HOULTON, Maine – The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians is developing a Healing to Wellness Court program it plans to implement in the coming months.
The Tribe met with the Honorable Erik M. Mehnert on Oct. 19, hosting a session for tribal employees and a second session for the tribal public.
The goals of the Healing to Wellness Court are numerous. First, it is intended to improve the outcomes for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder and/or mental health issues. Secondly, it looks to develop and implement a holistic, comprehensive program that is specific to the treatment needs of each program participant regardless of the number or type of underlying or co-occurring issues.
In addition, the court hopes to reduce a repeat of criminal behavior among Healing to Wellness Court participants. Another goal is to engage the community at-large in the process through education and awareness of the benefits of utilizing the approach of a Healing to Wellness Court.
Finally, the court plans to work with Indian Child Welfare Act staff to further enhance services to our tribe.
The Tribal Court is a court of general jurisdiction with authority to hear a wide range of criminal, civil, juvenile and probate matters.
The Maliseet’s Wellness Court follows in the footsteps of the Penobscot Nation’s Healing to Wellness Court, which has moved away from being a punitive system for resolving disputes to a problem-solving approach.
The culturally-based Healing to Wellness Court program is available to all Maliseet tribal citizens who are involved in, or at risk of becoming involved in, the court system and who are struggling with alcohol and/or substance use disorder. Through the voluntary program, individuals can be helped to overcome their addictions, be restored to wellness, and rejoin the Maliseet community as healthy and contributing members.
There is also a referral system in place through the Maine State Court system.
