Tribal Children's Advocacy Program

Children's Justice Act (CJA) Partnerships for Indian Communities Grant Program (Victims of Crime Act of 1984, Section 1402(g), 34 U.S.C. 20101(g) supports American Indian and Alaskan Native communities for the purpose of improving the investigation, prosecution, and handling of child abuse cases, especially cases of child sexual abuse, in a manner that increases support for and lessens trauma to child abuse victims. The funding further supports programs to provide comprehensive and coordinated multidisciplinary responses to child abuse victims and provide trauma-informed, culturally competent, holistic services to child abuse victims and their families. Funding will not be used for investigation or prosecution services.

Yankton Sioux Tribe requested funding to extend services from only children in foster care to all child victims of crime. There will be a major focus on updating the mandatory reporting protocol and educating appropriate stakeholders on mandatory reporting of child abuse. With this funding, the Yankton Sioux Tribe will pay salary, benefits, and related costs for a 1.0 FTE project director, provide specialized professional services for child victims, provide forensic interviewing training to prosecutors and other stakeholders that work with child victims, and lease a vehicle to provide transportation for child victims.
CA/NCF