About Us

The Cheyenne River Long-Term Recovery Group (CRLTRG) serves communities facing some of the most severe American Indian health disparities in the United States. According to the Commonwealth Fund’s 2026 State Health Disparities Report, American Indian and Alaska Native residents of South Dakota experience some of the highest avoidable premature death rates in the nation. Rural isolation, transportation barriers, limited preventive care, behavioral health workforce shortages, and rising healthcare costs deepen these inequities.

CRLTRG strengthens community health and safety by bringing prevention, preparedness, education, behavioral health support, and emergency response capacity directly to the people most affected. Our work includes emergency preparedness, CERT training, EMS outreach, resilience hub development, radio-based health education, opioid response training, substance abuse support, and community-led recovery coordination.

Our Mission

Cheyenne River needs community-led health equity infrastructure — not only clinics, but responders, outreach teams, transportation support, prevention programs, resilience hubs, and trusted local coordination. CRLTRG responds to these needs by reducing barriers created by distance, weather, transportation cost, and time away from work. We bring education, response training, behavioral health support, and emergency coordination closer to families across the region.

Our Work

CRLTRG addresses structural health barriers through:

CERT & EMS Training
Opioid Response Training Teaching community members how to recognize overdose, administer Naloxone, and access treatment and recovery resources.
Substance Abuse Support Outreach, education, and connection to culturally grounded recovery pathways for individuals and families affected by addiction.
Behavioral Health Response Community-based support, crisis response coordination, and partnerships that expand access to mental and behavioral health services.
KIPI Radio Education & Communication
Resilience Hub Development
Emergency Supply Distribution
Transportation Support
Community-Based Recovery Coordination

These programs strengthen emergency response capacity and improve access to prevention, behavioral health support, and health communication in rural Tribal communities.

History

CRLTRG was formed to address the extreme health disparities documented in statewide and national reports. American Indian residents in South Dakota face a median age of death of 58, compared with 80 for white residents — a 22‑year gap. Dewey County, a core part of our service area, has a life expectancy of 65.3 years compared with the statewide average of 78.2.

Our organization emerged from community recognition that long-term recovery requires more than emergency response — it requires sustained, culturally grounded infrastructure that supports prevention, behavioral health, preparedness, and resilience.