Northern Winds Recovery Center
The mission of the Northern Winds Recovery Center is “striving to build resilient children, nurturing family needs, and restoring cultural strengths by creating opportunities for care.” They do this by responding to behavioral health issues through prevention, intervention, treatment, rehabilitation and asset building services and by sharing hope and caring to achieve recovery from mental illness, alcoholism, and drug addiction. The expectations for recovery include the acquisition of meaningful roles, sobriety, healthy relationships with friends and family, and a joyful life.
This project aims to improve health and wellness by providing culturally appropriate mental health and substance abuse recovery services. Examples include a Native American social skills assessment for adolescent patients, and a “Wellbriety” class—an Alcoholics Anonymous treatment model adapted for Native Americans that emphasizes wellness.
The Northern Winds Recovery Center serves the Blackfeet Reservation community and surrounding areas with roughly 1,500 clients annually. The program has seen increased access to mental health and chemical dependency treatment and has addressed frequent barriers to receiving clinical care. The program has provided rides to appointments, transportation to treatment facilities, and coordinating care with other programs. 
Major partners and funders of this program include Montana Idaho CDC, Child Protective Services, Child & Family Services, Family court, Indian Health Services, Browning Public Schools, the Blackfeet Tribe, and the Southern Piegan Health Center. This business was financed by Montana Idaho Community Development Corporation, a community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides access to capital for businesses who fall outside of traditional bank requirements.
The program attributes its success to their financial supporters and to the support from the University of Montana in data collection.
To learn more about Northern Winds Recovery Center, visit their website at https://nwrecoverycenter.wixsite.com/nwrc.
Evidence-Based Resources
Abuse of alcohol and other substances increases people’s risk for many diseases including cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Mental health issues affect a person’s ability to function properly. Recovery centers often provide care in both of these situations. They provide care from professionals to help struggling individuals stop abusing substances and begin to build a healthy lifestyle. Providing patients with hope and support are the key components to leading a healthy life.