SD ECCS June 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.
Survey
The Office of Lifespan Health at the South Dakota Department of Health and the SD Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SD-ECCS) Initiative at the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) have developed a short survey to better understand your training needs and preferences around child development, developmental screenings, and family referrals.
Your feedback will shape future training opportunities that support professionals across South Dakota’s health, education, and social service systems.
The survey will remain open through June 10, 2025
Survey link: https://qualtricsxm7wzkqhnvv.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e4LEqiw1jMYDaXY
Touchpoints Series
Check out the upcoming Touchpoints webinars below and be sure to register to join the conversation.
June 10 | 12-1pm CT
Engaging Fathers: Enhancing Family-Community Partnerships
Speaker: Keith Ferguson, Black Hills Special Services
CEUs: Board of Social Work Examiners
This session explores the evolving role of fathers in early childhood and their unique contributions to children’s learning and well-being. Participants will gain insights into strategies to enhance father engagement, overcome common barriers, and create inclusive, welcoming environments across early learning settings. Through hands-on activities, scenario-based exercises, and collaborative discussions, attendees will leave with actionable tools and a deeper understanding of how to empower fathers as active partners while fostering cross-sector collaboration and a culture of mutual respect.
July 8 | 12-1pm CT
Supporting Infants and Toddlers in the Child Welfare System: The Safe Babies Approach
Speakers: Drs. Aiden Bohlander & Mike Sherman, ZERO TO THREE
You can now view the most recent Touchpoints Session at SDCPCM.com/ECCS.
Three-Part Series | Growing Together: Understanding and Supporting Early Childhood Development
SD Early Childhood Comprehensive System is proud to present a three-part online learning series. “Growing Together” Understanding and Supporting Early Childhood Development” will explore the impact of social determinants of health in relation to developmental trajectories; acknowledge the balance of nature and nurture within societal, cultural, and familial contexts; identify how relationships help build neuropathways; practice facilitating and supporting children’s development without limits; and create a plan for engaging families in conversations around their child’s development.
Presented by Dr. Andrew Stremmel, Professor Emeritus, South Dakota State University and Dr. Jennifer Kampmann, SD Birth to Three, the series will take place on July 7, July 14, and July 21.
Find additional details and individual registration links at https://sdcpcm.com/events/eccs-growing-together-series-session-1/.
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 Click Rain Inc., 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.
Other Partner Updates and News
Quality Care South Dakota
Quality Care South Dakota is a Quality Recognition and Information System designed to support child care and school-age programs in meeting benchmarks of quality and identifying their strengths as well as opportunities for growth. The program, administered by the Child & Family Resource Network at South Dakota State University, works in collaboration with the South Dakota Early Childhood Enrichment System with support and direction from the South Dakota Department of Social Services.
Through Quality Care South Dakota, registered family day care homes and licensed child care centers and school-age programs can voluntarily participate and receive resources, guidance, grants, and support to improve care environments for children. Please check out sdece.org. For more information or to apply, please email [email protected].
SD Parent Connection
SD Parent Connection supports and empowers parents and caregivers to gain the information, skills, and confidence that fosters their development as parent leaders. We also seek to guide parents to opportunities that allow them to use their experience, perspective and knowledge for positive impact.
Please help them evaluate their effectiveness in supporting and empowering parents along their parent leadership journey by completing this very brief survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2T8CYNV
EXTERNAL RESOURCES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Training from the American Academy of Pediatrics
This $5.00 online, self-paced course helps attendees strengthen their understanding of how early relationships shape a child’s emotional health for life. Learn research-based strategies that support healthy brain development and lifelong resilience—starting in infancy.
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.
