To establish and operate a holistic, locally based, proactive program to locate or prevent the wandering of individuals with forms of dementia or developmental disabilities.

The Sokaogon Chippewa Community Police Department (SCCPD) will utilize this funding to establish and operate a holistic, locally based, proactive program to locate or prevent the wandering of individuals with forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease or developmental disabilities such as autism, who due to their condition, wander from safe environments. The proposed Bringing the Lost Home (BLH) Project will assist emergency personnel in improving the search performance for locating missing residents, especially populations that have a high propensity to wander. The SCCPD plans to purchase the BLH program from Scent Evidence K9. The BLH Project utilizes non-restrictive interventions in preparing individuals and families, and in responding to individuals who have wandered from safe environments. The lead agency of the BLH Project is the SCCPD. The SCCPD will partner with Sokaogon Chippewa Health Clinic, SCC Accessing Choices in Education (ACE) Department, Sokaogon Chippewa Health Clinic Dementia Care, SCC Tribal Aging and Disability Resources, SCC Elderly Services, and SCC Family Services, to raise awareness of the wandering risks of these populations, and to ensure that Individual Preparedness Plans are in place. In addition, emergency management agencies and law enforcement officials in the surrounding counties will have access to missing persons response services through memorandums of understanding. The SCCPD is seeking priority consideration to serve rural communities, the elderly, families living below the poverty line, veterans, people with disabilities, and Native American families, among others through the BLH program.