GLITC Chief Executive Addresses Township Opposition to Native Youth Treatment Center

GLITC Press Release

Architectural drawing of the proposed adolescent recovery and wellness center

Editor's Note: More detailed information on the adolescent recovery and wellness center follows this article.

The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council has purchased land in the Town of Cassian within Oneida County to build an Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center. Above is an image to get an idea of what the youth facility will look like on more than 150 acres of land. If you’re concerned about the opioids, fentanyl, heroin, and meth flowing into Oneida County and the greater Northwood please read the letter below and support construction of this adolescent treatment facility. Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council CEO Bryan Bainbridge addresses each point within Cassian Town Resolution 2023-01 opposing the proposed Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center. The project plans follow Oneida County zoning ordinances, and we look forward to continuing to work with elected officials and the community to ensure we’re doing our part to build desperately needed treatment capacity in the Northwoods for youth fighting addiction, he says. "Doing nothing to fight addiction will only continue to diminish the quality of life for all residents of Oneida County—including the Town of Cassian—and the Northwoods," Bryan writes in the letter below. "The associated costs of not approving this youth treatment facility are too great." The proposed youth recovery and wellness center is a 36-bed residential facility centrally located in Wisconsin to best serve all Member Tribes and urban Indians. It will provide culturally relevant services and responsive residential substance abuse treatment for Native American youth, ages 13-17, who are suffering from Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and any co-occurring mental health conditions. Priority will be given to Native American youth, but the facility would be open to non-Native adolescents as well.

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The Following Letter From GLITC To Cassian Town Board Encourages Support For Youth Recovery Center

Dear Supervisors,

As the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal CEO, I am respectfully writing to address each point within Town Resolution 2023-01 (attached) related to the proposed Adolescent Recovery and Wellness Center within the Town of Cassian.

Regarding alleged lack of consultation with the Town Board and Townspeople: Over the course of many months dating back to at least June 15, 2023, which is documented in emails, visitor sign-in sheets, and my participation in a Town Hall meeting, where I shared project plans and answered questions about this life-saving treatment facility for youth, I believe we can demonstrate ongoing dialogue and engagement with town leaders and residents.

I asked to be placed on the July 10 Town Board Meeting to discuss the project with the Town Board. Town Chairwoman Patty Francoeur visited my office July 13 to discuss the plan. The Town Board scheduled a Town Hall meeting for July 24. I participated in the Town Hall meeting where I shared plans and answered questions with Townspeople. I invited Town Board Members to the ground blessing event July 31. No Town Board Members attended.

Chairwoman Francoeur also questioned why town leadership was not notified of our intent to purchase the original parcel of land for the recovery center. While we do not believe permission to purchase land is required, we notified her when we had an accepted offer for the second parcel of land adjacent to the first.

Regarding the Town’s infrastructure being able to support construction demands and maintain day-to-day demands of this youth treatment facility as Cassian Township is receiving less funding and struggling to meet basic infrastructure and public safety needs:

We have not—and will not—approach the town for financial support for construction, infrastructure, operations, or maintenance. Zero financial support is being asked—or will be asked—of the Town of Cassian.

One of the many benefits of partnering with tribal entities, however, is our ability to access additional funding sources. We would welcome the opportunity to explore how we could work together to seek out additional funds to help address challenges within the Town.

These tribal funding opportunities would be in addition to what we believe will be increased state revenue sharing with funds described within Act 12 that calls for consistent local funding of law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, which could offset the Towns existing concerns. Act 12 is estimated to increase by at least 20 percent shared state revenue with local governments, which we are hopeful will help address existing challenges within the Town prior to the facility opening.

Regardless of the level of increased state shared revenue, we would encourage town leadership to work with us to determine additional funding sources available to tribal entities and how those could help offset the town’s current challenges.

Regarding property value and economic impact to Cassian Townspeople: Beyond being a desperately needed piece of the puzzle to fight addiction that threatens the future of the Northwoods—including the Town of Cassian and Oneida County—we believe the following will be a net benefit:

• We estimate 50 new jobs ranging from medical professionals to maintenance staff.

• We anticipate those employees will spend money at local businesses.

• We’re exploring workforce housing plans to support recruiting/retaining employees.

