2025 The Children's Friend

STORIES OF HOPE AND HEALING • VOLUME 130 • FALL/WINTER 2O25

The Long Way Home Imagine moving 24 times during a period of six years.

And imagine that you aren’t moving with your family. You are alone. And you’re moving from one family to another.

On April 15, 2025, former Children’s Home Society (CHS) client Day’Qwan stood in a courtroom in Rapid City, SD. That’s when Seventh Judicial Circuit Judge Stacy Wickre told him that 24 moves in his life were too many, and that she was granting the petition of adoption.

The journey begins

SEE INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Long Way Home............................... 1–3 The Flight of the Blue Jay.................... 4–5 Gift Wrap Booth......................................... 6 Guardians of the Children......................... 7 Leadership Messages ........................... 8-9 DODV ................................................................. 10 The Children’s Friend Update................ 11 Upcoming Events ........................................ 12

According to Black Hills Children’s Home Therapist Rachel Walton, Day’Qwan entered the state’s care in 2017, when he was five. “He had many foster care placements, both in Rapid City and Sioux Falls. That included basic foster care, therapeutic foster care, emergency foster care and then psychiatric residential treatment.”

In 2018, Day’Qwan began residential care at Black Hills Children’s Home, along with his older brother. “He was with his brother on the same living unit,” says Rachel.

“They would argue, act out and gang up together on other kids.”

“At the same time, Day’Qwan very much lived in the shadow of his brother. His brother would talk for him, would get things for him, would get him out of trouble and get him in trouble.”

Eventually the brothers left residential care for a foster placement which was a possible adoptive home. It lasted only three months. The older brother was C O N T I N U E D O N PAG E 2 -3

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removed from the foster home first and returned to Children’s Home. Day’Qwan’s behavior deteriorated, and he was also sent back to Children’s Home, but this time on a different unit.

“And when he was separated from his brother, he blossomed,” Rachel shares. “He could become his own person. His brother had just tried to control him and kind of smothered his growth.”

That’s when Rachel became Day’Qwan’s therapist.

“He was very quiet and reserved. He tried to be as invisible as possible,” she says. At first in therapy he would often write or draw to communicate but began to open up over time.

Finding himself at home In June of 2022, Day’Qwan was discharged from residential treatment, after making excellent progress.

Before long he joined his older brother at the home of CHS Therapeutic Foster Care provider Jodi Lindstrom. Therapeutic Foster Care operated

by CHS is a higher level of care for children with behavioral or emotional needs. Providers receive additional training and continuous support from our case managers and therapists.

While the goal had always been to keep the two brothers together, Day’Qwan’s older brother soon moved on to another placement. Day’Qwan began to recognize his own voice, developing those inner thoughts of coping, practicing new skills in a safe setting and growing in his resilience of past trauma.

Jodi noticed something similar. “After his brother left, I got to see a whole new side of Day’Qwan,” she says.

“He started to make more progress in school and in the home.”

In 2023, the boys’ aunt in Illinois was approved to become their legal guardian. “The older brother was very excited about moving there,” Jodi says, “But Day’Qwan was not.”

“He said he didn’t want to leave our home. He didn’t want to leave me. He didn’t want to live with his brother because of how it was the first time that we tried it here.

He didn’t want to live with people he didn’t know or remember. He didn’t want to change schools. He didn’t want to be so far away.”

It’s extraordinarily difficult for children to navigate relationships between their biological families and foster or adoptive families. For Day’Qwan to make such a

After 24 moves over a course of six years, Day’Qwan is finally home.

brave decision for himself at age 11 was remarkable. But Jodi, Day’Qwan and a host of friends and supporters wrote letters which convinced the judge to allow him to stay with Jodi.

That’s around the time Jodi started thinking about adopting him. Department of Social Services staff had asked her previously about adopting him, but at that time, Day’Qwan still wanted reunification with his biological family, so Jodi declined. But when they asked the second time, she agreed.

And so, Day’Qwan officially became a Lindstrom—his choice— that day in the courtroom.

“Thinking back on the progress that he’s made—he’s feeling comfortable, not in that fight or flight mode anymore,” Jodi says. “He knows that this is his house now. He’s not going to be up and moved at any given time. He’s established friends at school and relationships at church and with neighborhood kids. And now he gets to be a typical kid instead of a kid in care.”

» PAG E 3 Ongoing connections Jodi is committed to keeping Day’Qwan connected to his biological family to the extent he wants. “We have talked to his biological mom and sister, so they know about the adoption,” Jodi says.

“The sister was very excited about the adoption.” They’d met several times when Day’Qwan was in foster care at Jodi’s. “She and I built a trust-based relationship. She knew the boys would be well taken care of and they would have what they need. His mom, on the other hand, she was quite surprised by it.”

After some time, his biological mother thanked Jodi and asked that they keep communication lines open. “We came to an understanding of what her role is as his biological mom and what my role is as his adoptive mom,” she says.

