This community-based participatory research (CBPR) case study aims to understand the school climate for American Indian youth.
With funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Child Trends, in partnership with the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY), collaborated with a tribe in a Southwestern U.S. state to conduct a five-year community-based participatory research (CBPR) program exploring American Indian students’ perceptions of school climate and identifying opportunities for school and community leaders to create safer and more supportive learning environments for American Indian students and their families. Researchers conducted a systematic review of participating schools’ websites, a youth photovoice project, interviews with school staff and students, and a student school climate survey. This report gives an overview of the goals and purpose of the project; explains how youth, community members, and local and school leaders were engaged throughout the project; discusses challenges that were encountered and how the study team navigated those challenges in partnership with the community; describes the data collection activities and findings; and shares cross-cutting implications and lessons learned. Child Trends was able to build and maintain partnerships with youth, school staff, and other community leaders to better understand American Indian students’ experiences with school climate and identify opportunities for supporting American Indian students in both tribally operated and non-tribally-operated secondary schools.