Youth Programs
Student Health
Caring for Mind, Body, Heart and Spirit
Every Lakota (Sioux) student who attends St. Joseph’s Indian School receives comprehensive health services. That care covers both physical health, through our on-campus health center, and mental health, through our team of Family Service Counselors.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
Native American Health Services for Students
Native American communities continue to face significant barriers to health care access and health outcomes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Indian and Alaska Native people have the lowest life expectancy of any racial or ethnic group in the United States, with an average life expectancy of 70.1 years in 2023.
— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 2023
St. Joseph’s Indian School’s Health & Family Services Center, located on St. Joseph’s campus, is open daily and has on-call nurse availability after hours and on weekends to fulfill the health care needs of our students.
Healthcare providers are available each morning during the week to see to the needs of our Native American students and staff members.
Our students are referred to the health center by a houseparent or school staff member whenever there is an injury or illness that needs attention. Barring something serious like an X-ray, St. Joseph’s nurses and contracted providers are able to see to all the students’ healthcare needs.
A range of illnesses and injuries are cared for at the health center — some of St. Joseph’s most common visits are for colds, flu, allergies, asthma and athletic injuries. Students stay at the health center during the school day when they are too sick to attend school.
Staff who work directly with our Lakota (Sioux) students – like teachers, houseparents and counselors – are also trained to deal with minor health problems and are certified in basic First Aid and CPR.
Nurses at the health center also evaluate our students’ eyesight and arrange for eye appointments as needed. Annual dental appointments are also scheduled by the health center staff. Any time students need to see a specialist, it’s arranged through the health center!
On average, St. Joseph’s students and staff make more than 3,000 visits to the health center each school year!
Thank you for walking alongside us as we provide holistic care for the Native American children in our care.
MENTAL HEALTH
Native American Mental Health Services
Native American youth continue to face significant mental health challenges. According to recent CDC data, suicide rates remain among the highest for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, underscoring the importance of early intervention, community support and access to mental health services. In 2022, American Indian and Alaska Native people were 91% more likely to die by suicide than the U.S. population overall.
— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics, 2022
Every student who attends St. Joseph’s Indian School receives comprehensive health services. As important as immunizations and regular check-ups are, it’s the mental health services we provide our Native American youth that are perhaps more crucial and life-changing … even life-saving.
In addition to seeing that the Lakota students are healthy physically, our master’s level Family Service Counselors work to meet our Native American students’ mental health needs. Each student has a counselor who works with the student and his or her family. We provide individual counseling, group counseling, play therapy, art therapy and drug & alcohol counseling.
Support Groups
Our counseling services team helps Native American students — and their families — deal with everything from homesickness and growing pains to drug addiction and everything in between. To help facilitate more holistic healing, families are included in their child’s counseling service plan through regular meetings, both in person and over the phone.
- Son’s of Tradition
- Daughter’s of Tradition
- Stress management
- Transition group
- Healing/Grief group
- Brothers lunch group
- Siblings group
- Freshman success
- Real friendships
- Telling vs. Tattling
- 4th grade skills
- Friendship
- Social skills
- New student
- Empower Me
Our Mentor Program
In this program, students are matched with an adult staff member who serves as the child’s mentor — supporting and encouraging him or her in their daily life.
Alcoholism and drug abuse have, in some way, touched every child entrusted to us. These precious children have lost loved ones to suicide and have witnessed violence in their communities and even in their homes. Substance abuse groups and mental health services are available to rebuild foundations and empower change.
Thank you for helping us provide life-saving treatment for the Lakota (Sioux) children in our care.
