SIOUX FALLS – Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed September as Kinship Care Appreciation Month in South Dakota. The month is the time to acknowledge the relatives, members of Native American tribes, and non-related connections who provide ongoing care and nurturing for children.

“In all of our programming and the services we deliver, the Department seeks to strengthen families in South Dakota,” Department of Social Services Cabinet Secretary Matt Althoff said. “Kinship care providers play a crucial role in ensuring children maintain connections to their family and its unique traditions while they cannot remain in the home of a parent. Whenever possible, and in the best interest of the child, relatives are usually the very best alternative to parents.”

When providing kindship care, caregivers often have areas of need and may require extra support to meet the needs of the additional children they have received into their care. DSS, in partnership with Lutheran Social Services, has launched a new kinship navigator program called Kinship South Dakota.

Kinship South Dakota helps kinship providers access parenting resources and financial support as they care for additional relatives in their home. The program also identifies services to meet any developmental, medial, educational, and behavioral needs those children may have.

To be eligible for support, kinship caregivers must be South Dakota residents, have full-time care of a child in their home, and be a relative, custodian, or unrelated yet familiar adult to the child. Kinship South Dakota conducts a needs assessment for each family. If additional support is needed, the kinship navigator services will accompany the caregiver by offering advocacy, problem-solving, and/or additional guidance for overcoming barriers to better -care for their kin whom they have received into their home. 

Inquiries and referrals can be made to Kinship South Dakota from child welfare agency staff, kinship families, counselors, professionals, community partners, or any concerned individual. To reach Kinship South Dakota, you can call 1-844-344-9482 or 605-601-3410, or send inquiries/ referrals via email to KinshipSD@LssSD.org. Kinship South Dakota is funded by the South Dakota Department of Social Services.