August 2026 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Community Response to Child Abuse Conference, October 8
- Welcome to School of Health Sciences Dean Becker
- ECCS 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 power-packed one-day experience.
Earn 7+ continuing education hours while choosing from a wide range of breakout sessions, hearing from inspiring keynote speakers, and connecting with peers—all in one day.
📅 Join us October 8, 2026 in Sioux Falls for a conference that includes:
Resilience and Redemption: The Power of Determination and the Spirit of a Child presented by Derek Clark
Derek shares his personal journey, emphasizing the resilience that allowed him to overcome brutal trauma. The keynote takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions, from the depths of despair to the heights of triumph, illustrating the transformative power of redemption.
Post Traumatic Growth, What the Dolphins Taught Me presented by Frank Grijalva
Highly adaptive, impulsive and reactive until I was 23 years old I began to awaken to the real world when I was assigned to the Marine Mammal program of the US Navy. Working with dolphins I began to learn about trust, attachment, behavior modification, nonverbal communication and ultimately myself. This seminar will look at personal growth through the lessons of my teachers Blue, Otto and Mauka.
Resilience and Adaptability: Strategies to Thrive Through Change presented by Mike Kutzke
This session is designed to help professionals strengthen their ability to adapt, stay focused, and remain effective in today’s fast-paced and constantly changing work environment. As funding pressures, shifting priorities, technology changes, and rising expectations continue to reshape the workplace, this session helps participants enhance their ability to respond constructively to ongoing challenges rather than feeling overwhelmed by them.
Nominate an Individual for the Outstanding Service Award
The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment annually presents the Outstanding Service Award during the Community Response to Child Abuse Conference. This award is presented to an individual who has made a great impact in the response to or prevention of child abuse in South Dakota. Nominations may include but are not limited to:
- An individual who has made an outstanding efforts to assist in the field of child maltreatment.
- An individual who has made substantial contributions specifically to CPCM’s 10-year plan to end child maltreatment in South Dakota
- An individual who has made significant contribution to research on child maltreatment.
- A professional (child protection, law enforcement, mental health, education, legal, medical, etc.) who demonstrates extraordinary dedication and skill in his or her direct care efforts on behalf of children and families.
- An individual who has made outstanding contributions to the prevention of child maltreatment.
- An individual who has made outstanding contribution to the response of child maltreatment in South Dakota.
Past recipients of the award include: 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, SD Kids Count; and Special Agent Cameron Corey, Division of Criminal Investigation.
Nominations are accepted through August 28, 2026.
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
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:
South Dakota Children and the Food/Nutrition Landscape presented by Jennifer Noll Folliard, MPH, RDN
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:
Child Welfare Proceedings and Courtroom Practice presented by Nicole Laughlin, Laughlin Law
Ethics in Child Welfare Representation presented by Nicole Laughlin, Laughlin Law
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:
Each event will include giveaways showing our appreciation to you and the communities who make improvements to food and nutrition in South Dakota possible.
