South Dakota is famous for its scenic Badlands, the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Black Hills gold jewelry, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Prairie, grassland, and farmland cover 90% of the state, where herds of buffalo ranged in the thousands. Historical figures like Lewis and Clark, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Sitting Bull, and General George Custer are all part of South Dakota’s lively past. South Dakota covers 75,885 square miles, with a 2008 estimated population of 804,194 people – 434,611 living in rural South Dakota (USDA-ERS, 2008). Pierre, the capital, is located in the central region of the state. The state’s largest cities are Sioux Falls and Rapid City. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 88.4% of the state’s population is white, 8.3% is American Indian & Alaska Native, and 2.3% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2007).
There are 61 hospitals in South Dakota, 48 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, Dec. 2008). The state has 38 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals (April, 2009). There are 59 Rural Health Clinics in South Dakota (CMS, 2009), and 6 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 44 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2008). Most South Dakotans have some form of health insurance coverage, although 11% of its residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2006-2007.)
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all South Dakotans in 2007 was $35,760, although rural per-capita income lagged at $33,650. 2008 estimates indicate a poverty rate of 15.5% exists in rural South Dakota, compared to a 9.4% level in urban areas of the state. 2000 data reports 17.8% of the rural population has not completed high school, while only 12% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural South Dakota is at 3.2%, and in urban South Dakota it is at 2.8% (USDA-ERS, 2008).
For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.
Data Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts
USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts
Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List
Organizations
Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas (CHAD)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to provide leadership on primary health care issues in the areas of community development, health career resources, and health policy in North Dakota and South Dakota.
Dakota Rural Action
State/regional organization
Acts as a grassroots family agriculture and conservation group that organizes South Dakotans to protect family farmers, ranchers, natural resources, and a way of life.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: South Dakota
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
Midwest Assistance Program (MAP)
State/regional organization
Aims to help rural communities in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to improve their environment, quality of life and be self-sustaining.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region (NN/LM-GMR)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health professionals, librarians and members of the public in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Northern Great Plains Inc. (NGP)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to maximize the potential of the Northern Great Plains region through regional collaboration, by identifying and promoting policies and practices that support an integrated approach to economic opportunity, a healthy environment and vital rural communities.
Proyecto/Project IDEAS
State/regional organization
Strives to improve HIV prevention services for Latino/Hispanic populations living in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. Focuses on adapting and tailoring CDC-approved interventions that are culturally, linguistically and educationally appropriate. This is a capacity building assistance program for community-based organizations and state and local health departments.
Rural Learning Center
Local organization
Partners with local groups and connects people and organizations from around South Dakota and the region to share stories and discoveries and foster change in rural communities. Based in Howard, South Dakota.
South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO)
State/regional organization
Represents and serves health care organizations across the State. This is a non-profit, state-wide professional/trade association whose membership is diverse, spanning various types of institutional ownership, geographic location, size, and complexities of service. Members include general acute care, veterans, Indian Health Services, and nursing facilities, home health agencies, assisted living centers, and hospice organizations.
South Dakota Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (SD CCCP)
State/regional organization
Dedicated to bringing together individuals, organizations, health care providers, and agencies to reduce the burden that cancer places on the people of South Dakota. Promotes and supports programs and policies for cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, data and research, survivor issues, and end of life/palliation.
South Dakota Department of Education, Office of Educational Services & Support: Special Education (OESS)
State government
Promotes leadership and service among administrators and educators, who touch the lives of children on a daily basis. Provides resources and services that directly impact children and their parents.
South Dakota Department of Health (DOH)
State government
Provides services and resources to promote health, access to needed, high-quality health care, and to manage public health resources.
South Dakota Department of Health: Office of Data, Statistics & Vital Records
State government
Conducts statistical analysis of health data gathered through the vital records data base, the department's Cancer Data Registry, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the annual survey of hospitals and nursing homes in the state. Maintains birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for the state and issues certified copies of such records.
South Dakota Department of Human Services: Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
State government
Strives to ensure that people with developmental disabilities have equal opportunities and receive the services and support they need to live and work in South Dakota communities.
South Dakota Department of Labor
State government
Enhances the South Dakota workforce by providing businesses with employment-related solutions and helping people with job placement and career transition services.
South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS)
State government
Works with South Dakotans when financial difficulties, physical or mental handicaps, or other problems threaten their independence.
South Dakota Department of Social Services: Adult Protective Services
State government
Provides assistance to adults residing in South Dakota communities who are at risk of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self neglect.
South Dakota Division of Child Support (DCS)
State government
Helps parents establish a financial partnership to support their children when they do not live together. Staff at eight field offices help locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity, establish or modify child support and medical support orders, enforce support orders, and collect and process support payments.
South Dakota Division of Mental Health
State government
Ensures that children and adults with mental health disorders in our communities will have the opportunity to choose and receive effective services needed to promote resiliency and recovery.
South Dakota Division of Rehabilitation Services
State government
Assists individuals with disabilities to obtain employment, economic self-sufficiency, personal independence and full inclusion into society.
