Chrissie Young has been named as the next director of the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) at the University of South Dakota.

Young will be responsible for providing administrative oversight and effective leadership to the CPCM, a public service center established at USD within the School of Health Sciences in 2017 per Jolene’s Taskforce recommendation. The purpose of the center is to deliver statewide education and training, outreach, and research resources and services geared towards eliminating child sexual abuse and maltreatment in South Dakota.

Young holds an M.S. in human services administration from Bellevue University in Nebraska and is skilled in program, policy and advocacy and relationship management. Most recently, she served as chief operations officer for the Grossmann Law Firm, and is vice president on the executive board for Siouxland Mental Health Center executive board of directors. In addition, she has served as VP of Operations and Administration at Avalon Capital Group and was the Director of In Home Family Services at Boys Town Iowa for several years.

“Young is a dedicated professional with a track record of the effective leadership, administration and strategic thinking that is necessary for the success and sustainability of the CPCM,” said School of Health Sciences Dean Haifa Abou Samra.

“We are so excited for Young to join CPCM,” confirmed Taylor Rehfeldt, chair of the CPCM board of directors. “Her background is impressive with a skillset that includes advocacy and relationship building. I look forward to watching her develop and sustain CPCMs goal to stop child maltreatment and promote resilient families.”

Young began work at the CPCM on Nov. 1, 2023.