South Dakota Department of Health

The South Dakota WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program held its annual in-person meetings in Pierre on July 8 and 9. Our dedicated Peer Counselors, who are spread across the state serving pregnant and breastfeeding women enrolled in the WIC program, usually work virtually. This face-to-face time was a welcome opportunity for connection and collaboration. We also had the pleasure of honoring two of our outstanding peer counselors, Jennie Bauske and Angela Shelnutt, with awards for their 10 years of dedicated service. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to supporting the moms of South Dakota!

Excited to share that Marty Link has been nominated for the Hooley New Frontier Award! This award recognizes those who are going above and beyond the call of duty, breaking new ground or serving in a humanitarian way. His dedication and innovation are truly making a difference in EMS. Thanks to our partnership with Avel eCare and Governor Noem's leadership, 100 EMS departments across South Dakota now have real-time telemedicine support in their ambulances.

NOW HIRING: Forensics Case Manager in Pierre, SD For more details, https://ow.ly/WQLO50SI6yU

The June 2024 issue of the PulseSD Newsletter is out! You can view the newsletter here: https://ow.ly/JQm850SIxQW

🌟 Meet Cassie Deffenbaugh, Administrator for the Office of Licensure and Certification at SD DOH! 🏥 Cassie is passionate about safeguarding the health and safety of South Dakotans every day. Here's a glimpse into her journey and what she loves about public health: "I have the great privilege to work alongside knowledgeable and compassionate individuals who understand the importance of protecting health and safety. Our team impacts healthcare journeys at every point - from routine labs to hospital care, dialysis, and more. Public health allows us to make a profound difference in so many lives, and I'm honored to serve alongside dedicated providers and partners." Cassie's dedication embodies our commitment to protecting South Dakota's patients and residents. Join us in celebrating her impactful work and the future of public health! 🌟 View video: https://lnkd.in/gJgtuXMw Learn more about Licensure and Certification: https://lnkd.in/gNgKFbgM #FacesOfPublicHealth #SDHealthcareHeroes #ProtectingSD

The South Dakota Office of Rural Health, along with our many partners, continues to work at addressing South Dakota’s healthcare workforce needs. Check out our summer newsletter to see what’s noteworthy: https://ow.ly/sYZx50SFEII

Exciting News! The South Dakota Office of Rural Health Flex Program proudly received an award for MBQIP Performance at the Flex Reverse Site Visit! Presented by Michael Fallahkair, Deputy Associate Administrator of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, this recognition highlights our commitment to improving healthcare in rural communities.

Amber Hodgin from the Office of Rural Health (ORH) presented to nine other state offices of rural health leadership at the annual National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) Region E meeting last week. Amber shared the strategic analysis that South Dakota is conducting to ensure the programming within the ORH is impactful and helps secure access to healthcare for South Dakotans.

At the SD AHEC Mission Possible: Advancing Action Against Substance Use Together Conference, key leaders came together to discuss major efforts in tackling substance use. SD Department of Health Secretary Melissa Magstadt, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul Ten Haken, and Melanie Boetel from the Division of Behavioral Health highlighted innovative programs like the Overdose Data to Action program and community partnerships. Their collaborative approach is making strides in improving health and safety across our state.

📢 Attention South Dakota Residents! 📢 The Department of Health is currently conducting the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey in collaboration with the CDC. 📞 🔍 How It Works: - Phone numbers are randomly selected across the state. - Our contractor, LOGIT US, Inc., will contact selected residents via phone (landline or cellphone) with a caller ID displaying "SD Health Survey." - The caller will identify themselves as calling on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Health. 🔒 Your Privacy Matters: - All information collected is confidential and anonymous. - Participation is voluntary. - We never ask for sensitive information such as social security numbers or banking details. Your input is valuable in helping us improve the health of our community. Thank you for your participation! 🙏 https://lnkd.in/gPZaFMas #SDHealthSurvey #PublicHealth #SouthDakota