South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development
State government
Provides information, resources and programs that support economic development in the State of South Dakota.
South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA)
State government
Encourages the prudent investment of public financing and private capital to stimulate the construction, preservation, rehabilitation, purchase, and development of affordable single and multifamily housing and day care facilities. Provides a variety of programs that assist low and moderate-income South Dakotans.
South Dakota Office of Rural Health
State government
Works to improve the delivery of health services to rural and medically underserved communities, emphasizing access. Part of the South Dakota Department of Health.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: South Dakota
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.
USDA Rural Development South Dakota State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.
Wellmark Foundation
Nonprofit/Foundation
Seeks to improve the health of Iowans, South Dakotans by providing support to non-profit organizations and public entities to help communities establish or expand health initiatives.
Tools
2008 South Dakota Health Care Professional Workforce Surveys
Web site
Offers link to the surveys sent to different health provider types. Collected data was used to create the South Dakota Health Professional Workforce Report.
ERS State Fact Sheet: South Dakota
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
Web site
Assists rural health care providers, facilities, and organizations to better utilize and implement telehealth technology. Provides sample documents in clinical applications, education, IT operational and administrative manuals, and technical and individual consulting.
Meadowlark Project
Web site
Describes a two year process aimed at systemic change by bringing a diverse sample of the Northern Great Plains region's population to the table to discuss the region's future.
National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: South Dakota
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
NN/LM Greater Midwest Region: South Dakota Resources
Web site
Overview of the state, with links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for South Dakota.
South Dakota Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.
South Dakota Health Occupations for Today and Tomorrow (HOTT)
Web site
Focused on health career information for students at all grade levels. Provides information on health care careers, K-12 lesson plans, and other resources. A project of the South Dakota Departments of Education, Health, and Labor and the South Dakota Board of Regents.
South Dakota Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compiled 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
South Dakota KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
South Dakota QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
South Dakota State Data Center
Web site
The designated lead census center for South Dakota and a repository of U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis publications and databases.
South Dakota State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
Sowing the Seeds of Hope
Web site
Provides behavioral health services to uninsured, underinsured and other at-risk farm and ranch families and agricultural workers in seven states: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin
State Profiles- South Dakota: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
See also: Resources for All States: Tools Documents, Reports and Other Publications
2008 South Dakota Health Professional Workforce Report
Author(s): Doneen Hollingsworth
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
Provides statewide and county-level data that reveals the vacancy and turnover rates among health care professionals in South Dakota. Data is based on a survey sent to health care facilities, clinics, community health, dental offices, federally qualified health care centers (FQHCs), eye clinics, pharmacies, correctional health facilities, and rural health clinics (RHCs).
Date: 01 / 2009
2008 South Dakota Kids Count Factbook
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Provides data the children in the State of South Dakota as well as an assessment of the well-being of South Dakota's children and their families. Site offers links to several PDF files that make up the 2008 report.
Date: 12 / 2008
Around the Country: Dakota Network Enhances Access
Author(s): Hope Hanson
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
Highlights the Dakota Network of Community Health Centers, a collaboration of nine health care organizations operating 31 of the region's Community Health Centers (CHCs). Describes how the network is helping to expand health information technology and bring improved and more efficient health care to the rural Dakotas.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor Issue Summer
Date: 08 / 2006
Demographic and Economic Profile: South Dakota
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, health care services, and employment. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 12 / 2008
Diversifying the Economy to Create Jobs and Help Families Prosper in South Dakota
Author(s): Betsy Rubiner
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Describes how residents in Miner County, South Dakota are working to reduce poverty and rebuild their economy through employment, housing, and leadership developments.
Date: 08 / 2008
How Farmers and Ranchers Get Health Insurance and What They Spend for Health Care
Author(s): Carol Pryor, Jeffrey Prottas, Bill Lottero, Mark Rukavina, Alana Knudson
Sponsoring organization: Access Project
Examines health insurance costs and health care spending of farmers and ranchers. This issue brief is based on a 2007 survey of farm and ranch operators in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Date: 12 / 2007
Retaining Rural Nurses: Midwestern Summit on Retaining and Making Best use of the Older More Experienced Rural Registered Nurse
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
Highlights of a one-day session, consisting of 25 nurse-leaders from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota who engaged in a series of roundtable discussions on the future of older
nurses in rural communities.
Date: 08 / 2007
Small Business Profile: South Dakota
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2008
State Profiles - South Dakota: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2008
See also: Resources for All States: Documents Success Stories
Mobile Unit Brings Cancer Screenings to Native American Women
Describes how the Mobile Women's Health Unit works to meet the needs of Native American women living in rural areas.
Recycle for Life Program
The Recycle for Life program provides better mobility, comfort or a sense of well being to people
with disabilities in need of assistance obtaining durable medical equipment and assistive devices - giving
them an opportunity to have a better life.
Dakota Smiles Mobile Dental Program
This program is a dental office on wheels to provide restorative and preventive dental care to underserved children across South Dakota.
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