Terry Friend, Sex Abuse Support, South Dakota 2014

Terry Friend, a Midwife with a Mission

WASHINGTON D.C. – United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Terry Friend, CNM, MSN, from Kyle, South Dakota, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2014.

Terry Friend, a dedicated midwife at the Kyle Health Center’s Four Directions Clinic, was recognized for her outstanding dedication, service, and contributions on behalf of crime victims. Originally from Massachusetts, Friend has lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation since 1981.

Friend has provided an innovative approach to healthcare, as evidenced by many of the programs she has pioneered as a midwife for Indian Health Services (IHS). For instance, in 2001, she developed the first sexual assault program on the reservation, which now includes a community setting separate from the emergency room and hospital in Kyle.

One of her most notable accomplishments to date includes the opening of the Four Directions Clinic in Kyle in January of 2014. It provides a clinic-based setting and comfortable environment to those needing care after a sexual assault or abuse, as well as offering other services. The 2,400 square feet clinic is located on the Kyle Health Facility Campus.

“Terry Friend has made remarkable strides in providing quality, compassionate care to women and children on the Pine Ridge Reservation who have been victims of sexual abuse and violence,” said Johnson. “We are very fortunate to have someone of Terry’s caliber who is so committed to helping people on the reservation and who works diligently to ensure their healthcare needs are met.”

Friend’s dedication has earned her numerous awards, including Yale’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002 for the improvement of healthcare to native women, the National IHS Director’s Award in 2005, and the IHS Prevention Award in 2009 for building partnerships aimed at health promotion and disease prevention.

The award presentation took place at the Four Directions Clinic in Kyle on April 11, 2014, and was a testament to Friend’s tireless efforts to provide quality care to those in need.

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