2020 Annual Report

BE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT The mission of Children’s Home Society of South Dakota (CHS) is to empower children, adults, families and communities Let us put to be resilient, safe, healthy our minds together and strong. and see what life BETTER TOGETHER As the oldest nonprofit human we can make services organization in South Dakota, established in for our children. 1893, CHS innovates by evolving to meet the changing needs of SITTING BULL, HUNKPAPA LAKOTA the people we serve. Our six programs are detailed in the pages of this report. Better Together is one of our fundamental values. It’s because we can only achieve our mission when we work together—with one another; with the people we serve and their families; with donors, volunteers and leaders; and with partners in our communities. 01 WHO IS CHS? We are 330+ employees, along with numerous volunteers, donors and board members. We are accountants, administrators, advocates, case managers, cooks, coordinators, counselors, directors, forensic interviewers, fundraisers, housekeepers, HR specialists, maintenance workers, marketers, nurses, secretaries, social workers, teachers, therapists, OF PEOPLE THOUSANDS YEAR, CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY SERVES EACH technicians and more. We are diverse in ability, age, education, experience, race, gender and talent. We are kind, tenacious, passionate, professional and mission driven. – OUR VALUES – AND FAMILIES FROM EVER AND FAMILIES “I am immensely We are better together. proud to share the We collectively steward the mission and resources of CHS story! As one of Children’s Home Society and work together to shape the region’s leading the future for children, families and our community. trauma informed social service We choose kindness. agencies, we are fully committed to Y COUNTY IN SOUTH DAKOTA. We bring out the best in ourselves and others by cultivating an environment of growth, understanding helping heal and and respect. prevent trauma so all South Dakotans have the opportunity We are tenacious. to lead safe, healthy We do whatever it takes to live our mission and light and fulfilling lives.” a path forward for children and families facing adversity. MICHELLE LAVALLEE CEO 03 Rising to the Challenge. Together. Nationally and locally, 2020 was an extremely challenging year. CHS is proud of our hard work, the commitment of our staff and our unified response, which included: Following safety measures, such as screening, quarantining, social distancing, hand-washing, masking and cleaning Adjusting by putting up tents to replace home visits; creating fun activities; helping cover staff absences by changing schedules; providing encouragement, etc. IT commitment and flexibility in setting up staff to work remotely as needed Shifting to video or phone conferencing for therapy, nurse visits and Prevention and Community Based Services training events (an unexpected silver lining of the pandemic was seeing dramatic increases in participation) At Children’s Home Adapting major fundraising events in Sioux Falls and Society, we believe the Black Hills to ensure safety in the power of teamwork. That’s Functioning with no volunteers, which affected why we say we’re dozens of activities and programs, including Christmas, better together. It’s Big Buddies, Sunday School, sports teams on campus, field trips, outings and much, much more why our six programs deliver outstanding outcomes, year after A focus on uniting and uplifting staff through enhanced communication, transparency and year. And it’s why engagement, as well as increased compensation, we are united by additional benefits, diversity education, leadership training and more. the philosophy of bringing the finest care and services to the most vulnerable people in South Dakota. 05 Residential Treatment and Day School Black Hills Children’s Home (BHCH) and Sioux Falls Children’s Home (SFCH) are psychiatric residential treatment centers and special education schools for children, ages 4-14, with severe emotional and behavioral needs. Many of the children are victims of domestic violence, neglect, and emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. It is also part of the CHS mission to partner with caring parents to help their children who have emotional or behavioral needs. – 2020 SERVICES PROVIDED – BLACK HILLS CHILDREN’S HOME Residential Treatment & Education 58 Children SIOUX FALLS CHILDREN’S HOME Residential Treatment & Education 98 Children Day School Program 40 Children 2020–21 Program Budget: $15,062,617 Charitable Support Needed: (18%) $2,684,287 full-time position, becoming a couldn’t attend to their kids,” team coordinator. Eventually “This isn’t just a April says. Her father was in she