South Dakota facility bringing cultural compassion to addiction treatment

A health center in South Dakota, spearheaded by clinical manager Kelsey Sjaarda, is offering a culturally sensitive approach to dealing with acute mental health issues and addiction. The Link, a program within the Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, offers 24/7 support to individuals predominantly from ethnic minority communities. The center’s approach has drastically reduced custody holds related to drug and alcohol-related emergencies, and amid its challenges has shown promising progress towards addressing mental health and addiction.