Our History

White Buffalo is the substance abuse program operated and managed by the Wind River Family and Community Health Care System, Northern Arapaho Tribe. The program primarily provides outpatient treatment services, recovery support services, prevention and education services to Indian Health Service eligible individuals who reside on or near the Wind River Reservation. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Accredited to provide American Society of Addiction Medicine (A.S.A.M) Level .5, Level 1, Level 2.1 outpatient services to adults and adolescents and Level 3.1 residential services to adults. White Buffalo follows a circular approach to a continuum of care, seeing how all aspects are connected and continuous. A continuum of care is a comprehensive approach to behavioral health which also means seeing promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery as parts of an overall continuum of care.

All aspects are equally important and necessary for our community. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Behavioral Health Continuum of Care Model recognizes multiple opportunities for addressing behavioral health problems and disorders. The model includes the following components: Promotion—These strategies are designed to create environments and conditions that support behavioral health and the ability of individuals to withstand challenges.

Promotion strategies also reinforce the entire continuum of behavioral health services. Prevention—Delivered prior to the onset of a disorder, these interventions are intended to prevent or reduce the risk of developing a behavioral health problem, such as underage alcohol use, prescription drug misuse and abuse, and illicit drug use. Treatment—These services are for people diagnosed with a substance use or other behavioral health disorder. Recovery—These services support individuals’ abilities to live productive lives in the community and can often help with abstinence. (SAMHSA, 2016).