MCN RiP Wellness Center

The Department of Justice developed a comprehensive and coordinated approach for tribal governments to apply for funding to reduce and prevent crime and victimization. Through this process, the Department's existing tribal government-specific programs are included in, and available through a single Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS). Through this solicitation, only one application was accepted from each federally recognized tribe to encourage comprehensive assessments of need and planning. Each tribe could apply for funding under eight purpose areas, which included funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing, Office of Justice Programs (including the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), and Office on Violence Against Women. The tribe had the flexibility to select the purpose areas whose funding addressed the needs of the tribe as outlined in its tribal and community profile. There were eight purpose areas in total. Purpose area 4 was dedicated to the Tribal Justice System Infrastructure Program (TJSIP).

Funding through the Tribal Justice System Infrastructure Program will support efforts to renovate or expand buildings to enhance conditions or to change the use of a building to any of the following purposes: police departments, courts, detention centers, multipurpose justice centers (including police departments, courts, and/or corrections), transitional living facilities (halfway houses), correctional alternative or treatment facilities, and domestic violence shelters/safe homes/transitional living facilities/advocacy programs. Funding will also support the building of prefabricated or permanent modular facilities where there are no existing permanent structures available or sufficient to address the tribe’s justice system infrastructure needs.

Muscogee Creek Nation proposes to use these funds for their Reintegration Program’s (RiP) Wellness Facility. The project will provide a building with services which will promote a holistic approach for mind, body and spirit. Facility services promoting healthy living and lifestyles can serve as a gathering place for reentry clients and provide a sense of belonging, thereby strengthening the entire viability of RiP.

Construction of the RiP Wellness Facility will meet an essential reentry community development need because it will provide additional facility space on the tribal trust land for much needed health and wellness services for reentry clients. The goal of this Wellness Facility is to provide an approach to health care that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life, as opposed to emphasizing treating diseases amongst reentry clients.

Once constructed, this facility will bring one of the RiP visions into reality, because it will support reentry clients, and provide services to aid in preventing recidivism. This facility will provide access to activities to promote exercise, nutrition and overall health. This project has been a Program driven process, and will be Native designed and delivered.

CA/NCF