Comanche Nation Residential Youth Shelter Support & Improve Project

Children's Justice Act (CJA) Partnerships for Indian Communities Grant Program (Victims of Crime Act of 1984, Section 1402(g), 42 U.S.C. 10601(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.

The Comanche Nation is a Federally-recognized Tribe, with headquarters located just north of the town of Lawton, Oklahoma. Comanche Nation’s federally-defined tribal jurisdictional service area extends across 6,300 square miles of southwestern Oklahoma, encompassing parts of Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Kiowa, Stephens, and Tillman Counties. The tribe has approximately 16,679 enrolled members.

Comanche Nation will use the funding from this award to: 1) hire a part-time Youth Guidance Specialist to provide behavioral interventions and guidance counseling to victims of child abuse and neglect; 2) hire a full-time Health and Wellness Advocate to provide culturally appropriate interventions to child victims using art, literature, journaling, and other media; 3) hire a part-time Counselor to provide individual and group therapy to children residing in the shelter, and teach children traditional Native American horticulture activities; 4) purchase new furniture the shelter, and upgrade the security system for the shelter; and 5) acquire a 12-passenger van to assist with transporting children to and from school, court, and supportive services.

CA/NCF