Sustainable Strategies for Revolutionizing Child Care in South Dakota

The South Dakota Child Care Task Force released a report on Jan. 10, 2025, that takes an in-depth look at the current state of early childhood education and care in South Dakota.

The report provides critical insights into the landscape and challenges that children, families, employers and educators across the state currently face.

Titled "Sustainable Solutions for Transforming Child Care in South Dakota," the report compiles data from national and state data sources, including surveys and expert interviews, to assess the strengths and gaps in South Dakota’s current early childhood infrastructure. The comprehensive study examines key issues such as access to high-quality child care, affordability, and workforce development and proposes policy considerations on early childhood initiatives.

The South Dakota Child Care Task Force and The Hunt Institute, which facilitated the task force and wrote the report, held a release event that explored the findings in detail and invited the nearly 200 registered participants an opportunity to ask further questions. A recording of the webinar and a copy of the full report are available on the Early Learner South Dakota website and the Center for Prevention of Child Maltreatment website.

The statewide South Dakota Child Care Task Force is excited to announce its work will continue for another four years. The upcoming year will focus on Out-of-School Time Care.

Throughout 2024, the South Dakota Child Care Task Force convened four times, discussing the early childhood landscape in South Dakota and seeking sustainable solutions. The Hunt Institute, a trusted partner of the Task Force, helped convene these meetings as well as develop the report. This report is designed to lay the groundwork for stakeholders in South Dakota to develop effective solutions to the lingering child care deficit in the state.

For more information, contact Kayla Klein at 605-430-9396 or Kayla@kleinvg.com.