• We will fund infrastructure improvements associated with the facility, such as road paving, utilities, and broadband connectivity to name a few. If needed, we would also explore investments in things like snow removal equipment and other needs.

Regarding the property values study cited at the bottom of Town Resolution 2023-01: It appears other academic researchers have challenged the validity of that study—including whether a treatment facility “causes” an impact to property values.

Regarding impact to the welfare, public health and safety of Cassian Townspeople: In terms of public safety and emergency response, this facility accepts those who voluntarily seek help in fighting addiction and overwhelmingly prefer privacy rather than drawing attention to themselves. Only those who want help will be coming to the recovery and wellness center. Youth seeking treatment are monitored 24-7 by healthcare and professional staff with video surveillance and locked doors to keep youth safe. We don’t anticipate youth seeking help at this center to require more EMS/law enforcement services.

While we recognize there’s a current need for town leaders to address existing, lengthy response times for EMS and/or law enforcement— even though these factors were present prior the facility opening—we will look for opportunities to partner with Town Supervisors to address these existing challenges already impacting the welfare, public health and safety of Townspeople.

Regarding the Town Board requesting we stop the planned construction of the adolescent recovery and wellness center: The project plans follow Oneida County zoning ordinances, and we look forward to continuing to work with elected officials and the community to ensure we’re doing our part to build desperately needed treatment capacity in the Northwoods for youth fighting addiction.

Doing nothing to fight addiction will only continue to diminish the quality of life for all residents of Oneida County—including the Town of Cassian—and the Northwoods. The associated costs of not approving this youth treatment facility are too great.

Regarding the Cassian Town Board requesting the Oneida County Planning and Zoning Committee and the Oneida County Board of Supervisors to deny zoning permits for this youth recovery and wellness center: We reiterate that the project plans follow Oneida County zoning ordinances.

This life-saving recovery center for youth will create jobs, infrastructure investment, and calls for plans to build workforce housing—by most accounts a net positive to the community—without asking the town or county for a dime to support construction, infrastructure, operations and maintenance.

It’s shocking to most people when they find out there’s essentially zero residential treatment facilities for youth in the Northwoods. Early intervention with children, for example, is one way to reduce the growing need and costly nature of treatment for adults in the Northwoods. Essentially, help youth now or pay much more later.

If you’re concerned about the opioids, fentanyl, heroin, and meth flowing into Oneida County and the greater Northwoods, we encourage support for construction of this adolescent treatment facility. We need to stop drugs from flowing into Oneida County. But we also must treat youth already addicted.

In terms of public safety and emergency response, this facility accepts those who voluntarily seek help in fighting addiction and overwhelmingly prefer privacy rather than drawing attention to themselves. Only those who want help will be coming to the recovery and wellness center.

Youth being cared for are supervised and observed around the clock, seven days a week by healthcare and professional personnel with video surveillance in a secure environment.

The proposed youth recovery and wellness center is a 36-bed residential facility centrally located in Wisconsin to best serve all Member Tribes and urban Indians. It will provide culturally relevant services and responsive residential substance abuse treatment for Native American youth, ages 13-17, who are suffering from Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and any co-occurring mental health conditions. Priority will be given to Native American youth, but the facility would be open to non-Native adolescents as well.

People are much more than their drug addiction. Our approach—within a fully licensed and accredited facility served by licensed and credentialed doctors and healthcare professionals—treats the whole person to get to the root cause of their addiction. Connecting people to their culture is important to success. Blending cultural healing elements with modern medicine’s approach to treatment is what will be provided to youth at this recovery center. Everyone can relate to the importance of the safe feeling you get when you are connected to your culture and where you come from.

I look forward to continuing our discussions with Town of Cassian leadership and encourage your support of our plans, which follow existing zoning ordinances, for a life-saving adolescent treatment facility.

Sincerely,

Bryan J. Bainbridge

Chief Executive Officer

Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council

The Adolescent Treatment and Wellness Center came together through the efforts of all 11 member Tribes of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. Each Tribe contributed an equal amount to purchase 288 acres of land and there is a $15 million grant secured for cost of construction.

GLITC member tribes include: Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, Sokaogon Chippewa Community, and Stockbridge-Munsee Community.

Bainbridge noted that as soon as the conditional use permit is approved by Oneida County, he would like to start construction, depending on weather.