The two million acre Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is located in southwest South Dakota and is home to the Lakota people of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. In 1983, Casey Family Programs (CFP) began expanding its foster care efforts into South Dakota. 1986 saw an office in Martin established serving Pine Ridge and Rosebud with a Pine Ridge and Rosebud field office opening in 1993.

Pine Ride CFP field office staff began to work closely with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Oyate Iwicakiyapi Okolakiciye (OOIO), a tribal community service provider network, to establish an integrated child welfare agency. The goal was to consolidate and expand child/family services on the reservation into an inclusive and culturally appropriate model system of care for Lakota children and their families. 

The fruition of their efforts came to pass on January 2005 when Lakota Oyate Wankanyeja Owicankiyapi (LOWO) opened its doors. LOWO provides children and families on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation an integrated system of community-based child welfare services based on Lakota traditions, customs and life time values of respect, generosity, courage and wisdom. The Indian Child Welfare Program in Denver continues to assist LOWO and is currently helping the agency to develop Child Protective Services and Foster Parent Programs.

LOWO provides an opportunity to improve the quality of life for Oglala Lakota children and families; empower and strengthen Oglala Lakota children and families and, most importantly, keep Oglala Lakota children living with their biological or extended families.

On August 15, the Lakota Oyate Wankanyeja Owicankiyapi tribe presented Casey's Board of Trustees with a proclamation and tribal flag in honor of the work Casey has done with the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

To view the proclamation, please download the PDF document linked in the upper-right corner of this page.