In this issue:

• You’re invited: Ray of Hope breakfast event
• Conference: Call for Presenters
• Legislative Updates
• 2nd Annual Legal Workshop
• Court Improvement Program March Training
• SANE Opportunities

Join the effort to end child maltreatment at the Ray of Hope Event!

Tuesday, April 4
7:30am to 9:00am (doors open at 7:15)
Holiday Inn City Centre, Startlite Ballroom
Individual Tickets: $25
Learn more.

Event Highlights:

Growing a Better Tomorrow for All Children, Together: The Work of CPCM

Learn how the work of CPCM and multidisciplinary partners is making a difference in communities across South Dakota.

The Building of a Tree House: Keynote from Terri Mielitz, Program Director, East Central CASA Watertown

In her personal story of building resiliency, Terri reflects on building tree houses as a child with her brother and again as a young mother with her sons. About Terri: A history of childhood trauma turned into a placement in foster care and eventually a kinship placement. As a teen and survivor of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, Terri felt the effects of a system that did not quite work for her. This began her story of fighting for children through education on childhood trauma and the long-term effects, all while fighting for her own resilience. Terri has grown from a child that was in the system to a passionate advocate.

Resilient Communities: Codington County Recognition

Join us in celebrating Watertown and Codington County’s recognition as a Resilient Community, a multi-month process of building the framework to know, respond, and prevent child maltreatment.

This event is made possible through the support of:

• Hope Sponsor: Children’s Home Society of South Dakota
• Partners Sponsors: Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Mud Mile Communications, University of South Dakota School of Health Sciences and Sanford School of Medicine.

Conference: Call for Presenters

Mark your calendar for the 23rd Annual Community Response to Child Abuse Conference: October 5-6 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

Get involved with this year’s event:

• Call for Presenters: share your expertise and best practices with multidisciplinary members from across the region. Submit your proposal or recommended other speakers.
• Sponsorship Opportunities: support the effort to end child maltreatment as a conference sponsor. Learn more.
• Exhibitor Opportunities: share your organization’s services and resources to 500+ conference attendees. Learn more.

Legislative Updates

Highlights include: SB 70 has passed the House and is now waiting for the Governor’s signature. The CPCM Legislative Tracker is updated by 8pm each Friday. To view the updates, click here.

Join us in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month

Wear Blue Day: Unable to attend the Ray of Hope Event and want to raise awareness? Wear Blue on April 4, encourage others to join you, and share your support of child abuse prevention on your social media channels.

Become a Blue Ambassador: Contribute to the success of this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month by joining our Blue Ambassadors team. We’ll send you compelling content that you can share with your networks through the month of April! All you have to do is share the content with your friends on social media or by email.

Local Resources: New training opportunities, content and graphics will be made available online.

National Resources: Access the national resources available at https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth

Legal Workshop Registration

March 28, 2023 • 9am to 3pm
Muenster University Center Ballroom, Vermillion, SD

This FREE workshop is intended for law students, legal professionals, and others interested in better understanding trauma-informed approaches in legal proceedings. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Register.

Court Improvement Program

The March CIP Session will take place on Wednesday, March 29 at 12:00 pm CST. The session will feature Scott Sheldon presenting: Situational Awareness
Register now to attend and receive the session recording.

SANE Supplemental Training

From Interviews to Courtrooms: MDT Collaborative Approach to Sexual Assault Cases
March 23 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm CDT
Best practice in serving victims of crime requires a collaborative approach to the investigative process. Regardless of the age of the victim or the type of victimization, we know that those who have been placed at risk are best served when we can come together on these cases.

CPCM Happenings

Thank you to everyone who supported CPCM during Unite for USD! We raised over $1,700 to support our effort.

CPCM is now accepting nominations for Advisory Board positions. Nominations need to be submitted by Monday, March 13 to be considered by the Nominating Committee.

CPCM supports multidisciplinary and community efforts to prevent harm to children. Last month, CPCM’s Assistant Director, Darla Biel, participated in a panel discussion about the power of relationships at Stronger Together: Building Assets for Brookings, a suicide prevention event.

Assistant Director accepted a BIG grant for the Resilient Communities program from SD Community Foundation President, Stephanie Judson and Senior Program Officer, Ginger Niemann.

CPCM has been a part of a collaborative effort to train professionals throughout the state on the My Journey curriculum, a teen pregnancy prevention curriculum grounded in Dakota and Lakota values and philosophies. Data Manager, Tracey McMahon, joined Char Green, SD Urban Indian Health, Jordan Catlett, Catlett LLC, and, Dr. DenYelle Kenyon, USD Sanford School of Medicine and Department of Public Health to host a curriculum facilitator training last month in Rapid City. These same individuals, along with Melissa Huff, Director of Operations, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Youth Lodge, are working together to expand the curriculum to include additional lessons on preventing sexual and intimate partner violence among youth.