2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The Salt Lake City Division is pleased to honor the Blackfeet Housing Project’s Pikanii Action Team for its commitment to reducing binge drinking and drunk driving. In 2008, the housing project was awarded a grant by the Montana State Department of Public Health, and the Pikanii Action Team began identifying and implementing initiatives to address alcohol issues in the community.

The team worked to enforce responsible alcohol sales by vendors and supported a driving under the influence (DUI) task force with enhanced compliance checks. The team also developed a media campaign, organized a town hall meeting, and met with tribal officials. To achieve its goals, the action team established strategy groups to implement plans and create community awareness about the project. Although its grant funding was exhausted in May 2011, the team has continued its efforts through the passage of new ordinances and ongoing community outreach.

As a result of organized safety checks, the Pikanii Action Team saw a decrease in DUI violations, dropping from 484 violations in 2009 to 199 violations in 2010.