---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 1667e"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "1667e"
heading: "Indian youth life skills development demonstration program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/1667e"
units:
  - "Chapter 18 — Indian Health Care"
  - "Subchapter V–A — Behavioral Health Programs"
  - "Part B — Indian Youth Suicide Prevention"
---

# §1667e. Indian youth life skills development demonstration program

- (a) **Purpose—** The purpose of this section is to authorize the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17), acting through the [Administration](/usc/25/1667a.md?p=1), to carry out a demonstration program to test the effectiveness of a culturally compatible, school-based, life skills curriculum for the prevention of [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) and Alaska Native adolescent suicide, including through—
  - (1) the establishment of tribal partnerships to develop and implement such a curriculum, in cooperation with—
    - (A) [behavioral health](/usc/25/1603.md?p=2-A) professionals, with a priority for tribal partnerships cooperating with mental health professionals employed by the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18);
    - (B) tribal or local school agencies; and
    - (C) parent and community groups;
  - (2) the provision by the [Administration](/usc/25/1667a.md?p=1) or the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) of—
    - (A) technical expertise; and
    - (B) clinicians, analysts, and educators, as appropriate;
  - (3) training for teachers, school administrators, and community members to implement the curriculum;
  - (4) the establishment of advisory councils composed of parents, educators, community members, trained peers, and others to provide advice regarding the curriculum and other components of the demonstration program;
  - (5) the development of culturally appropriate support measures to supplement the effectiveness of the curriculum; and
  - (6) projects modeled after evidence-based projects, such as programs evaluated and published in relevant literature.
- (b) **Demonstration grant program—**
  - (1) **Definitions—** In this subsection:
    - (A) **Curriculum—** The term “curriculum” means the culturally compatible, school-based, life skills curriculum for the prevention of [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) and Alaska Native adolescent suicide identified by the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) under [paragraph (2)(A)](#b-2-A).
    - (B) **Eligible entity—** The term “eligible entity” means—
      - (i) an [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14);
      - (ii) a [tribal organization](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26);
      - (iii) any other tribally authorized entity; and
      - (iv) any partnership composed of 2 or more entities described in clause [(i)](#b-1-B-i), [(ii)](#b-1-B-ii), or [(iii)](#b-1-B-iii).
  - (2) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17), acting through the [Administration](/usc/25/1667a.md?p=1), may establish and carry out a demonstration program under which the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall—
    - (A) identify a culturally compatible, school-based, life skills curriculum for the prevention of [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) and Alaska Native adolescent suicide;
    - (B) identify the [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) that are at greatest risk for adolescent suicide;
    - (C) invite those [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) to participate in the demonstration program by—
      - (i) responding to a comprehensive program requirement request of the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17); or
      - (ii) submitting, through an eligible entity, an application in accordance with [paragraph (4)](#b-4); and
    - (D) provide grants to the [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) identified under [subparagraph (B)](#b-2-B) and eligible entities to implement the curriculum with respect to [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) and Alaska Native youths who—
      - (i) are between the ages of 10 and 19; and
      - (ii) attend school in a region that is at risk of high youth suicide rates, as determined by the [Administration](/usc/25/1667a.md?p=1).
  - (3) **Requirements—**
    - (A) **Term—** The term of a grant provided under the demonstration program under this section shall be not less than 4 years.
    - (B) **Maximum number—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) may provide not more than 5 grants under the demonstration program under this section.
    - (C) **Amount—** The grants provided under this section shall be of equal amounts.
    - (D) **Certain schools—** In selecting eligible entities to receive grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall ensure that not less than 1 demonstration program shall be carried out at each of—
      - (i) a school operated by the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) Education;
      - (ii) a Tribal[^1] school; and
      - (iii) a school receiving payments under section 7702 or 7703 of title 20.
