TRIBAL ADVISORY DIVISION
Focus Areas of the Tribal Advisory Division:
Cultural Awareness – 9 tribes are unique and have many similarities, but are different in many areas from spirituality, employment opportunities, size, location of services, traditions, needs, and resources. Six training events on cultural responsiveness have been provided to our FAST Team, in addition to 4 SVI events, 4 FAST Round Tables and an MMIP Summit, all culturally focused.
Education – generational trauma, jurisdiction, ACES, Advocacy, Human Trafficking, drug trends, amber alerts, emotional intelligence, SANE response, forensic exams, SART, MDT, DV and SA intersections, HT and MMIP, data collection, MAVIS, prevention, homelessness, trauma informed, victim centered, truancy, legislation, funding opportunities.
MMIR – the history of the movement, sharing of information, identification of cases, and tracking of cases.
Human Trafficking – definition, tribal codes, state law, federal law, trends, collaborations, prevention, awareness, and emerging issues.
Sexual Assault – trauma informed, ACES, victim centered, relationships with SANE, Law Enforcement, other advocates and agencies, victim’s services, SART development and maintenance of existing teams. Additionally, the topic of sex offenders – Background characteristics and problems of violent offenders and curriculum to treat offenders and reduce to recidivism and prevention.
Multi-Disciplinary – we have included the following in the team throughout the grant – Dept of Health, CPCM, Tribal Domestic Violence Shelters, Tribal Coalitions, Tribal Schools, Truancy groups, housing, health care centers, SANE Nurses, transportation, advocates, out of state HT Task Force Members and Coalitions, Help Lines (211, 888, 988) DOJ, DCI, Department of Homeland Security, Sheriff Departments, SD HT groups, elders, educators, community based mental health centers, judges and lawyers.
Self- Care – FAST calls and events have created a space that is safe to share successes and difficulties, ask for help, learn, build community, and have included the practice yoga, meditation, and aroma therapy. We continue to address vicarious trauma, biases, and emotional intelligence.
Safety – situational awareness, structure safety, transportation safety, and safety of our facilities and advocates.
888#/Hotline – In coordination with the 211 helpline, a new hotline was created for victims. 888#/Hotline was created to provide advocacy, access to forensic exams, and transportation to e-SANE health care facilities. This has expanded to include human trafficking in partnership with the West River Human Trafficking Task Force.
We are privileged to have representation and consistent participation from South Dakota subject matter experts in the space of services to victims of violence and all nine tribes in South Dakota who work in various capacities. Our FAST team includes sexual assault advocates, domestic violence advocates, tribal administration, child advocacy, education, health care, victim’s services, law enforcement, first responders, prosecutors, housing, and public safety.
Click here to read about the Lakota Youth Solstice Camp that The Network assisted with through the Rape Prevention Education (RPE) grant funded by the South Dakota Department of Health.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TBA
PAST EVENTS
The 2024 Sexual Violence Institute was held on July 10th and 11th, 2024, in Rapid City. Below are links to recorded presentations from the SVI.
Sherriann Moore: Office on Violence Against Women Keynote
Heather Knox: Say Her Name; The Survival Story of Esther Wolfe Keynote
Jennifer Marsh & Renée Stapp: Culturally Appropriate Victim Services and Funding Sources for Tribes
Elizabeth Cronin: National Mass Violence Center Keynote
Jonathan H Kurkland:Fostering Strong Working Relationships When Working with Alcohol/Drug Assaults
Kim Nash: Sexual Assault Exams and Working Effectively with Victims of Violence Keynote
The First Tribal Summit was held on September 27th, 2023 in Chamberlain. Information shared included state of SD Tribal Relations, cold cases in South Dakota, other resources, and a round table discussion. A Second Tribal Summit is being planned so check back for more details coming soon.