South Dakota Foster Care
and Adoption Guidelines

Things You Should Know

• Foster Care and Adoption Licensing Requirements
• Foster Care and Adoption Costs
• Agency Contact and Orientation Information
• Information on North Carolina's Waiting Children

Licensing Requirements for Foster or Adoption

You need to become licensed to foster and/or approved to adopt from foster care. To do this, you can work with a local CPS office or a private placement agency.

Adoption

If you are interested in learning about becoming an adoptive parent and you are 21 years of age, the first step is to contact a local CPS office.

If you are from the Sioux Falls or Rapid City area, please call the following telephone numbers to learn more about becoming an adoptive parent:

• Sioux Falls area: (605) 334-3431
• Rapid City area: (605) 343-2598

Here are your next steps:

• A packet containing information about becoming an adoptive parent will be mailed to those requesting it.
• Once contact has been made, a Family Services Specialist will explain the needs of children who are placed for adoption and outline the requirements for becoming an adoptive parent.

Foster Care

If you are interested in learning about becoming a foster parent and you are at least 21 years of age, the first step is to contact a local CPS office.

If you are from the Sioux Falls or Rapid City area, please call the following telephone numbers to learn more about becoming a foster parent:

• Sioux Falls area: (605) 334-3431
• Rapid City area: (605) 343-2598

Here are your next steps:

• A packet containing information regarding foster parenting will be mailed to those requesting it.
• Once contact has been made, a social worker will explain the needs of children in foster care and outline the requirements for becoming a foster parent.

Please note that 60 percent of the adoptions through the Department of Social Services in South Dakota are when families adopt their foster child.

Foster Care and Adoption Costs

No, adoption does not have to be expensive. Many families adopt each year using low-cost to almost no-cost adoption options.

Private placement agencies will place waiting children in the foster care system in an adoptive placement. When contacting private agencies please specify that you want to adopt from foster care to ensure you receive the correct information. Fees may vary depending on individual situations.

Post-Adoption Services

Adoption Subsidy

This provides monthly Medicaid and financial assistance for children who have special needs.

Respite Care

This is temporary relief care designed for families of children with special needs. Respite care can range from a few hours of care provided on a one-time basis to overnight or extended care sessions. For all adoptive families, the only eligibility criteria is that a child is adopted. Human Services will pay up to $500 per year for Respite Care. This service is provided through the South Dakota Department of Human Services. For more information, contact the Department of Human Services at 800-265-9684.

Children's Home Society

Children’s Home Society provides a variety of services to families who have adopted children. Adoption services are specialized to meet the needs of families whose children have challenging behaviors, attachment issues or other adjustment problems. For more information, contact Roxie Schmitz at (605) 334-6004.

Services provided include the following:

• Assessments: Assessments guide the development of a service plan for the family and may include the following components:
  • Psychiatric evaluation
  • Psychological evaluation
  • Social assessment (child and family)
  • Marschack interaction method
  • In-home family dynamics assessment
• Therapy: The location of therapy services is decided by the family. Home-based services for the family are also offered by Children's Home Society.
  • Individual Therapy (child only)
  • Family Therapy
  • Multi Family Therapy - Parents and child involved in extended family therapy in a multi-family model
  • Group Therapy for Child - Topic oriented, psycho education therapy groups
• Respite Care: This includes child care or supervision at a Children's Home Society residential facility, a licensed foster family or approved adoptive family, or in a group or residential facility for adolescents operated by Lutheran Social Services.
• Support:
  • Parent Support Group
  • Families’ travel expenses to secure services
  • Training/Therapy Materials
  • Case management to assist families in meeting the unique needs of the children
• School Consultation: This includes consultation with Sioux Falls Children’s Home education staff.

Agency Contact and Orientation Information

View a list of local Child Protection Services offices in South Dakota.

Information on South Dakota's Waiting Children

In the month of September 2008, there were 1,311 children in foster care in South Dakota; 26 children have a plan of adoption.