Funds will bolster ongoing work of WATCP

October 20, 2025 – The Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals (WATCP) is pleased to announce a donation of $5,000 from Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin, representing the Ho-Chunk Tribal Nation.

“WATCP has always appreciated the ongoing collaboration and support of the Ho-Chunk Nation,” says Jodi Severson, Executive Director of WATCP. “We are deeply grateful for their generosity. Their commitment to restorative justice and community wellness aligns perfectly with the treatment court model and our shared mission to help those with substance use disorders or mental health issues who are impacted by the criminal justice system find a better road to recovery and stability.”

The much-needed support comes at a pivotal time for WATCP. In light of proposed funding cuts for technical assistance and other treatment court needs, the donation will help WATCP continue to bring low-cost annual trainings to its nearly 1000 members across the state and facilitate networking between treatment court teams across jurisdictions. The funds will also help WATCP continue to advocate for resources and policies that save lives, reunite families, strengthen communities and enhance public safety, as well as promote culturally-competent, trauma-informed approaches in Wisconsin courts.

The donation is just one example of the Ho-Chunk Nation’s ongoing efforts to share resources with other organizations and tribes.

“The Ho-Chunk Nation is proud to continue our partnership with WATCP in supporting Treatment Courts across Wisconsin,” says Representative Phyllis M. Smoke of the Ho-Chunk Nation Legislature (District 1). “We know that substance use disorders affect every community, and by working together we can provide pathways to healing and accountability. Our recent efforts to open the doors of the (Ho-Chunk) Tribal Healing to Wellness Court to members of other tribes reflects our commitment to collaboration and shared well-being. This donation represents not only our support for WATCP’s mission, but also our belief in the power of Treatment Courts to change lives.”

Severson says this is the largest single donation to WATCP’s general operating fund since the non-profit began accepting donations in 2024.

“Collaboration is key to making any system work more effectively. The Ho-Chunk Nation has consistently demonstrated leadership when it comes to breaking down barriers and building bridges to help people get the services they need. WATCP is honored to partner with Ho-Chunk, the Wisconsin Association of Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts, and other CJS professionals in the collective effort to bring treatment court access to every qualified person in Wisconsin.”

 

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The Ho-Chunk Nation is a sovereign Native Nation with ancestral lands in Wisconsin and surrounding states. Guided by tradition and a commitment to community, the Nation invests in projects that foster wellness, education, and cultural preservation. For more information about the Ho-Chunk Nation, reach out to Shane Yellow Thunder, Public Relations Officer, at: shaneyellowthunder@ho-chunk.com.

WATCP was founded in 2004 to advance evidence-based justice solutions in Wisconsin’s ever-growing treatment court movement through education, advocacy, and support. Today the non-profit organization represents more than 105 treatment courts of eight distinct types, including Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts, which serve 61 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties and five Tribal Nations. For more information on treatment courts in Wisconsin or to make your own tax-deductible donation to WATCP, visit  www.watcp.org or email them at admin@watcp.org.