In partnership with the South Dakota Unified Judicial System, CPCM hosts monthly online training sessions for attorneys, judges, and other multidisciplinary professionals working with families involved in child abuse and neglect cases. The sessions provide relevant and up-to-date information on the South Dakota child welfare system, while offering unique approaches and standards for best practices when working with children throughout the court process. The sessions are held on the final Wednesday of the month from 12:00pm CST to 1:00pm CST on Zoom.
By learning more you can help keep children safe.
Next Session
March 18 | 12:00pm CT
Understanding Kinship Care, Foster Care, and Placement
Trainer: Katie Larson, SD Department of Social Services
Katie Larson serves as the Permanency Program Specialist for the South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Child Protection Services. She brings more than 12 years of experience in child welfare and has worked in a variety of roles supporting children, youth, and families involved in the child protection system. Her professional background includes both direct service work with families as well as leadership and supervision of programs focused on foster care, kinship care, adoption, and foster home licensing.
In her current role, Katie focuses on strengthening permanency efforts across the state by supporting policies, programs, and partnerships that help children achieve safe, stable, and lasting family connections. She has a strong passion for kinship care and believes that children benefit greatly when they are able to remain connected to their family, culture, and community whenever it is safe and appropriate.
Katie played a key role in the development and implementation of Kinship South Dakota, a Kinship Navigator Program, which was created to help relative and kinship caregivers access resources, services, and supports needed to care for children. She continues to work closely with community partners, service providers, and caregivers to strengthen kinship supports across South Dakota and improve outcomes for children and families.
