05 Sep Tools for Student Success
Johnson O’Malley program funds nearly 1,000 student applications for 2023 – 2024 school year
A new school year has already started, and for many families, that means the budget is getting a lot tighter. Fees for school activities and clubs, bus passes for transportation to after-school activities, classroom supplies, money for field trips, tutoring fees—it all adds up.
Fortunately, CITC’s Johnson O’Malley Native Student Activities Grant Program (JOM) can help.
Enhancing Education
So far this year, JOM has distributed funding to 959 students in need. The money provided covers a variety of school-related items, including textbooks, computers and iPads, sports gear, school uniforms, and musical instruments.
JOM provides funding assistance to meet specialized educational needs and to enrich the educational experiences of Alaska Native and American Indian students enrolled full-time with the Anchorage School District.
“This scholarship is available to help those families who need additional support. They may need school supplies and gear during each school year,” explained Pachee Kashatok, a manager with CITC’s Youth Empowerment Services, who oversees the JOM program.
“I’m glad CITC provides this funding—it really helps. We have many parents who come in and thank JOM for providing school supplies to their kids, especially the technology items.”
Success Story
As a high-schooler, Dustin Moses received a computer from the JOM Parent Committee during the Annual JOM Graduation Celebration.
“JOM helped me a lot. I needed gym clothes, school supplies, and a laptop. JOM and the Fab Lab pushed me toward my high school career and getting ready for college,” said Dustin, who also interned at CITC’s Fab Lab while attending high school.
This year, Dustin graduated from East High School. He was also chosen as the student speaker for the annual graduation celebration, an event organized by the JOM Parent Committee to recognize all ASD graduates who receive JOM support. (JOM also supplies caps and gowns for graduating seniors.)
After graduating, Dustin worked for the Alaska Native Heritage Center over the summer; this fall, he is attending college.
Bridging the Gap
JOM funds can cover a wide selection of school-related items, providing up to $300 per student; the program also provides additional funding for tutoring.
However, JOM does not fund after-school camps like Campfire or Boys and Girls Club. Other items that cannot be purchased with JOM funding include regular school clothes or outdoor clothing. Technology requests for items like laptops or iPads are approved per student once every three years.
“I’ve had parents tell me they’ve referred other parents to this program because they were so excited to get school supplies they otherwise couldn’t purchase,” Pachee shared.
To be eligible for JOM funding, students must be enrolled or enrolling in ASD kindergarten – 12th grade (charter schools included) and able to show a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB) or Tribal Card. For students who lack their own CIB, parents may provide their CIB in combination with the student’s birth certificate. Email jomprograms@citci.org with questions.
