CWOY Support Navigator Program
Connecting With Our Youth (CWOY) is a values-based initiative to reduce the rate of suicide for Native American youth 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. Lakota values are used by CWOY to develop culturally-adapted and evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies designed 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.
CWOY-SN-Program-Brochure-2-24-20Connecting With Our Youth- Native Community Response Team
We’re in the early phase of developing a team of members, that will be 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.