SAN FERNANDO — The Fernandeño-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, which represents tribal families in the Santa Clarita, San Fernando and Simi Valleys, has received a $1 million grant to fund and operate a three-year youth diversion program for area teens suspected of committing low-level offenses.

The San Fernando City Council approved a partnership with the tribe in March 2019 to apply for a Youth Reinvestment Grant from California’s Board of State Community Corrections, in partnership with the Education and Cultural Learning Department and Pukúu Cultural Community Services, the Tribe’s non-profit organization.

In June, San Fernando officials received notification from BSCC that the grant application was approved.

The funding will be used to implement the tribe’s YRG Program, called “TUTCINT: Tarahat Uplifting Trauma-Informed Community-led Interventions for Native Teens,” a diversion program offering an alternative to arrest or incarceration for San Fernando and nearby youth between the ages of 13-17.

Through this partnership, the city of San Fernando will host the program at the Las Palmas Park facility and the tribe will provide case management and programming with three goals: increase cultural competency; reduce incarceration and recidivism; and improve academic success.

TUTCINT provides a continuum of direct and indirect services to each individual youth, family, and community. These services include academic education, mental health, behavioral health, and mentoring. TUTCINT will recruit through school, city, and county referrals.

The YRG funds extend from July 1, 2019, through Feb. 8, 2023.

San Fernando and Fernandeño Band officials will host a press conference about the partnership at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at Las Palmas Park, 505 S Huntington St., San Fernando 91340.

The city of San Fernando and the tribe’s partnership marks a historical relationship between the city and the tribe on behalf of the mutual interests of the community.

Historical Tataviam territory encompasses the Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley and Antelope Valley. The Tataviam, a Serrano word meaning “people facing the sun,” emphasize the importance of land acknowledgment in our communities.

The Fernandeño-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians represents tribal families in the Santa Clarita, San Fernando and Simi Valleys.

For more information about the YRG Program, visit tataviam-nsn.us.