Noojimo'iwewin (We Heal) Center

The Noojimo’iwewin (We Heal) (Drop-in) Center has operated since July 16, 2018 and has been previously funded primarily through a CTAS Purpose Area 3 grant.  Staff include a Project Coordinator, Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist, one full-time and one part-time Wisconsin Certified Peer Support Specialist.  Prior to COVID-19 shut-down the facility was open six days a week, including evening hours.  Drop-in services were offered through peer support, service coordination, recovery groups, socialization opportunities, monthly traditional feasts, cultural and recreational activities, life-skills instruction.  Since COVID, the facility has been open for peer support appointments only.  Life-skills and recreational instructional videos have been produced in lieu of in-person events and staff have kept contact with previous drop-in clients by phone, text message and email.

From July 16, 2018 to present, there have been 815 drop-in contacts with 157 different individuals.  Family activities have had 716 community contacts, monthly feasts 371, community trainings 264, and recovery group and talking circle contacts total 860.  A total of 53 different clients in need of peer support have been served. Outreach to Bayfield School in the form of talking circles and collaboration on events with the AODA Reduction Team (local prevention coalition) and Northwoods Coalition promoting sobriety have been done.

The community continues to need post-AODA inpatient treatment and judicial system re-entry recovery support services.  Peer support has been an effective recovery support in aftercare.  Outreach to jail inmates will increase the likelihood of maintaining sobriety and preventing recidivism.  Consistent jail outreach and peer support services within the jails will be addressed by pursuing creation and approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Red Cliff Tribal services and Ashland and Bayfield County Courts, to include provision of Red Cliff Community Health Center, Behavioral Health Dept. AODA and mental health service literature and referrals to Red Cliff Behavioral Health Dept., when appropriate, at the time of client incarceration in the jails. 

Improved outreach to the local hospital behavioral health unit, and other local clinics will be accomplished by scheduled educational events for hospital staff regarding Noojimo’iwewin Center and other Red Cliff services.  Increased program literature dissemination and a MOU stating that, with patient authorization, Red Cliff BH Department will be contacted when community members are admitted due to overdose, detoxification, or mental health and/or substance abuse services. 

Noojimo’iwewin Center will continue open hours a minimum of 5 days per week, as possible with COVID precautions, and will include peer support, drop-in services, life-skills instruction, cultural and recreational opportunities to address the need for recovery support and sober social and recreational activities.

Project staff will be trained in targeted case management and will strengthen outreach of available recovery services and meet with tribal divisions to understand more of the services that are offered in developing a recovery plan.  This project primarily serves adults, but does offer family activities, groups and AODA prevention events which include juveniles from birth to 18 years.