The South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) continues to respond to the emergence of the novel coronavirus. We are working with the CDC and our healthcare partners across the state to protect South Dakotans from COVID-19.

Ensuring the people supported at the South Dakota Developmental Center are cared for in a safe and healthy environment is our greatest concern. At this time, we don’t have any cases in our facility. However, we are restricting visitation to the SDDC campus for the time being. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your case manager.

Due to the recent developments with COVID-19, employees of the South Dakota Department of Human Services will be working remotely until May 2nd. You can reach staff as usual via phone, email or our main line 605-773-5990.

The South Dakota Board of Vocational Rehabilitation, Board of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Statewide Independent Living Council are now accepting nominations for the 2020 Governor’s Awards.

Gov. Kristi Noem has proclaimed March Adult Nutrition Month (ANM) in South Dakota.

March is Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Awareness Month. I/DD Awareness Month raises awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life, as well as awareness to the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.

Dakota at Home is a free information and referral service provided by the Department of Human Services, Division of Long Term Services and Supports. Dakota at Home provides objective information and options planning to help individuals, regardless of age, disability, or income, identify and access public and private services and supports in their local communities.

Shared living is an arrangement of services provided in the private home of a participant, or a family, in which care is provided to a participant. Shared Living is meant to provide a more person-centered approach to supporting a participant where the participant and the selected provider share a life. Anyone with the desire to help someone with an IDD live a quality life can apply to be a Shared Living provider through a Community Support Provider (CSP). The size of the home doesn't matter. This can include one roommate in an apartment or home or joining a family sharing their own house.