South Dakota

Vision for Supporting Families and the CoP in SD:

Supports to ALL families in South Dakota to live their good life through the following:

  • Engaging in open communication and education regarding resources available or needed by families to navigate the DD system
  • Gaining a deeper understanding of the needs of people with IDD and their families
  • Identifying opportunities for systems change through partnership and feedback from family members and self-advocates as well as by leveraging the resources of the National CoP for Supporting Families, the SD CoP State Team, and the Charting the LifeCourse framework.

Innovation/Focus Areas:

  • Increase engagement of family members in the CoP for Supporting Families

    • Develop focused outreach and invitations for groups such as Partners in Policymaking graduates, Special Olympics (through the podcast), Statewide Family Engagement Center (at planned family fest events)

    • Invite families to a “exploration” opportunity to learn more about the CoP, how they can be involved, etc.

  • Gather, catalogue, and streamline the information and resources to highlight efforts and identify opportunities to partner

    • Establish an organizational framework and structure for this and ask the Ambassador group for assistance (potentially using national team TA to facilitate)

  • Establish and provide support for “affinity groups,” providing each group with general parameters, goals, and a mechanism to share their reflections and ideas around key topics

    • Supported decision making

    • Education

    • Navigation and access

    • Dual diagnosis/mental health

    • Develop an infrastructure/process for setting a vision, gathering information (with feedback from people and families), identifying next steps

    •  Identify, coach, and support leaders of the affinity groups through TA from the National CoP team

    • Connect with the state CoP stakeholder group for informing, inviting, etc.

Supporting Links:

SD CoP Lead Partners:

State Agencies:

  • Dept. of Education – Office of Special Education
  • Dept. of Health – Maternal & Child Health
  • South Dakota Developmental Center
  • Dept. of Human Services – Division of Long Term Services & Supports

Family & Self-Advocate Groups:

  • Family Support Council
  • DD Council
  • SD Advocates for Change
  • Partners in Policymaking

Providers:

  • Benchmark Human Services – Case Management
  • LifeQuest Family Support 360
  • Resources for Human Development – SD Case Management
  • South Dakota Parent Connection (PTAC)
  • Disability Rights South Dakota (SD Protection & Advocacy)
  • Augustana College – Augie Access
  • University of South Dakota – Center for Disabilities (UCEDD)
  • Statewide Family Engagement Center

SD CoP for Supporting Families Facilitators:

Carrie Geppert
Facilitator
Division of Developmental Disabilities
carrie.geppert@state.sd.us

Arlene Poncelet
Director
Developmental Disabilities Council

Julie Hand
Facilitator
Division of Developmental Disabilities
julie.hand@state.sd.us