February 2026 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Issue Briefs
- ECCS Touchpoints, February 10
- Court Improvement Program Training, February 25
- MDT Conference
Issue Briefs Available Online
Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment has created easy to reference issue briefs on the following topics:
- Affordable High-Quality Child Care
- Community-Based Doula Services
- Early Childhood Investments Pay Off
- Developing the Future Workforce
- Household Economic Security
- Paid Family and Medical Leave
The issue briefs include current facts and information, action items, and local stories. To find the issue briefs and CPCM’s legislative session brief, visit SDCPCM.com/our-work/legislative-activity/.
SD ECCS
The January recording, Safe Sleep, is now available for viewing.
Join us for upcoming ECCS Touchpoints webinars:
BabyReady in SD: How Enhanced Medicaid Prenatal Care Delivers Better Beginnings presented by Valerie Kelly, SD Department of Social Services
Strengthening the Prenatal-to-Three System: Policy and Governance Strengths and Opportunities for all South Dakota Children presented by Dr. Cynthia Osborne of the Prenatal-to-Three (PN-3) Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University
Court Improvement Program
The January session, Child and Family Services Review: Program Improvement Planning, is now available to view.
Join us for upcoming CIP Trainings:
Foster Care Training/Qualification presented by Jennifer Mueller, SD Department of Social Services and Alex Van Voorhis, CPCM
Understanding Kinship Care, Foster Care, and Placement presented by Katie Larson, SD Department of Social Services
Trauma-Informed Legal Practice presented by Carrie Gonsor Sanderson
2026 Multidisciplinary Response to Victim Services Conference
March 26 | 8:30am to 5pm | The Box Events Center, Box Elder
Join professionals from across the state as we hear from national and statewide experts on addressing and serving victims!
This conference is for professionals and future professionals who are passionate about the prevention of and response to child abuse, victiminzation of adults, and creating positive changes for the systems that impact victims. The conference features:
- Derek Clark, Author and Speaker
- MMIW/MMIP Advocacy in SD – A System Update
- Intersection of Domestic Violence and Immigration
- A Case Analysis: Through the Lens of Advocacy/Mental Health
- State vs Joshua Kahler: A Case in Review
- Mike Kutzke, Speaker and Trainer
