SD ECCS March 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.
March 11th | 12-1p.m. CST
Brain Science in Early Child Development
Speaker: Laura Jana, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Author, and Connector of Dots, Chief Innovation Officer – PSU Evidence to Impact Collaborative
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
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
Child Care Helpline
The Helpline Center is excited to announce a major enhancement in how families and providers connect with the Child Care Helpline. The new user-friendly platform will streamline the search for quality childcare while offering valuable tools for providers.
Benefits for Childcare Providers
- Add video tours for virtual facility previews.
- Allow families to request tours based on availability.
- Receive text prompts to update availability, no need to re-enter info.
- Control the details shown on profiles.
- Free advertising to reach more families.
Advantages for Families
- Real-time availability updates.
- Interactive map of provider locations.
- Email notifications for openings.
- Access support from Child Care Specialists through the app.
For more information, click here.
Helpline Resource Database
FamilyResources.HelplineCenter.org is available for families and providers to easily access available resources.
Did you know Helpline is an essential database that provides resource information to individuals and providers across South Dakota? They are instrumental in connecting service seekers with service providers.
Are you in need of services? Then checkout the database at https://www.helplinecenter.org/2-1-1/
Do you want to add your information to the Helpline database? Call 211 and ask for database or email [email protected].
You can check your organization’s eligibility or update its information by clicking here for more information.
The Helpline database is crowd sourced, so by adding your information to and keeping it updated, you can ensure that South Dakotan’s are accessing the most up-to-date information.
Early Childhood Professionals’ Training Day
April 5 | 8:15 to 1:30pm | Avera Prairie Center, Sioux Falls
Presented by: Avera Family Life Education This half-day workshop provides you with up to 4.0 hours of Continuing Education Registrations must be received by Saturday, March 29, 2025
Join the Effort to Improve Food Access for South Dakota Families
South Dakota’s Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program is working to improve child food sufficiency. Food security and adequate nutrition are essential for healthy development and wellbeing, and we hope to engage ECCS family leaders to help shape solutions! If you’re passionate about supporting families and strengthening food access, we invite you to join our efforts.
A recent needs assessment identified food insecurity as a top concern. In response, Title V is launching a Child Food Sufficiency Workgroup to collaborate with WIC, Head Start, SDSU Extension, and healthcare partners. The workgroup will explore food access challenges, connect families with resources, and develop actionable strategies.
The group will meet monthly through May 2025 to finalize a plan, with implementation starting in October 2025.
Why Join?
- Your insight matters – you know firsthand the challenges families face.
- Work with others who care – connect with parents, community leaders, and public health experts.
- Make a difference – help create programs that work for families.
Want to get involved? Learn more at https://doh.sd.gov/topics/mch/ or contact Jason at 605-910-7165 or [email protected].
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.
