Eastern Shoshone Children's Lodge Economic Feasibility Assessment
Project Profile
Client:
Eastern Shoshone Children’s Lodge
Project Location:
Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyoming
Project Time Frame:
October 2023 - September 2024
Services:
Analysis and Research of existing facilities
Focus Groups
Key Informant Interviews
Reporting of study findings
Areas of Focus:
Demographics
Housing Conditions
Income and Finances
Economic Development
Photo: August 2023 Newe News
Project Description
The Eastern Shoshone Children's Lodge is a new tribally owned development on the Wind River Reservation that serves as a temporary home for children placed into protective custody. The development was made possible through funding from various grant programs and has recently been awarded funds to purchase a 12-passenger van and to build a garden on the property.
"The Children’s Lodge is a place where children in crisis can just be kids, run through the sprinklers, play in the sand, or go to the park, despite hardships or adverse circumstances they’ve experienced prior to their time at the lodge.” — Vernalyn Bearing via wyomingpublicmedia.org
The focus of the Economic Feasibility Assessment will be to provide insights and recommendations to support the lodge’s programmatic operations. During the data collection phase of the project, Big Water will conduct in-depth analysis and research of existing group home facilities both on and off the reservation, organize focus groups and interviews with key informants, and prepare a relevant list of funding sources/grant programs. During the reporting phase, Big Water will draft a comprehensive written report that encompasses all aspects of the study and present the findings in conjunction with tailored visual aids.