symptoms of historical trauma such as violence, alcohol and substance abuse, and poor mental health. Healy Lake Village is a very small, isolated community in Alaska. For a few months in summer, the village is only accessible via a small bush plane (carrying up to three passengers and freight), or by boat to cross the Healy River. There is currently no school in Healy Lake. Because of this, residents of Healy Lake must either homeschool their children, move to a larger nearby community to send their children to a public school, or send their older children to a boarding school. The lack of education opportunities in the village continues to contribute to out-migration from the village. The Tribe will form a team of Tribal council members and staff to develop the strategic plan to ensure the success of the future youth program. The future youth program will serve all the youth of Healy Lake and will also likely serve the youth of the surrounding villages in the Upper Tanana region.