SD ECCS April 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.
April 8th | 12-1 p.m. CST
How the Huron community collaborated to bring in a Toy Lending Library.
Speakers: Anelis Coscioni-South Dakota Toy Lending Library, Rhonda Kludt-formerly of Huron United Way, Toy Lending Library Board Member, and Gayle Kludt-Kiwanis Club of Huron
May 13 | 12-1pm CST
Cultural Birthing Practices as a Protective Factor
Speaker: Camie Goldhammer, LISCW, IBCLC, Full Spectrum Indigenous Doula and Founding Executive Director, Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services
CEUs: Board of Social Work Examiners
You can now view the most recent Touchpoints Session at SDCPCM.com/ECCS.
Ray of Hope Event
April 15, 2025
11:30am to 1:00pm
Holiday Inn City Centre, Starlite Ballroom
Purchase tickets through USD Foundation
Power of Primary Prevention
Primary prevention of child maltreatment connects families to resources and supports in their community. The aim of primary prevention is to prevent child maltreatment before it happens. Examples of primary prevention can include parenting education, affordable-quality childcare, economic supports, and family-forward workplace policies.
Learn more about the power of primary prevention from South Dakota decision-makers and business leaders. This event will discuss:
- Examples of primary prevention and how SD businesses and organizations can support primary prevention efforts.
- Update on primary prevention policies adopted in the 2025 legislative session.
- Economic benefits of family-forward workplace practices.
- Panel discussion with South Dakota business leaders with family-forward workplace practices, featuring Nan Poppen with First Bank & Trust, Carissa Schoffelman with Click Rain, Michael Olson with Avera McKennan, and Sydney Bartunek with The Compass Center.
Other Partner Updates and News
South Dakota Department of Health
DOH’s Rape Prevention and Education Grant presents “Preventing and Responding to Intimate Partner Violence and Reproductive Coercion” online webinar on May 20 at 11:00am CT
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KJA7hWLFSCy7zZFq7DvOfA#/registration
Sanford Health CHILD Services
Caregiver Training is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 from 9am to 12pm at Schroeder Auditorium at Sanford Health, Sioux Falls. The training will include a Recognizing Child Physical Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse: Dynamics, Recognition, and Caregiver Response.
https://sanfordhealth.formstack.com/forms/child_services_ece_childcare_classes
Empowering Families Retreat: Save the Date
October 11-12, 2025
The 2nd Annual Empowering Families Retreat will take place at K Bar S Lodge in Keystone! Hosted by the SD Statewide Family Engagement Center, this event is designed by families, for families – offering parenting adults a chance to grow, connect, and build leadership skills in a supportive setting. Registrations opens early summer, stay tuned for updates! Interested in supporting this event? Reach out to Darbi Hunt to apply.
BEAM-SD Consultation is Live
The BEAM-SD Professional-to-Professional Consultation Line provides support to treat youth (0-21) through consultation with a multi-disciplinary team of behavioral health professionals. This free service is available Monday through Friday, 8-5 CT. Through this service, professionals can access direct consultation to address diagnostic questions, medication recommendations, appropriate psychotherapy referrals, behavioral health education, and more. Register and request a consultation on the BEAM-SD website. https://beam-sd.org/consultation-line/
Let’s Connect!
If you would like to learn more about the SD ECCS efforts, provide feedback, or share more about your efforts to ensure a strong start for South Dakota’s youngest children, please email [email protected]. Are you working on some of these goals and strategies–or could they be included in your plans and activities? We’d love to learn more, collaborate, and celebrate your work.