married, had children, job. You really have What becomes of and out of the State Penitentiary and began to enjoy a fulfilling the children who during her childhood. relationship with her parents, to have your heart who had changed and are still involved, and you leave the CHS “I was at BHCH for nine months,” doing well today. Residential Care April says. “I think my brother have to want to do programs? was here around two years and When she decided to continue this. You also have HOME IS my sister for about two and a her education, April received Some former residents have half years.” the CHS Madden Family to be optimistic and come back to say hi and stay Scholarship to attend Western know that there are WHERE THIS for a few minutes. April knew her mother loved her Dakota Tech in Rapid City. She going to be hard and the stay at BHCH became earned an Applied Science in HEART IS But a very special one has a pivotal moment. “She came Surgical Technology degree and days, but we’ll get come back to say hi and stay here for therapy,” says April. worked at Monument Health as through it. There’s for 18 years—and counting. “I really think this place helped a Surgical Technologist in the her a lot. I remember she got operating room. Then she was more good than April Roselles, Lead Team an award, I think from Fred approached to return to BHCH. bad. There’s way Coordinator at Black Hills Tully—a parenting award for Children’s Home (BHCH) was being consistent, showing up April answered the call, leaving more good nine years old when she first and being involved. That was behind her new career. And she than bad.” arrived at Children’s Home. nice for her at a time when she has no regrets. “I’m glad to be “I came with both my siblings; probably felt she wasn’t being a back because I really believe my “Basically I came back to give I have a younger brother and a very good parent. Affirmation is heart is here,” she says. back what I was given, because younger sister,” she says. She always important.” I literally know this place and her siblings had been in About working with the children changed our lives,” April says. foster homes prior to BHCH. Returning home at BHCH, April says, “I can “I wanted to come back and relate to the difficulties these provide that to other kids.” “My parents had a lot of April’s home life improved, kids go through. I can be very difficulties. My mom had me with no more stays in foster or empathetic and truly understand when she was 17. Her mom residential care. But she never where they’re coming from. died two weeks before I was forgot BHCH. While still in high And then I can show them that born. My father was not a good school, April began working at they can be okay, they can BHCH Lead Team Coordinator April Roselles spent time at Children’s Home during man then. They both had drug BHCH as a part-time counselor. overcome this.” her childhood. She chooses to work at CHS because she wants to “give back what addictions, alcohol addictions, After graduation, she took a I was given.” things like that, so they just CHSSD.ORG/RESIDENTIAL-TREATMENT-AND-EDUCATION 07 “If you need help, the staff will help you. And you can always tell them what you’re feeling.” – MIA Sometimes becoming ordinary is the most extraordinary thing that can happen. Mia’s early years were “It was more than just the typical extraordinary—in the worst defiance we see from kids,” way. By age four she had been Kelly says. sexually abused by a relative. She was removed from her “Mia’s example of how adults mother’s home and her father care for kids was not accurate, took custody of her. not safe and not healthy. As staff tried to care for her, even But her dad’s job involved with daily tasks like helping frequent travel, and he wasn’t her comb her hair, she would AN EXTRAORDINARY able to care for a young child. be resistant because she had He left Mia with various people learned not to trust anyone.” for various lengths of time. “We TRANSFORMATION don’t even know how many Staff began to consider a higher different people he left her with. level of care for Mia, such as Over the course “Mia just blossomed and uncertain. Staff didn’t want to story,” Kelly says. “Alice is Were they safe people? Did they the Human Services Center of two years, staff became such a delight and a get Mia’s hopes up if placement fantastic and both of them care for her? Did they abuse in Yankton. joy. It was such a turnaround. couldn’t happen; at the same are so caring, willing to her?” says Kelly Van Den Berg, worked with Mia She had accepted help and time, they didn’t want Alice to accept help and learn about CHS Family Therapist. Solution, support to build healthy caregiving to the point where lose interest.

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