Healing to Wellness Court

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.