Red Lake Law Enforcement gives out $20,000 in 2015 Christmas Cash Giveaway

"Christmas Cash" In sharing Joy of the Holiday Season, Red Lake law enforcement staff recently gave out a total of 200 "Christmas Cash" vouchers to Red Lake residents throughout reservation communities.

Law enforcement officers consisting of the Director of Public Safety, Captain of Police, Chief Conservation Officer, Criminal Investigators, Traffic Safety, Conservation and Patrol Officers distributed 50 vouchers per community and spread out the cash between the four districts in equal shares. Upon receipt of the voucher the recipient exchanged the voucher for $100.00 cash at the Red Lake Department of Public Safety Criminal Justice Complex.

During the giveaway, officers also provided the cash recipient with an informational brochure discussing the exciting "Tiwahe Initiative" and were asked to complete a brief survey surrounding the needs of the communities as part of developing the structure and focus of the initiative.

In 2015, the Red Lake Nation was selected as one of four reservations throughout the United State to receive federal funding to participate in the 5 year "Tiwahe" pilot project to "Build Tribal programs that invest in younger children, adolescents, adults and families while preserving cultural values and traditions." The project centers on the tribal community to address interrelated problems including substance and child abuse, neglect, poverty, family violence, unemployment in addition to addressing incidents of increased rates. The program is designed to demonstrate the importance of coordinated efforts between program service providers and community residents for both effective interagency and community collaborations.

Overall goals and objectives are to; improve screening and access to family and social services, create alternatives to incarceration, focused sentencing, improve links to appropriate prevention, intervention and successful treatment opportunities, improve case management services and to enhance overall partnerships between local, tribal, county, state and federal agencies.

The "Christmas Cash" giveaway was supported by the Red Lake Tribal Council and Tribal Programs supporting the "Tiwahe Intiative".