South Dakota post-adoption support
Below are post-adoption support services available to families who live in South Dakota. Services may not be available in all areas and/or may be dependent upon the circumstances of the placement. Please check with your post-adoption services provider about the availability of specific post-adoption or guardianship support services for your family. You can also visit Child Welfare Information Gateway for information on Adoption and Guardianship Assistance, as well as additional information on post-adoption support.
On this page:
Post-adoption/guardianship support services
Post-adoption services in South Dakota are administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS). Post-adoption services are provided on a case-by case basis and may include:
- Information and referral
- Financial support to attend educational programs.
- Support groups for parents
- Therapeutic intervention
- Advocacy
- Respite Care
- Residential treatment
- Birth family mediation and/or adoption search (passive registry available)
South Dakota has contracted with the Children’s Home Society to provide evaluations and therapy for adopted children and their families. To apply for post-adoption services, parents should visit Children’s Home Society’s Foster Care and Adoption website or call the Children’s Home Society in Black Hills at 605-343-2811 or in Sioux Falls at 605-965-3192.
For adoption search information, parents can visit the Voluntary Adoption Registry or the state’s Opening Adoption Records.
Not all services may be available in all cases. Parents should contact their adoption assistance worker for information regarding process, eligibility, availability, and duration of services.
Parent support groups
Below are support groups for adoptive, kinship, and foster families. Support groups may be offered as part of a state’s post-adoption/guardianship support program, through a statewide or regional foster or adoptive parent association, through specific agencies, or may be run independently. If we have additional information about the group’s purpose or the community served, it’s provided under the group’s contact information.
To add a group or make a suggestion, email the AdoptUSKids family support team.
Adoption Support
605-965-3192 or 605-334-6004
Location: Sioux Falls
Building Forever Families - Adoption & Family Services
barb.4everfam@gmail.com
888-296-0879
Location: Faulkton
Catholic Social Services
css@cssrapidcity.com
Location: Rapid City
Children’s Home Society of South Dakota
anne.mcgovern@chssd.org
Location: Rapid City
Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota
Location: Sioux Falls
SD DSS Child Protection Svcs. Family Support Online
schmitz@chssd.org
Location: Sioux Falls