Juvenile Justice Training

CTFC offers ICWA training in a juvenile justice context for a variety of target audiences  serving tribal youth involved in, or at risk of involvement in, the juvenile justice system to include: 

  • ICWA Training for Probation Officers
  • Tribal Training on an Overview of the Juvenile Justice System 
  • Other agencies serving tribal youth (e.g. mental health, child welfare, attorneys, etc.)

Youth Justice Summit

CTFC held four Youth Justice Summits across the state in 2025, bringing tribes, local probation departments, service providers, and tribal youth and families together to discuss prevention, best practices, and lessons learned from lived and professional experience in youth justice systems. Overall, representatives from 19 different tribes and 7 probation departments attended the events.

At the Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake Counties Summit, Pelican Bay students through Cal Poly Humboldt Project Rebound shared their stories and disproportionality data related to incarceration rates of tribal members.

At the Sacramento Summit, attendees enjoyed a presentation from Native Dads Network as an example of what tribally-driven community-based prevention can achieve.

The San Bernardino and Riverside Summit was divided into a closed morning session with students at Noli Indian School and an open afternoon session at Soboba Casino and Hotel. Two formerly incarcerated students from Riverside Community College Rising Scholars program and Diego Martinez from CSU Dominguez Hills Project Rebound shared their stories.

The Inyo Summit consisted of a joint training on the intersection of ICWA and juvenile justice issues with tribal law enforcement officers, social services representatives and education professionals.

The Tribal Youth Justice Summits are essential to elevating tribal youth voice and experience in youth justice realignment and advocacy. We are so grateful to all who have attended, participated, and shared their stories – the events were generously supported by the Office of Youth and Community Restoration. 

Technical Assistance for Probation Officers

In 2023 CTFC surveyed Juvenile Probation Officers across the state about their knowledge of Native American youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System and what supports would be most useful in improving the experience of these youth. The feedback we received was that Probation Staff would like support in overcoming challenges in connecting with tribal communities, accessing culturally-relevant services for Native youth, and understanding tribal jurisdiction and federal, state, and tribal laws affecting Native Americans. In response, CTFC is offering technical assistance to Probation Staff to brainstorm ideas and provide support in efforts of Juvenile Probation Staff to effectively engage with tribal communities. To submit a request for TA, submit a request here.

CTFC and oycr report: native youth in California's youth justice system

A report summarizing experiences and recommendations from tribal leaders and representatives, as well as responses from California probation officers about the challenges and successes of working with Native youth in California’s youth justice system, can be read here. 

Two years ago, the Coalition embarked on a series of tribal listening sessions and surveys of youth justice professionals, in partnership with the Office of Youth and Community Restoration, to understand the challenges and promising practices of how best to support Native youth who become involved in California’s youth justice system. A new report now highlights:

  • Culture heals – 93% of probation officer survey respondents agreed that there is an importance for Native youth in the youth justice system to maintain cultural and spiritual connections and practices. To ensure youth can maintain cultural and spiritual connections, tribes need to know where their youth are placed and to be able to assist in providing culturally driven services.
  • Tribal recommendations for systems partners’ next steps include:
    1. Strengthen training for placements, probation officers, and systems partners about the history of tribes in California, Native youth in youth justice, and the importance of tribal connection to healing and rehabilitation.
    2. Enhance data collection and analysis to improve understanding of the youth justice population.
    3. Increase community-based support by more robustly including tribes in system development and improvement.

Resources