Sicangu oyate circles of care initiative - the rosebud sioux tribe health administration (rstha) proposes the sicangu oyate circles of care initiative, a three-year community-driven planning project…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services) awarded the Rosebud Sioux Tribe $1.05 million on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to develop a comprehensive, culturally grounded system of care for American Indian children, youth, young adults (birth through age 25), and their families across the Rosebud Reservation.

The Sicangu Oyate Circles of Care Initiative is a three-year community-driven planning project focused on systems development and coordination rather than direct clinical services. The project will identify service gaps, strengthen collaboration among behavioral health, primary care, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, public health, family services, and community organizations, and establish sustainable governance structures. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Health Administration will establish a multidisciplinary Tribal Community Board representing tribal leadership, youth and young adults, parents and caregivers, elders, behavioral health providers, schools, Indian Health Service, tribal programs, justice partners, housing, public health, and community organizations. The Board will guide completion of a comprehensive Tribal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis and oversee community-based planning activities.

The project builds upon the Tribe's existing behavioral health infrastructure, including the Wiconi Wakan Health and Healing Center, alcohol and drug treatment program, social detoxification program, youth shelter, and suicide prevention initiatives.

Period of performance: September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2029. Place of performance: Rosebud, South Dakota.

Sicangu oyate circles of care initiative - the rosebud sioux tribe health administration (rstha) proposes the sicangu oyate circles of care initiative, a three-year community-driven planning project to develop a culturally grounded, comprehensive system of care (SOC) for american indian children, youth, young adults (birth through age 25), and their families across the rosebud reservation. Guided by lakota values and the tribe's vision of providing accessible, relative-centered, spiritually adaptive healthcare, the project will strengthen coordination among behavioral health, primary care, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, public health, family services, and community organizations to improve access to mental health promotion, prevention, early identification, and coordinated systems of support. The rosebud sioux tribe has made substantial investments in behavioral health infrastructure through its 638 health system, wiconi wakan health and healing center, alcohol and drug treatment program, social detoxification program, youth shelter, suicide prevention initiatives, public health expansion, and numerous federally funded behavioral health and public health programs. Building upon these existing resources, this project will focus on planning and systems development rather than direct clinical services. The initiative will identify service gaps, strengthen collaboration among agencies, and establish sustainable governance structures that support coordinated care for children, youth, young adults, and families. Rstha will establish a multidisciplinary tribal community board representing tribal leadership, youth and young adults, parents and caregivers, elders, behavioral health providers, schools, indian health service, tribal programs, justice partners, housing, public health, and community organizations. The board will guide completion of a comprehensive tribal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (swot) analysis, oversee a community-based gathering of native americans (gona), and develop a strategic blueprint for implementing a sustainable tribal system of care. Community engagement will integrate lakota culture, language, traditional teachings, and family-centered decision making throughout the planning process. Youth, families with lived experience, elders, and cultural leaders will play meaningful leadership roles in identifying priorities, designing referral pathways, improving outreach and engagement, and ensuring that the future system of care reflects community strengths and cultural values. The project will strengthen cross-system partnerships with organizations including massachusetts general hospital's rural medicine program, avera health, indian health service, local school districts, tribal courts, tribal social services, public health, behavioral health providers, and other child-serving agencies. These partnerships will support data-informed planning, workforce development, systems integration, and long-term sustainability while enhancing access to evidence-based and culturally responsive behavioral health supports. By the conclusion of the project period, the rosebud sioux tribe will produce a comprehensive system of care blueprint that establishes governance, defines coordinated screening, referral, and care pathways, identifies sustainable financing strategies, formalizes cross-system partnerships, and positions the tribe for future implementation funding. This planning effort will create the foundation for a coordinated, family-driven, youth-guided, culturally grounded behavioral health system that improves outcomes for sicangu children, youth, young adults, and their families while strengthening the tribe's capacity to address behavioral health needs for generations to come.