South Dakota
SOUTH DAKOTA
Mary Livermont
Program Specialist
Child Protection Services
South Dakota Department of Social Services
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3227
(605) 773-6834 Fax
maryl@dss.state.sd.us
General: After pilot testing a second process for responding to child abuse and neglect reports, the State has used assessment along with investigation since 1995. The assessment process focuses more on the family than on the specific child who has been reported as an alleged victim. Whether a report is assigned an investigation or an assessment is based on a number of factors including possible criminal charges, prior history, severity, health and safety of the child, and other risk issues.
Item 2.1: The family-based number contains the family assessments.
Item 2.2:This item contains both family-based and child-based reports. "Other" includes social services personnel, substitute care providers, and alleged perpetrators.
Item 2.3: "In Need of Services" dispositions are family-based. All other investigation dispositions are child-based. "Other Dispositions" includes families who received assessments but did not require, accept, or receive services. No specific finding of maltreatment is assigned to assessments of families.
Item 3.2:Because assessments are tracked by family, not by child, they are not included here.
Item 4.1: "Neglect" includes medical neglect.
Item 4.2-4.5: Data are based on children who received substantiated or indicated dispositions through the investigation process. Children of families who received assessments are not included.
Item 4.5: "Other" includes African American, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Item 6.1: Data are based on perpetrator relationships to children who received substantiated or indicated dispositions through the investigation process. Children of families who received assessments are not included.
