The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians have been awarded a five-year federal grant of more than $14.6 million that will benefit the Corning elementary and high school districts.

The grant was one of six issued by the Department of Education as part of the 2016 Promise Neighborhood competition.

The Everett Freeman Promise Neighborhood Initiative grant will go toward six programs, said Matthew Russell, grant project director.

Those programs include:

• The Healthy Families America program for ages 0-5, providing health education with the Tehama County Health Services Agency.

• A research-based instruction program for kindergarten through eighth grade, which will focus on improving reading, writing and math skills.

• The Navigate program for high school students, which aims to create a culture of college preparedness focused on academics and post-secondary programs.

• A college and career readiness program for high school seniors, providing extra opportunities while in high school, including increasing the number of college counselors.

• Life skills training for sixth to 12th grades focused on education about substance abuse and violence prevention.

• A cognitive behavioral therapy program for children and parents, which will help fund additional counselors and certified therapists for students who have suffered from trauma and need additional help.

The Paskenta Band are the only tribal group to be awarded the grant, Russell said.

To read more of Heather Hoelscher's article, please click here.