To reduce use and abuse of alcohol and drugs and criminal activity related to the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs, the ponca tribe of indians of oklahoma will use funds to implement a healing to…

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma one million dollars on October 1, 2025, under the Tribal Justice Assistance program (CFDA 16.596) to implement a Healing to Wellness Court (HWC) in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

The HWC will serve offenders with substance use and mental health issues through a holistic, comprehensive program model tailored to each participant's treatment needs and co-occurring conditions. The program aims to reduce recidivism, decrease case dismissals and re-arrests, and improve outcomes for participants through community engagement in the healing-to-wellness process.

The award runs through September 30, 2030. The Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, a federally recognized Indian tribe headquartered in Ponca City, is the sole recipient. The tribe operates as a tribal government entity and receives grant funding across social services, health care, workforce development, and infrastructure. No subrecipients are identified on this award.

To reduce use and abuse of alcohol and drugs and criminal activity related to the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs, the ponca tribe of indians of oklahoma will use funds to implement a healing to wellness court (HWC). Project goals are to: 1) develop and implement a holistic, comprehensive program model that is specific to the treatment needs of each program participant regardless of the number of types of underlying or CO-occurring issues; 2) improve the outcomes for offenders diagnosed with substance use and/or mental health issues; 3) reduce recidivism of criminal behavior among HWC participants; and 4) engage the community at-large in the healing-to-wellness process through education and awareness of the benefits of the HWC approach. Program success will be measured by reduction in cases dropped and the decrease in the number of incarcerations and RE-arrests.