The goal of Connecting With our Youth (CWOY) is to cultivate a community-initiated prevention and intervention strategy in Pennington County, South Dakota, that draws on the strengths of Lakota cultural values of generosity, courage, respect, and wisdom. CWOY’s culturally adapted program components include the support navigator program, partner & community training, postvention, and mobile app initiatives. CWOY serves Natives of any age.
CWOY is a values-based initiative to reduce the rate of suicide for Native Americans in the He Sapa catchment area. CWOY is informed by Lakota culture values of caring and compassion for all (Waúŋšila), and youth are sacred (Wakȟáŋyeža) to strengthen connections between American Indian youth and their culture. CWOY uses Lakota values to develop culturally-adapted and evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies to increase social connectedness, reduce death by suicide and suicide attempt rates, and expand knowledge of how to support American Indian youth. CWOY currently deploys support navigators called CWOY support navigators who are entrusted to work with key stakeholders to provide early intervention and long-term support. Support Navigators serve as advocates, mentors, resource connectors, and good relatives to our youth and families.
Our program's foundation is in the 7 sacred universal laws of the Lakota.
Waunsila (Compassion)
Wawahwala (Humility)
Woksape (Wisdom)
Wacantognaka (Generosity)
Wowacin Tanka (Fortitude)
Wo'ohitika (Bravery)
Wa'ohola (Respect and Honor)
American Indians of any age living in the He Sapa area (Pennington County) who have at least one of the following are invited to participate:
We’re in the early phase of developing a team of members called the Native Community Response Team (NCRT), volunteers who respond and support families who are grieving after a death by suicide in the He Sapa Community. Members provide immediate on-scene crisis intervention and linkage to appropriate referrals. We currently have a volunteer application on our website for those interested in serving as a volunteer in our community.
To volunteer for the Native Community Response Team, please fill out an application here.
Every day, 100 people die in the United States from opioid abuse. To fight this surging epidemic, the Great Plains Tribal Opioid Response Team is working to provide tribal citizens with the tools they need to prevent and overcome opioid addiction. Starting on February 14, 2022, the Great Plains Tribal Opioid Response Team will unveil a series of online Yoga Classes free to the public that will supplement other prevention programs working to educate the community about the dangers of opioids. To prevent opioid use disorder and support those in recovery in our community, Great Plains Tribal Opioid Response offers three tracks of Yoga. All these classes are free, between 30 – 45 minutes, and online! Everyone is welcome!
Chair Yoga – Mondays at 12 MST
Download the Outlook Calendar Invite: https://gptchb.zoom.us/webinar/tZMpfu-urTIvGdzEgScOrUWaiUThENVnpTCh/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvqjIsHNectRqPRpwEBor4M-7ztlhYjadHuRjWAA9BVzT3P9d2OpdRJtbA
Link to join directly: https://gptchb.zoom.us/j/87496639538
Yoga for Health Movement – Tuesdays at 12 PM MST
Download the Outlook Calendar Invite: https://gptchb.zoom.us/webinar/tZ0udO-oqjgsHdBDBiJcMHdYJQx60gkuiGx8/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGhrTgsGtCWth6DRpx5A4jCM_TwiHZdgqd_uD3sKSN-SgfPHNNaZOJ4G83Z
Link to join directly: https://gptchb.zoom.us/j/89336043674
Beginners Yoga – Thursdays at 4 pm MST
Download the Outlook Calendar Invite: https://gptchb.zoom.us/webinar/tZwrcuyqrTkqH9BmVIAYJaBnSBK5uKJPQpjW/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGgqD4vGNeXsByDRpw-BI_4Z-rztnpfgvp_kSnMIhl5YyH4BcBpZ6dUOujh
Link to join directly: https://gptchb.zoom.us/j/88655232054
*Funding for this project was made possible by award numbers 1H79SM082122-01, 6H79TI083201-01, 5H79SM083039-02, 3H79FG000297-01S1 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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