FORT TOTTEN, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum today congratulated project partners at a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new residential substance-abuse treatment center for adults in the Spirit Lake community.
The project is made possible by a $1.2 million grant from United Health Foundation to Cankdeska Cikana Community College, in collaboration with the Spirit Lake Recovery and Wellness program. Burgum wrote a letter supporting the college’s grant application.
“The opioid crisis is devastating families and communities across North Dakota and the nation, and the best way to tackle it is through a collaborative community approach and public-private partnerships such as this,” Burgum said. “Congratulations to Cankdeska Cikana Community College for identifying the significant need for treatment and recovery services and taking the initiative to make this project happen, and deepest thanks to United Health Foundation for its generous grant and further commitment to support education of licensed addiction counselors. Only by working together to eliminate the shame and stigma of addiction and treat it like the chronic disease it is can our state, its communities and its people reach their fullest potential as we strive to empower people, improve lives and inspire success.”
With the grant, the college is renovating and expanding a former group home in Fort Totten into a new 15-bed residential treatment center, which will be the only residential treatment facility in the area outside of the local law enforcement system.
Also participating in today’s ceremony were Cankdeska Cikana Community College President Cynthia Lindquist, UnitedHealthcare Chief Marketing & Experience Officer and United Health Foundation board member Tami Reller, Spirit Lake Chairwoman Myra Pearson, Tribal Elder John Chaske, Tribal Council members and Spirit Lake Recovery and Wellness Director Wicahpi Tawacinhehomni.