The red cliff band of lake superior chippewa indians is a federally recognized indian tribe under a constitution adopted april 18, 1936, and approved june 1, 1936, pursuant to the indian…

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $900,000 Project Grant to the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin under the Tribal Justice Assistance Program (CFDA 16.596). The 5-year grant will fund the implementation of a Healing to Wellness Court program to address the tribe's critical substance abuse and addiction issues. The project aims to improve coordination of existing services, referrals, and the community's overall response to the devastating impacts of the prescription opioid, methamphetamine, and drug trafficking crises. The Healing to Wellness Court aligns with the tribe's wraparound care model and community-identified best practices for addressing this public health emergency. The grant will enable the Red Cliff Band to establish and operate the Healing to Wellness Court program over the 5-year performance period from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2028.

The red cliff band of lake superior chippewa indians is a federally recognized indian tribe under a constitution adopted april 18, 1936, and approved june 1, 1936, pursuant to the indian reorganization act. As a sovereign nation, the red cliff community and governing tribal council have identified public safety, community services, and support services as top priorities. Over the past decade, the number of child welfare cases and out-of-home placements has been steadily increasing, along with a precipitous rise in drug and alcohol abuse and criminal activity related to drug trafficking, manufacture, and distribution. This crisis sparked the 2018 decision by red cliff tribal council to formally declare a state of emergency related to the prescription pill, methamphetamine, and opiate abuse crisis. The community has identified the need to improve coordination of existing services, a referrals system, and a cohesive response. The red cliff systems of care emphasizes the wraparound care model to ensure all parties are working together supporting clients needs. The healing to wellness court program aligns with red cliff initiatives and community-identified best practices. In 2019, red cliff received ctas purpose area 3 funding for planning a tribal healing to wellness court. This project will provide the necessary resources to implement the healing to wellness court program for 5 years and address the devastating community impacts of substance abuse and addiction while collecting wide-ranging data and continued evaluation throughout the project period.