The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment at USD was established in 2017 to develop a sustainable solution to reduce child sexual abuse and maltreatment in South Dakota.
Our Mission
The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment’s mission is to stop all maltreatment against South Dakota children in order to foster resilient families.
“The time is now to bring child sexual abuse out of the shadows. Combating child sexual abuse requires removing the societal stigma about the topic, recognizing that it exists in our state amongst all populations, and having the courage to support our children through knowledge, response, and prevention.”
– Former South Dakota Senator Deb Soholt, Past-Chair of the CPCM Advisory Board
What We’ve Achieved
- Developed a foundation of sustainability for CPCM, including networking with service agencies state wide.
- Applied for grant funding to study and implement a single-point data system.
- In collaboration with Department of Health, developed and distributed pediatric sexual assault evidence collection kits to medical facilities and law enforcement agencies across the state.
- Surveyed SD teachers and administrators to identify their knowledge of and response to reporting child abuse.
- Piloted South Dakota’s first regional Multidisciplinary Team (REACH Team) in the Watertown area to serve as a unified response and prosecution team for cases of child sexual abuse and maltreatment in 13 surrounding counties.
- In collaboration with The Helpline, created a state-wide resource database for information regarding child sexual abuse.