SHAWNEE, Okla. — Youth and Family Resource Center, Inc. (YFRC) has been awarded $151,000 in federal funding through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), administered by the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA), to implement a new Tribal Youth & Family Strengthening Initiative serving tribal youth and families in Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties.
The initiative will focus on prevention and early intervention services for tribal youth ages 10–17 through trauma-informed, culturally responsive programming designed to strengthen protective factors, improve emotional wellness, and increase family and community connection.
Through the project, YFRC will provide school-based and community-based support services including mentoring, skill-building groups, case management, prevention programming, family support, and referral coordination. The initiative will emphasize youth voice and collaboration with tribal partners to ensure services are responsive to the unique strengths and needs of tribal youth and families in the region.
“This funding represents an important opportunity to strengthen support systems for tribal youth and families in our communities,” said Kelsey Menifee, Executive Director of YFRC. “We are grateful to OJA and OJJDP for investing in prevention-focused, community-based services that help youth build resilience, healthy relationships, and stronger connections to family, school, and culture.”
The project aligns with YFRC’s mission to engage and empower youth and families to lead safe, healthy lives. YFRC has served rural Oklahoma communities since 1971 through emergency shelter care, school-based mental health services, prevention programming, counseling, mentoring, and family support services.
The Tribal Youth & Family Strengthening Initiative will also focus on increasing collaboration among schools, community organizations, tribal partners, and local service providers to improve access to resources and reduce barriers to care for underserved youth and families.
Funding for this initiative was made possible through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and administered by the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.