SD ECCS November 2025 Update
Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: ECCS
Ensuring a strong start for all children can reduce vulnerabilities and prevent ACEs, but it requires collaboration and co-ownership of strategies and solutions. This newsletter provides updates on SD ECCS activities and also provide external learning opportunities, resources and news to increase our shared understanding and ability to ensure a strong start for all South Dakota children.
Touchpoints Series
Check out the upcoming Touchpoints webinars below and be sure to register to join the conversation.
Businesses for Babies: Strategies to Support South Dakota’s Youngest Families
Speaker: Chrissie Young, Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment
This session explores how employers can strengthen their communities and workforce by adopting family-friendly policies and practices that help parents and caregivers thrive. Participants will learn practical, evidence-based strategies—such as flexible scheduling, paid leave, lactation support, and partnerships with local childcare and health initiatives—that promote employee well-being and improve retention. These approaches are powerful examples of primary prevention, reducing stressors that can lead to family instability while ensuring a strong start for all children. Discover how businesses can play a vital role in building healthier, more resilient communities across South Dakota.
You can now view the most recent Touchpoints Session at SDCPCM.com/ECCS.
The Dad Connection
Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment, in partnership with SD Department of Social Services will host a limited-series online learning opportunity focused on the role of dads.
The Dad Connection will kick-off on Monday, November 3 and will include four, weekly webinar learning opportunities presented by J. Michael Hall, Strong Fathers-Strong Families.
The webinar series is free, with registration required. Dates and topics include:
- Monday, November 3rd, 12 – 1 pm CT | The Different Roles of Mothers and Fathers and How They Best Serve Children
- Monday, November 10th, 12 – 1 pm CT | Co-Parenting and Co-Piloting a Child’s Future
- Tuesday, November 18th, 12 – 1 pm CT | Fathers and Their Positive Impact on a Child’s Mental Health and Behavior
- Tuesday, November 25th, 12 – 1 pm CT | Fathers and Their Positive Impact on a Child’s Education Success—Now and in the Future
Businesses for Babies
Family-forward workplace policies ARE a primary prevention resource. Family-forward policies benefit the business, families, and South Dakota children. Please join us in recognizing Horizon Health, one of our Businesses for Babies!
Is your business for babies? Learn more about the power of family-forward work policies as a primary prevention strategy and nominate a South Dakota business to be featured.
Fatherhood Focus Group
Supporting South Dakota Dads on their parenting journey
Thursday, November 20
6:30pm to 8:30pm Central Time
Zoom Meeting Focus Group
$100 Gift Card to all SD dads who participate (up to 15 participants).
Focus Group will explore supports, trainings, and resources that would be most helpful in dads’ parenting journey. Feedback will inform future program design, outreach strategies, and fatherhood engagement initiatives statewide.
Learn more and register:
SDCPCM.com/fatherhood-focus-group/
Other Partner Updates and News
MARCH Summit Registration Now Open
The 2026 MARCH Annual Summit is officially open for registration! This year’s summit will take place March 24 followed by a half day workshop March 25 at The Box Events Center in Box Elder, South Dakota. This year we are excited to offer a virtual option, so please select in-person or virtual when reserving a ticket.
The summit will feature maternal health leaders and will aim to raise awareness, share knowledge, and promote positive change in maternal health through presentations, activities, and an interactive workshop. There is no cost to attend either!
👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/register-for-the-2026-march-annual-summit-tickets-1221527895819?aff=oddtdtcreator
EXTERNAL RESOURCES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Family and Parent Leadership (FPL)
The National Center for Family & Parent Leadership provides a comprehensive array of capacity-sharing opportunities and supports to help states, organizations and communities embed Family and Parent Leadership (FPL) as their new way of operating, and to ensure that families help shape decisions that impact them.
