In this issue
- Community Response to Child Abuse Conference, October 8
- Welcome to School of Health Sciences Dean Becker
- ECCS stands for before “Touchpoints, August 11”
- Court Improvement Program training, August 26
- Join our team
- The future of food community conversations
New format. Same important mission. Registration is open
The Community Response to Child Abuse Conference is now a focused, one-day experience.
Earn more than 7 continuing education hours. Choose from a wide range of breakout sessions, hear from keynote speakers and connect with peers in one day.
Join us on October 8, 2026, in Sioux Falls.
Conference sessions
Learn from speakers who will explore resilience, growth and adapting to change.
Resilience and redemption: The power of determination and the spirit of a child
Presented by Derek Clark. Derek shares his personal journey and the resilience that helped him move through trauma. The keynote explores determination, hope and the power of redemption.
Post-traumatic growth: What the dolphins taught me
Presented by Frank Grijalva. Frank describes how working with dolphins in the United States Navy Marine Mammal Program helped him learn about trust, attachment, behavior change, nonverbal communication and himself. The seminar considers personal growth through lessons from Blue, Otto and Mauka.
Resilience and adaptability: Strategies to thrive through change
Presented by Mike Kutzke. This session helps professionals strengthen their ability to adapt, stay focused and remain effective as funding pressures, priorities, technology and expectations change.
Nominate someone for the Outstanding Service Award
The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment presents the Outstanding Service Award each year during the Community Response to Child Abuse Conference. The award recognizes a person who has made an impact on the response to or prevention of child abuse in South Dakota.
Nominees may include, but are not limited to:
- A person who has made outstanding efforts in the field of child maltreatment.
- A person who has made substantial contributions to the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment’s 10-year plan to end child maltreatment in South Dakota.
- A person who has made a significant contribution to research on child maltreatment.
- A professional in child protection, law enforcement, mental health, education, law, medicine or another field who shows extraordinary dedication and skill in supporting children and families.
- A person who has made outstanding contributions to the prevention of child maltreatment.
- A person who has made outstanding contributions to the response to child maltreatment in South Dakota.
Past recipients
- Hollie Strand, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office
- Teresa Nieto, Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Tifanie Petro, Children’s Home Society of South Dakota
- Virgena Weiseler, Department of Social Services
- Deb Soholt, State Senate
- Chief Justice David Gilbertson, Unified Judicial System
- Carole Cochran
University of South Dakota Names Betsy Becker, Ph.D., DPT, as Dean of the School of Health Sciences
The University of South Dakota has announced the appointment of Betsy Becker, Ph.D., DPT, as the next dean of the School of Health Sciences. A distinguished clinician, educator and administrator, Becker returns to her alma mater to lead the school as its fourth dean since its establishment in 2008.
Becker, a 2014 alumna of the USD Department of Physical Therapy, brings a wealth of experience in academic leadership and clinical practice. She most recently served as chair of the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in the College of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), a post she has held since 2020. Her tenure at UNMC spanned over two decades, where she rose from assistant professor to tenured professor, also serving as graduate faculty and director of the physical therapy department.
Becker began her role in the School of Health Sciences in July.
SD ECCS
Touchpoints Webinars
The June session, Eliminating Child Lead Exposure: The South Dakota Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is now available to view.
Join us for upcoming ECCS Touchpoints webinars:
- August 11 | 12-1pm CT; South Dakota Children and the Food/Nutrition Landscape presented by Jennifer Noll Folliard, MPH, RDN
- September 8 | 12-1pm CT; Advancing Pediatric Medical Homes in South Dakota: Building Coordinated, Family‑Centered Care for Children presented by Jason Simon-Ressler, Child Health Coordinator, South Dakota Department of Health
Court Improvement Program
The June session, 2026 Legislative Session Review, is now available to view.
Join us for upcoming CIP Trainings:
- August 26 | 12-1pm CT; Child Welfare Proceedings and Courtroom Practice presented by Nicole Laughlin, Laughlin Law
- October 28 | 12-1pm CT; Ethics in Child Welfare Representation presented by Nicole Laughlin, Laughlin Law
- November 19 | 12-1pm CT; Understanding ICWA: The Gold Standard of Child Welfare – Improving Outcomes for Indian Families presented by Sheldon Spotted Elk and Dan Lewerenz
Join Our Team
The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) at the University of South Dakota is seeking a highly organized and mission-driven Foster Care Licensing and Placement Specialist to help children in need find safe, supportive foster care homes.
In this full-time role, you will work closely with the Department of Social Services and a distributed CPCM team to facilitate placement requests and match children with foster families who meet their needs. You’ll use your problem-solving skills, quick judgment, and strong communication to facilitate timely placements, while maintaining detailed documentation and ensuring compliance with all state requirements. This position is perfect for someone who thrives in fast-paced work environments and finds meaning in supporting vulnerable children and families. You will also help recruit, license, and retain foster care families in South Dakota.
As a Foster Care Licensing and Placement Specialist you will:
Coordinate timely and effective foster care placements, ensuring that each child is matched with a home that considers sibling bonds, cultural context, proximity, and special needs.
Maintain clear, ongoing communication and strong collaborative relationships with DSS Child Protective Services, DSS Office of Licensing & Accreditation, foster families, and fellow CPCM team members.
Assist with recruitment, support, licensure, and retention of foster and potential adoptive families.
Accurately track, document, and report licensure and placement-related data, meeting DSS and OLA compliance requirements.
https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu/postings/48397
South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative
CPCM is supporting the SD Healthy Nutrition Collaborative in partnership with Avera Research Institute and SD Department of Health in hosting community conversations to shape the future of food and nutrition in South Dakota.
Enjoy a meal featuring local foods while learning about South Dakota’s first-ever Food Landscape Report that was created through the largest collaboration of food and nutrition partners in South Dakota’s history. We will also explore FRANK (Food Resources, Access & Nutrition Knowledge)—a first-of-its-kind data dashboard.
These events take place at the following dates and locations:
- Pierre: Wednesday, Sept. 16
- Kyle: Thursday, Sept. 17
- Rapid City: Friday, Sept. 18
- Aberdeen: Wednesday, Sept. 23
- Sioux Falls: Thursday, Sept. 24
Each event will include giveaways showing our appreciation to you and the communities who make improvements to food and nutrition in South Dakota possible.