Mental Health Memo: 5 Back-to-School-Tips
“Back to School” season can be full of excitement and new adventures, but, for some, the thought of going back to school can bring overwhelming feelings of anxiety about the unknown.


Families set to receive food assistance for school children due to COVID-19
The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) in collaboration with the Department of Education (DOE) will be providing assistance with food costs to families who lost access to free or reduced-price school meals during the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19 related school closures.


Funding available to help child care providers
To help ensure child care services remain strong, the Department of Social Services (DSS) is making funding available to support child care programs and the families they serve.


Young people formerly in foster care may qualify for pandemic relief
Young people between the ages of 18-27 who were previously in foster care may be eligible for COVID-19 financial relief and some can choose to re-enter foster care.

"Mental Health Memo": Making Summer 2021 a summer to remember
This is the first in an ongoing monthly series of columns (Mental Health Memo) to be authored by a variety of mental health professionals at the Human Services Center in Yankton.


Reunification with birth family main goal of foster care
The main goal of foster care through the Department of Social Services (DSS) is to safely return children to their birth family.


DSS launches program to help with behavioral health costs
The Department of Social Services (DSS) recently launched the Behavioral Health Voucher Program, offering funding assistance and support for mental health and substance use services.


Governor Noem calls for raising mental health awareness
Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month in South Dakota.


South Dakota kicks off Stronger Families Together
To help address the need for more foster and adoptive families for children in South Dakota, Governor Kristi Noem kicked off an ongoing recruitment initiative today called Stronger Families Together.


Tenth Annual National Prevention Week
Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed May 9-15, 2021, as Prevention Week in South Dakota.


Child care providers honored for service.
Child care providers in South Dakota are being honored by the Department of Social Services (DSS) for the work they do to help support families.