Cheyenne River Youth Project launches automated Family Services System

EAGLE BUTTE — The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe had 218 active cases of the novel coronavirus on its north-central South Dakota reservation. Tribal government, quickly identifying the virus’s exponential growth and severe threat to public health, activated “Level 5” of its Covid-19 response plan.

The nonprofit Cheyenne River Youth Project planned accordingly. It immediately closed its facilities to the public, while continuing to provide both Keya Cafe takeout orders and free sack meals to local children.

That’s not all. On Nov. 12, the staff will open a safe, socially distanced Youth Learning Center in the Cokata Wiconi gymnasium; this space is designed to provide access to much-needed remote-schooling resources during the tribe’s shelter-at-home order. The CRYP team also got creative with Family Services.

This past week, the youth project launched a fully automated version of the Family Services application on its website. To set up or renew a membership, the head of household now may fill out the form at lakotayouth.org/programs/family-services/membership. He or she also may fill out “Dear Santa” letters for all household children who will be participating in this year’s Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive.

“Initially, we’d set a deadline of Nov. 1 to receive applications and ‘Dear Santa’ letters,” explained Dawn E. LeBeau, CRYP’s deputy director. “Then the recent outbreak hit, and understandably, families were concerned about coming to our facilities to fill out and return paperwork. We quickly put together a team to build a new online system that would allow the entire process to be hands-off, and help keep our people safe during this difficult time.”

As a bonus, CRYP also extended its discounted membership price: From now until Dec. 31, a membership costs $25 instead of $30. The fee covers all household members for an entire year, and it provides access to regular distributions of household items, Covid-19 relief boxes with extra cleaning supplies upon request, the annual Winter Coats & Apparel Drive, the annual School Supplies Drive, and the long-running Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive.

“Although we have extended our discounted membership price to the end of the year, we’re still encouraging families to sign up or renew their memberships as soon as possible,” LeBeau said. “We’re facing new challenges on a daily basis, and we’re tackling our toy drive with a much smaller team due to the lack of volunteer groups. The earlier we receive families’ ‘Dear Santa’ letters, the quicker we can fulfill those unique and deeply personal holiday wishes.”

CRYP is still seeking supporters for Wo Otúh’an Wi, which means “Moon of Giving Away Presents” in Lakota. More information is available at lakotayouth.org/toy-drive.

“This is a very different year, but we have families and children relying on us,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “We have served them without fail for more than 30 years, and we are determined to be here for them, to keep our promises, and to do it as safely as possible.”

To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs — including Wo Otúh’an Wi and Family Services — and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook (/LakotaYouth), Twitter (@LakotaYouth) and Instagram (@lakotayouth and @waniyetuwowapi).

The post Cheyenne River Youth Project launches automated Family Services System first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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