The Cherokee Nation Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court (JHWC) is a diversionary program designed for our tribal youth to combat substance use problems and other delinquent issues.
The Cherokee Nation youth will be allowed the option to participate in the Cherokee Nation Tribal diversion services versus permanent legal consequences through Cherokee Nation District Court.
The JHWC will serve as a support for the youth to reduce and cease dependency to illicit substances, require active participation, and expect all youth to enter with a commitment to honesty and transparency throughout the process.
Family Case Management/Project Specialist will link the family to appropriate Cherokee Nation Human Service Programs to assist the family system as a whole
Treatment Planning with culturally based services will be offered to the Cherokee Nation Youth
Assisting the family with the identification of family strengths to build upon within the family unit for the betterment of the youth
The JHWC is a program designed to help empower Cherokee Nation youth to cope with and overcome their substance and/or alcohol-related issues as well as other delinquent issues. The youth will learn to cope with these issues through accountability, counseling services, and supervision. The JHWC will require the participant to cease all substance use and alcohol use, actively participate, and be committed to being honest throughout the process. Cherokee Nation Department of Juvenile Justice understands this process will not be easy, but we will be here to walk alongside the youth and their family as they work through the identified issues.
The JHWC program consists of a four-phase treatment with each phase consisting of six to eight weeks of activities per level. The pace of each level is contingent on the level of commitment by the participant and family. Phases will be considered completed once the set of requirements are successfully completed and the request to move to the next phase is approved by the Department of Juvenile Justice court team. However, in some instances, participants can complete the phases early depending on the participant’s cooperation with the program. Case outcomes that will be considered with the participant’s individual treatment plan upon completing all four phases include: the participant’s discharge from the program, the Cherokee Nation District Court’s declination in filing a petition, and the availability of aftercare services to the youth and their family.
Contact info:Coordinator: Leah Hitcher918-453-5645CNAG-JUV@cherokee.orgIn subject line state "Healing to Wellness"
