Juvenile Implementation and Enhancement Healing to Wellness Court Training
The 2024 Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court Implementation and Enhancement Training was held September 18-20, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona with the theme “Reclaiming Indigenous Justice,” underscoring the critical influence of traditional Indigenous justice in shaping Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts and Programs practices. This theme highlights the profound knowledge Tribes possess in safeguarding their communities and the inherent strengths of Indigenous justice systems.
The Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court Implementation and Enhancement Training focused on issues concerning Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts and Programs practices. The training was held concurrently with an Adult Healing to Wellness Court Implementation and Enhancement Training.
This annual training is a unique opportunity to receive information on current treatment court best practices, learn innovative approaches to substance abuse and treatment, and engage with other Healing to Wellness Courts practitioners from across the country. The sessions focused upon tribal issues, including jurisdictional and legal issues unique to Indian country, the incorporation of custom and tradition into the phases, case management, treatment curriculums, tangential services, and the peer-to-peer sharing of successful Healing to Wellness Courts models in operation.
Please visit www.EnhancementTraining.org for more information and to access to the materials from the Adult Healing to Wellness Court Implementation and Enhancement Training. For more information and resources concerning Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts, please visit www.WellnessCourts.org.
Meeting Materials
A4 – Native-Tribal Strengths-Based Approaches
This session will cover the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Tribal Restorative Practices, as part of their Juvenile Healing to Wellness Program. The program uses Elders Panels and mentoring to help youth repair from hurt and harm.
B4 – Intrusion of Fentanyl in Our Society
This session will cover the need to be informed about the fatal risks of fentanyl use, the proper use of Narcan (Naloxone), and the reality that fentanyl affects everyone. The goal of the presentation is to raise awareness and hope in our Tribal communities. Narcan (Naloxone) saves lives, and with proper training and harm reduction education the hope is destigmatize and reduce overdose deaths in our communities.
C4 – Engagement and Community Belonging
This session will cover how the Cherokee Nation Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court (JHWC) uses culture in their rehabilitation process. The presenters will share case studies demonstrating how their engagement techniques have been instrumental in helping shift youth and family member attitudes with respect to the disciplinary and justice systems.
D4 – Native Adolescent Development
This presentation will cover the topic of adolescent brain development and its influence on adolescent decision-making processes. The presenters seek to empower Tribes/Tribal Courts/communities and families to implement trauma-informed practices and to tailor effective services. Juvenile Healing two Wellness Courts and Programs play a critical role in nurturing positive youth development. By recognizing the significance of adolescent brain development and its influence on decision making, interventions can better support youth in navigating challenges and building resilience.
E4 – Developing an Assessment Tool
This session will overview the work to develop a self-assessment tool for Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts and Programs to use in assessing and restructuring their approaches and processes to ensure that they are trauma informed. The presenters will use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) “Six Guiding Principles to a Trauma-informed Approach,” and the “Ten Domains” to explore this topic.
F4 – Breaking Down the Stigma around (MAT) and Leveraging MATs
This session will provide an overview of opiate addiction, and the role of medication assisted treatments (MATs). The presenters will review recent research on effective treatment strategies for opioid addiction, with particular emphasis on adolescents. They will compare common myths and misconceptions about MATs. They will also review a specific tribal program model and their cultural approaches to MATs.
G4 – Native/Tribal Adolescent Substance Use Trends
H4 – Serving Youth with Low Criminogenic Risk, But High Need
This session will overview the various approaches of the Juvenile Healing to Wellness (JHW) Programs. The presenters will discuss how JHW Programs are designed to serve Native/Tribal youth with low criminogenic risk, higher need, where there is youth substance use (or substance abuse in the home), and/or where there may be chronic school absenteeism. The presenters will also review the common approaches in working with low-risk youth, including targeted and intensive support systems, comprehensive and inclusive case management (e.g., Wraparound case management), school attendance programs (e.g., school review boards, Tribal and Community Truancy Boards, Elders Panels, etc.), and restorative practices. Finally, the presenters will introduce those chapters of the Model Indian Juvenile Code that contain more protective court process for use with Native/Tribe youth who may need services and/or are experiencing chronic absenteeism (truancy).
I4 – Winnebago Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court and Cultural Integration
This session will provide an overview of the Winnebago Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court and Cultural Integration. Participants will gain knowledge on the evaluation, assessment, and cultural assessments at the Winnebago Youth Crisis Intervention Center. The presenters will also discuss the function of the “Wagijire Hiza” Elders, including the incorporation of family, culture, traditions, and gender roles into programming and recommendations.
