The population disparity of South Dakota makes providing services of all types a challenge for the rural regions.  According to the Attorney General?s report all of South Dakota (with few exceptions) is considered geographically isolated due to the sparse population statewide, as compared to the rest of the country.  South Dakota is composed of concentrated populations on the Eastern and Western boarders of the state.  Providing services to small rural communities is often a challenge for service providers.  However, The South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault has been able to support fifteen rural advocates servicing thirty-nine satellite offices in rural counties where there is currently not a facility for victims to seek shelter or information.  Rural advocates distribute the information through posters and stickers displayed in key locations.    

Training for direct service providers is conducted bi-annually by the South Dakota Department of Social Services on ways to better serve minority women and children, older battered women, and women and children who live in very rural isolated areas of the state, and other related topics. The South Dakota Department of Social Services also funds an association that provides on-going training that includes a minimum of four workshops each year as well as technical assistance to victim service agencies.

VOCA funds were awarded to 6 victims? services programs located on reservations in South Dakota.  Training is also available to tribal law enforcement officers upon request.  The Department of Social Services also recognizes the need to increase efforts to include tribal governments in the planning process in order to enhance and coordinate services and identify gaps in coverage.  This process has been initiated by making contact with the South Dakota Office of Tribal Government Relations in the Department of Tourism and State Development.  The Director of this office, Roger Campbell, has agreed to assist in identifying leadership and key contacts of the following groups:  Tribal Prosecutors, Tribal Courts and Tribal Law Enforcement.  Mr. Campbell has also indicated that his office would be willing to be a partner in the state planning process for the future, both directly and indirectly in identifying the key partners in the individual tribal governments to include.  South Dakota is home to nine separate and distinct tribal governments including: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Government, Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Government, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Government, Lower Brule Sioux Tribal Government, Oglala Sioux Tribal Government, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Government, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribal Government, Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Government, and Yankton Sioux Tribal Government.  

The South Dakota Department of Social Services, Adult Services & Aging, Victims? Services program coordinated and funded a 3 day Domestic Violence Institute from December 4-6 2007.  Approximately 300 victim service providers attended the training.  The conference received excellent evaluations from attendees.  Many attendees report they look forward to it and it?s the best conference they attend.  The next Domestic Violence Institute will be held in 2009.  The Victims? services program has also contracted with a site consultant who makes annual on-site visits to service providers and provides technical assistance to VOCA funded substrantees.

See Arrachment.

Reporting statistics for FFY 2007 indicate a disparity between the population of Native Americans residing in South Dakota and the percentage of Native Americans in South Dakota who are accessing services as victims of violence.  While Native Americans make up just over 8% of the population for the State of South Dakota, they represent about 40% of the clients served by domestic abuse shelters and programs in the state. The State will give special emphasis to the support of community-based projects of demonstrated effectiveness carried out by non-profit private organizations, including those projects which serve Native American victims.  



Subgrantees in the Sioux Falls area are also reporting a noticeable increase in the immigrant and refugee population in their community.  In response they have attended training on services available to immigrants and refugees; been involved in bi-weekly participation on a Hispanic radio station; and served on the Lutheran Social Services Immigrant and Refugee Services Advisory Board.  Staff at the Children?s Inn in Sioux Falls also participate in a statewide Battered Immigrant Woman?s Team that meets bi-monthly.

The administrative funds have been used for salaries that provide training and technical assistance, and on-site monitoring to 35 victim service programs.  Administrative funds have also assisted program directors with travel and per diem to attend national and state planning meetings.