SD ECCS September 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.
September 9 | 12-1pm CT
The Power of Family Voice
Speakers: Steph Wiegand, Family Leader; Elizabeth Welfl, Family Leader; Darbi Hunt, ECCS Family Lead and Community and Family Services Early Childhood Projects Director
Join us as we focus on engaging and empowering family leaders. We will discuss the value and power of family voice and present the Family Voice and Leadership Continuum developed by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation. Parent Leaders who have successfully advocated within South Dakota’s early childhood system will share their unique experiences, including the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, offering pointers and inspiration for others to use their voice on issues they are passionate about.
You can now view the most recent Touchpoints Session at SDCPCM.com/ECCS.
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 First Fidelity Bank, 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.
Paid Family Leave Stories
We’d love to hear your story.
Have you or someone in your family benefited from Paid Family and Medical Leave? Your story could help shape the future for other SD families!
The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment is collecting real stories to show the impact of family forward policies. Please consider sharing your experience using the survey below.
What to expect:
- Your story or quote may be shared publicly (e.g., on social media, presentations, or campaigns).
- You may choose to remain anonymous or be recognized by name and photo—it’s up to you.
- Some participants may be invited to record a brief (10-15 min) video interview in Sioux Falls if selected.
Visit southdakota.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cATZkTwcl0Wwtls to share your Paid Family and Medical Leave story today!
Other Partner Updates and News
Empowering Families Retreat
Registration is now open for parenting adults to attend a free retreat at the beautiful K Bar S Lodge in Keystone, SD. The retreat is for everyone who is raising children at home—parents, grandparents, guardians, and caregivers of all kinds. Click HERE to see the latest flier. Limited spaces are available, click HERE to register.
Child and Family Resource Network Trainings
The Child and Family Resources Network at SDSU is part of South Dakota’s ECE system and is offering several trainings in September for parents and caregivers of children. See Professional Development Classes | South Dakota State University for a list of trainings and how to register.
MARCH Summit Registration Now Open
The 2026 MARCH Annual Summit is officially open for registration! This year’s summit will take place March 24 followed by a half day workshop March 25 at The Box Events Center in Box Elder, South Dakota. This year we are excited to offer a virtual option, so please select in-person or virtual when reserving a ticket.
The summit will feature maternal health leaders and will aim to raise awareness, share knowledge, and promote positive change in maternal health through presentations, activities, and an interactive workshop. There is no cost to attend either!
👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/register-for-the-2026-march-annual-summit-tickets-1221527895819?aff=oddtdtcreator
EXTERNAL RESOURCES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
2025 Prenatal-to-3 Research to Policy Summit
Registration is now open for the annual Prenatal-to-3 Research to Policy Summit on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 1:00-2:30 PM CT! In just 90 minutes, catch up on which states did the most in 2025 to support young children and their families. Attendees at this virtual event will:
- Access the NEW 2025 State Policy Roadmap
- Hear expert insights on state efforts to protect and implement evidence-based policies in 2025
- Learn more about the impact of recent federal policy changes on states
Register here: 2025 Prenatal-to-3 Research to Policy Summit – Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center
BUILD Initiative – Food Insecurity and Nutrition Systems
As part of its Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Systems webinar series, the BUILD Initiative invites you to Hungry for Change: Tackling Food Insecurity and Nutrition Through Systems That Work on September 11 at 2 PM ET/ 1 PM CT. The discussion will be grounded in the understanding that food insecurity is more than hunger. It undermines child development, increases caregiver stress and threatens overall family stability. The webinar will explore food insecurity and nutrition as a systems issue—examining barriers, policies and cross-system solutions that ensure every child has access to the nourishment they need to grow. Register Here
Family and Parent Leadership (FPL)
The National Center for Family & Parent Leadership provides a comprehensive array of capacity-sharing opportunities and supports to help states, organizations and communities embed Family and Parent Leadership (FPL) as their new way of operating, and to ensure that families help shape decisions that impact them.
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.