  - (4) **Applications—** To be eligible to receive a grant under the demonstration program, an eligible entity shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) may require, including—
    - (A) an assurance that, in implementing the curriculum, the eligible entity will collaborate with 1 or more local educational agencies, including elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools;
    - (B) an assurance that the eligible entity will collaborate, for the purpose of curriculum development, implementation, and training and technical assistance, with 1 or more—
      - (i) nonprofit entities with demonstrated expertise regarding the development of culturally sensitive, school-based, youth suicide prevention and intervention programs; or
      - (ii) institutions of higher education with demonstrated interest and knowledge regarding culturally sensitive, school-based, life skills youth suicide prevention and intervention programs;
    - (C) an assurance that the curriculum will be carried out in an academic setting in conjunction with at least 1 classroom teacher not less frequently than twice each school week for the duration of the academic year;
    - (D) a description of the methods by which curriculum participants will be—
      - (i) screened for mental health at-risk indicators; and
      - (ii) if needed and on a case-by-case basis, referred to a mental health clinician for further [assessment](/usc/25/1665.md?p=2) and treatment and with crisis response capability; and
    - (E) an assurance that supportive [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) will be provided to curriculum participants identified as high-risk participants, including referral, counseling, and follow-up [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) for—
      - (i) drug or alcohol abuse;
      - (ii) sexual or domestic abuse; and
      - (iii) depression and other relevant mental health concerns.
  - (5) **Use of funds—** An [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) identified under [paragraph (2)(B)](#b-2-B) or an eligible entity may use a grant provided under this subsection—
    - (A) to develop and implement the curriculum in a school-based setting;
    - (B) to establish an advisory council—
      - (i) to advise the [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or eligible entity regarding curriculum development; and
      - (ii) to provide support [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) identified as necessary by the community being served by the [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or eligible entity;
    - (C) to appoint and train a school- and community-based cultural resource liaison, who will act as an intermediary among the [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or eligible entity, the applicable school administrators, and the advisory council established by the [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or eligible entity;
    - (D) to establish an on-site, school-based, MA- or PhD-level mental health practitioner (employed by the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18), if practicable) to work with tribal educators and other personnel;
    - (E) to provide for the training of peer counselors to assist in carrying out the curriculum;
    - (F) to procure technical and training support from nonprofit or State entities or institutions of higher education identified by the community being served by the [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or eligible entity as the best suited to develop and implement the curriculum;
    - (G) to train teachers and school administrators to effectively carry out the curriculum;
    - (H) to establish an effective referral procedure and network;
    - (I) to identify and develop culturally compatible curriculum support measures;
    - (J) to obtain educational materials and other resources from the [Administration](/usc/25/1667a.md?p=1) or other appropriate entities to ensure the success of the demonstration program; and
    - (K) to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum in preventing [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) and Alaska Native adolescent suicide.
- (c) **Evaluations—** Using such amounts made available pursuant to [subsection (e)](#e) as the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) determines to be appropriate, the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall conduct, directly or through a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement with an entity that has experience regarding the development and operation of successful culturally compatible, school-based, life skills suicide prevention and intervention programs or evaluations, an annual evaluation of the demonstration program under this section, including an evaluation of—
  - (1) the effectiveness of the curriculum in preventing [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) and Alaska Native adolescent suicide;
  - (2) areas for program improvement; and
  - (3) additional development of the goals and objectives of the demonstration program.
- (d) **Report to Congress—**
  - (1) **In general—** Subject to [paragraph (2)](#d-2), not later than 180 days after the date of termination of the demonstration program, the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall submit to the Committee on [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a final report that—
    - (A) describes the results of the program of each [Indian tribe](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or eligible entity under this section;
    - (B) evaluates the effectiveness of the curriculum in preventing [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) and Alaska Native adolescent suicide;
    - (C) makes recommendations regarding—
      - (i) the expansion of the demonstration program under this section to additional eligible entities;
      - (ii) designating the demonstration program as a permanent program; and
      - (iii) identifying and distributing the curriculum through the Suicide Prevention Resource Center of the [Administration](/usc/25/1667a.md?p=1); and
    - (D) incorporates any public comments received under [paragraph (2)](#d-2).
  - (2) **Public comment—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall provide a notice of the report under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) and an opportunity for public comment on the report for a period of not less than 90 days before submitting the report to Congress.
- (e) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–437, title VII, § 726, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10221(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 935; amended Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(qq), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2181.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section 726 of Pub. L. 94–437 is based on section 181 of title I of S. 1790, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, as reported by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate in Dec. 2009, which was enacted into law by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (b)(3)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 114–95 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7702 or 7703 of title 20.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.