SWO Reentry Program

If the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation receives funding to implement a Community-Based Reentry Program, the Tribe will partner with the South Dakota Department of Corrections. The SWO Reentry Program will use culturally appropriate, evidenced based strategies to reduce recidivism and create a healthier community by facilitating the successful reintegration of individuals returning from incarceration. To that end, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (SWO) seeks to reduce recidivism among Native American offenders through a combination of pre- and post-release case management, assessment, and by providing a wraparound suite of targeted services that address criminogenic needs. The target population for the SWO Reentry Program is individuals over the age of 18 who are incarcerated in South Dakota Department of Corrections facilities and post-release, plan on living or working on the Lake Traverse Reservation. The SWO Reentry Program has a goal of reaching a minimum of 30 reentrants each year for three years by collaborating with the South Dakota Department of Corrections and utilizing validated assessments to identify potential participants while they are still incarcerated. A Case Manager will assess offenders and collaboratively develop comprehensive case management plans that directly address criminogenic risks and needs, as identified by validated criminogenic risk assessments and include facilitation of services in a manner consistent with participants learning styles and abilities. The SWO Reentry Program will work hand in hand with the many services available to reentrants, including Health Services, Drug and Alcohol Treatment, etc. to use evidenced-based approaches to minimize risk factors that impact an offender's likelihood to recidivate. In addition, program participants will have access to other SWO Programs that provide job assistance, job training, financial literacy training, educational services and life skills training, among others. Participants will also have access to programs offered by Indian Health Services or the SWO Behavioral Health Program, such an individual and family counseling, depression/anxiety screening and intervention, tele-psychiatry services by referral, suicide prevention awareness, community education and more. Although the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate has not had an existing reentry program, all of the services to assist reentrants are present. The coordination of the services and assistance to program participants to access services and provide support is what is needed.