The service area where the proposed project will take place St. Paul Island, AK, a remote, rural, Alaska Native village located on an island 300 miles from the Alaska mainland, 300 miles north of the Aleutian Chain, and 800 miles from Anchorage. This project will work with the youth tribal council group to improve the capacity of the Tribal Government to reduce risky behaviors in youth and young adults ages 10 – 24 by implementing evidence-based culturally centered community programs that address mental health disorders and reduce substance abuse and suicide attempts. Some of the projects we will include are an Elders and youth craft night with a talking circle, youth activities that the youth council determines and co-lead in a safe space that include an activity, an educational component, cooking classes, hikes. There will also be support for the youth dance group when they practice and perform in the community, and support for youth who want to learn how to participate in subsistence activities. We will also support youth travel for SAMHSA or tribal youth forum events, unity conferences with an adult chaperone if needed.
