SD ECCS January 2026 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.
January 13 | 12-1pm CT
Safe Sleep
Speakers: Laurel Rick and Lexi Ortiz , SD Department of Health
This introductory training will educate attendees on safe sleep practices for infants by exploring the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations and evidence behind the guidance. Unsafe sleep practices are one of the leading causes of preventable infant death in SD. By connecting recommendations to state data and highlighting the risks of unsafe sleep, this training will continue to create a statewide culture that supports safe sleep practices.
By the end of this session, attendees will understand safe sleep recommendations, value their importance, and feel empowered to promote safe sleep in their communities.
Register now for upcoming Touchpoints webinars:
February 10 | BabyReady in South Dakota: How Enhanced Medicaid Prenatal Care Delivers Better Beginnings
You can also now view the most recent Touchpoint session at SDCPCM.com/ECCS.
Growing Together: A Master Class in Child Development Professional Inquiry
Growing Together is an eight-week, online master class designed to deepen professional understanding of child development through exploratory practice — a reflective, inquiry-based approach to learning from one’s own experiences. Participants will engage in meaningful self-study and shared inquiry to collectively explore essential questions about children, families, and their own professional identities.
Trainers: Dr. Jennifer Kampmann & Dr. Andrew Stremmel
Dates: March 2, 9 & 23 and April 13 & 27 (6:30-8:00 p.m. CST)
Capstone Seminar: 1-day seminar and final presentations on 5/8/26 at USD Sioux Falls
Participants will:
- Develop their own question of practice — a personal inquiry into an aspect of their work with children and/or families.
- Engage in reflective, creative, and artistic methods (storying, journaling, observation, conversation).
- Gain confidence as reflective practitioners who continually learn from experience.
- Present their inquiry projects and insights during a collaborative one-day, in-person capstone seminar at USD Sioux Falls. (A stipend will be provided for successfully completing the course and participating in the capstone seminar.)
By the end of this master class, participants will:
- Understand themselves and their practice in new ways.
- Cultivate habits of curiosity, reflection, and professional inquiry.
- Design a sustainable framework for lifelong learning and development
- Build a community of practice with others dedicated to children’s growth and well-being.
For additional details and application instructions, visit:
Children’s Day at the Capitol
Investing in children, empowering healthy communities.
Make plans to join us for the Children’s Day at the Capitol! Annually, organizations with an interest in bettering the lives of children and families will gather during the legislative session to inform the public, lawmakers, government staff and other advocates about our work.
Children’s Day at the Capitol Schedule
Tentative schedule, will be updated as plans are finalized.
Wednesday, January 21
- 8:30am – Participants can begin setting up informational booths
- 9:00am to 12:00pm – Attend committee hearings, meetings with legislators (optional)
- 10:00am to 1:00pm – Informational booths in the Rotunda
- 11:00am to 1:00pm – Cookies and coffee served in the Rotunda
- 12:30pm to 12:45pm – Children’s Day group photo on Rotunda steps
- 5:00pm to 7:00pm – Evening Reception at Drifters Bar & Grille
Thursday, January 22
- 8:30am – Participants can begin setting up informational booths
- 9:00am to 12:00pm – Attend committee hearings, meetings with legislators (optional)
- 10:00am to 1:00pm – Informational booths in the Rotunda
- 11:00am to 12:30pm – Lunch provided in the Rotunda
- 12:00pm – Children’s Day program – Hear from a collaborative from Mitchell, SD about how they are elevating the experiences of their community’s children and educators through transformational gifts to Dakota Wesleyan University and Mitchell School District. This program will highlight the innovative partnerships, professional development pathways, and strategies they’re implementing to strengthen early childhood success.
- 12:30pm to 12:45pm – Children’s Day group photo on Rotunda steps
- 1:00pm – Children’s Day recognized in House and Senate Chambers
How Policymakers in South Dakota Understand and Make Decisions About Early Childhood Brain Development: 2025
This report provides insights into how South Dakota’s leaders view the earliest years of life and the policies that shape children’s opportunities to thrive. We hope the information presented here will be useful for policymakers, practitioners, and community partners as they continue important conversations about how best to ensure a strong start for every child in our state. Supporting children’s healthy development from the very beginning is not only an investment in our future workforce and communities—it is also one of the most powerful primary prevention strategies for reducing childhood adversity and maltreatment. Together, we can build systems that help all South Dakota families thrive.
Other Partner Updates and News
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
