SD ECCS March 2023 Update
March 2023 SD Early Childhood Comprehensive System Update
Join the Statewide Efforts to Ensure and Strong Start for Children
The SD Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) grant is 5-year federal grant from Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) that is being held for South Dakota by the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) at the USD School of Health Sciences. South Dakota is one of 20 current ECCS Awardees. CPCM is working with several state and community agencies on this grant that aims to increase collaboration and effectiveness of state and community-level systems serving families and young children, especially those up to 3 years-old.
The foundational concepts of HRSA’s ECCS grant program are:
- The prenatal to 3 year-old period is a particularly critical period of early child development and parent-driven change.
- The health system has the ability to reach the largest number of families and children, and is able to accelerate effective efforts that support social and emotional roots of wellbeing and health development.
- There are long-standing barriers to coordination of the health systems’ role within a comprehensive early childhood system which the ECCS program strives to address.
Together, we can ensure a stronger start for South Dakota’s children, and, by doing so, decrease risk factors for ACEs and increase protective factors that contribute to child wellbeing and safety.
SD ECCS Family Leadership Presenting at National Conference
Two members of the SD ECCS Family Leadership Team, Rochelle Holloway and Amber Finnesand, will present at the Collective Impact Action Summit on April 27. Their presentation, “How to Include Family Voice in Your Work” will focus on how to engage and empower family leaders and why family voice is a critical component of systems change work. Family Leaders will explain the purpose, structures, and activities of the SD ECCS Family Leadership Group while weaving in their personal experiences and feelings about their work. The ECCS Family Lead will explain how the group was developed and how they are supported. They will also provide an overview of the ECCS Collaborative, how it aligns with the five conditions of Collective impact, and how the Collective Impact Index is being used as one tool in the evaluation of the collaborative’s work.
Darbi Hunt, SD ECCS Family Lead, and Darla Biel, SD ECCS Lead, will also be part of the presentation team, and two additional ECCS Family Leadership Council members will attend the conference. To register for the virtual Collective Impact Action Summit, visit https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/cias2023/2840296
Spread the Word about Upcoming Changes to Medicaid and CHIP Coverage
Share this news to help reduce the potential for a coverage gap! Due to the COVID-19 federal public health emergency, federal regulations prohibited Medicaid from closing for persons who were found ineligible. Effective April 1, 2023, federal regulations again allow for closure of ineligible cases. In South Dakota, 64% of those covered by Medicaid or CHIP are children, and 50% of South Dakota’s children will rely on Medicaid or CHIP during their first year of life. (South Dakota Medicaid Report SFY22). Learn more about the upcoming eligibility changes here: https://dss.sd.gov/medicaid/medicaid_eligibility_changes.aspx
Childcare and Expansion Grants are Available from SD DSS
Individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, municipalities, current providers who are expanding to another location, schools, or other organizations who plan to own the child care program and are working with the SD Department of Social Services to become registered or licensed. Grant awards will be based on a review of approved expansion/startup items necessary to open a child care business as well as operating expenses up to an established cap. Additional information is outlined in the frequently asked questions guide available at https://sddss.my.site.com/ChildCareStartUps/s/
Childcare Providers Invited to Saturday Spectacular in April
On April 22, three speakers from Child’s Voices will provide classes for childcare providers to increase their capacity to keep children safe from abuse: Physical Abuse 101, Grooming 101, and Sexual Abuse 101 for Childcare Providers.
One continuing education credit per class is available. Hybrid classes are available at the Sanford USD Medical Center’s Schroeder Auditorium in Sioux Falls and also virtually. Registration is required by calling the Sanford Children’s CHILD Services at 605-312-8390 or 800-235-5923. Sanford Children’s CHILD Services is part of the South Dakota Early Child and Enrichment (ECE) systems. For more information about the ECE system, see https://dss.sd.gov/childcare/educationalopportunities/sites.aspx
SD ECCS Partners to Increase Awareness of Learn the Signs. Act Early. Materials.
Community Health Workers (CHWs) from across the state received a special delivery from SD partners of “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” The books are age-specific opportunities for parents to read and learn with their children and the bundle includes Milestone Moments, a guidebook to the developmental milestones experienced by children from birth to age 5.
Why books? Studies have shown that literacy can help children build resiliency. Reading together creates connections and moments of learning together. In short, it’s key to ensuring a strong start for children.
Learn more at https://www.sdparent.org/family-resources/family-life/child-development/
In South Dakota, Learn the Signs. Act Early. is supported by:
South Dakota Department of Health
SD Statewide Family Engagement Center
South Dakota Parent Connection
South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities
South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians
SD Early Childhood Enrichment
South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Helpline center
The Center for Disabilities of SD
and CPCM’s SD Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Collaborative
This ECCS project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award to Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) at the University of South Dakota (USD) totaling $255,514.00 with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, the U.S. Government, or the University of South Dakota.. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
