Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Alcohol and Drug Abuse Strategies Project

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (IASAP) provides funding and technical assistance to federally recognized tribal governments to plan, implement, or enhance tribal justice strategies to address crime issues related to alcohol and substance abuse. Key IASAP objectives include: developing a project activity team; identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting those who illegally transport, distribute, and use alcohol and controlled substances; prevent and reduce the number of alcohol and substance-abuse-related crimes (with a priority on methamphetamine), traffic fatalities, and injuries; developing and enhancing collaborations with federal, state, tribal, and local criminal justice agencies; integrating tribal and non-tribal services for offenders and their families; and making available culturally appropriate treatment and other services.

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma will use Fiscal Year 2008 Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse grant funds to provide prevention measures and decrease the incidence of alcohol- and substance abuse-related crimes in Clinton, El Reno, Weatherford, and Watonga. During year one a planning team, consisting of law enforcement, tribal courts, tribal community, tribal planning department, and non-tribal law enforcement representatives will convene to: 1) contact local and state law enforcement and court personnel to compile more concise data on alcohol and drug abuse in the Native American community; 2) work with related entities within and outside the Tribes to develop a Tribal Safety Action Plan; 3) gather data on arrest and prosecution for alcohol- and drug-related crimes, violations of probation, and treatment; and 4) develop partnerships with local tribal and non-tribal resources in order to coordinate a process whereby individuals who are identified by non-tribal entities as Native American are referred to Native American offender services.

The first year's efforts will focus on the cities of Clinton and El Reno, which experience primarily alcohol- and methamphetamine-related problems, while the second year's efforts will be expanded to focus on the cities of Weatherford, which faces a wide range of drug-related issues including the abuse of prescription drugs, and Watonga, which has identified 'huffing' as a problem among juveniles. During year three, the group will apply the developed strategies in smaller communities while continuing the efforts in the larger cities and towns and compiling data for reporting and evaluation purposes. Since resources in smaller communities are lacking, the project will develop a referral system and work closely with community groups and local law enforcement.

CA/NCF