Terry Friend Recognized For Service To Crime Victims

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Terry Friend, CNM, MSN, from Kyle, South Dakota, was awarded a Department of Justice Certificate of Appreciation as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2014.        
         
Friend was recognized for her outstanding dedication, service, and contributions on behalf of crime victims.  Originally from Massachusetts, Friend is currently a full time midwife at the Kyle Health Center’s Four Directions Clinic, where she manages two Domestic Violence Prevention Initiatives.
         
Terry Friend has lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation since 1981.  She 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.  Two clinical nurses work with Friend to provide sexual assault forensic exams, women’s health exams, prenatal care, sexually transmitted disease and HIV screening and treatment, family planning, and community education.  The high-tech clinic has three exam rooms, a forensic interview room, reception desk, two staff offices, and a conference room.

“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 has received several awards over the years which include Yale’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002 for 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. 

Johnson’s staff presented the award to Friend in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.  The presentation took place at the Four Directions Clinic in Kyle on April 11, 2014.