“Just to know I had my people at Children’s Home to walk through it with me, was great.

They are experienced and had suggestions and resources.”

Jodi has friends who are foster care providers licensed through other programs. “I always want to tell them to work with CHS instead, because they’ll get more training and support.”

Thanks to CHS Residential Care and Therapeutic Foster Care staff, and Jodi Lindstrom, Day’Qwan is finally home.

“Day’Qwan loves his family very much. We talk about them often and celebrate their birthdays and things like that.”

Although he may feel some guilt from time to time, Jodi believes he is confident in his decision.

In partnership with CHS Every step of the way, Jodi has worked hand-in-hand with CHS. She owns and operates a private preschool and in addition to her two biological children and Day’Qwan, she currently has a two-year-old and a three-year old in Therapeutic Foster Care at her home.

Jodi carries a great deal of responsibility and depends on CHS for support. In fact, she says she feels like she’s in partnership with the CHS Therapeutic Foster Care staff. She has relied on them for everything from counseling to training, Christmas gifts and circus tickets.

“I could call my case manager or our therapist and could always find someone within my team to walk me through any issue or give me more tools for my toolbelt,” Jodi says. “If we needed to meet, they were always available the following day for an in-person meeting. Or if we needed to see Dr. Wilson [the CHS psychiatrist], I’m confident we could have gotten an appointment, they would have made it happen.”

The story in numbers

Jodi and Day’Qwan Lindstrom at the courthouse on adoption day.

Therapeutic Foster Care staff tracked Day’Qwan’s Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) scores; this assessment is widely used to monitor children’s progress and make decisions about services.

When Day’Qwan was admitted to Therapeutic Foster Care, his CANS score was 67, which meant he had high needs. Within a year, his score dropped to a 61 and then to a 43. After he decided to remain with Jodi, his score was 26.

By the time he was adopted, Day’Qwan’s CANS score was at just 19!

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The Flight of the Blue Jay A Story of Hope and Resilence A painting of a blue jay hangs on the wall of a crisis advocacy office at Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety in Sioux Falls. It’s a beautifullyrendered, finely-detailed and exquisitely simple portrait of a lone bird in the spotlight against a deep green and black background.

Erika, a 35-year-old former Shelter client, painted this piece. Her harrowing experiences contrast sharply with the peacefulness of the natural world shown in her artwork.

Fleeing an abusive marriage, Erika and her four sons moved to Sioux Falls to live with her sister in 2023. Before long, her sister could no longer afford the rent and left town. Erika wound up staying with a man she had been dating.

“We lived there for two and a half months,” she says. “He would come home drunk, and he got really physical.”

Erika wrecked her van trying to get away from him. She had no family, friends or resources nearby, no transportation, and had been unable to complete paintings which were commissioned and her only source of income, due to the turmoil.

Fleeing for Freedom Finally, after another assault, Erika called the police, who referred her to Shelter for Family Safety. “It was crazy how fast they responded,” Erika says. “They sent a car right away and I got some of my things out of the apartment.”

“They gave us a place to stay, helped me find housing, took me to job interviews, helped with transportation and clothes, plus Christmas presents and things like that.”

Erika continues to be grateful. “They helped me out so much. And that help is still rippling—the kids are still using clothing and toys we got there, and it’s been almost two years.”

With the assistance of Shelter staff, Erika went through the court to obtain a police escort to get the artwork and painting supplies she’d left at the apartment. And because Erika was strangled, her perpetrator was arrested and charged; Shelter staff helped her with court proceedings, as well.

Shay, who is a case manager at Shelter

for Family Safety, worked with Erika.

“She was just a wonderful mom. Her boys were so well behaved.” Shay says.

Over the course of several months, Erika made progress finding an apartment and a job, but it took time.

Setbacks can be disappointing to survivors newly seeking independence.

“Erika took it in stride,” says Shay. “She would push through it every single time, even when I could tell she was feeling a little bit disheartened. We would talk and she would figure it out. Her resiliency was just amazing.”

» PAG E 5 Shay also remembers Erika using the Shelter’s multipurpose room to paint.

“I told her, ‘Just paint again to escape and find your joy.’ And she did.”

Erika has been painting with acrylics since she was a teenager. She was a painting instructor and has completed more than 300 commissions. “I like to paint things in nature,” she says. “I love the uniqueness of everything and all the details when you look closer. It just gives you a fresh perspective and a chance to focus on something other than what’s going on in your life.”

When Erika left Shelter, she gifted many of her original pieces of art to staff, who treasure them. Many are still on display.

Art is known for its healing properties, for both artists and viewers. “That’s why I donated those pieces to the Shelter,” Erika says. “People could look at them and find at least a little bit of happiness or hope.”

Blue is the rarest color in nature.

And birds—even adaptable, resilient blue jays—are delicate creatures. Erika’s vivid blue jay stands on a bare winter branch, against a dark and threatening sky.

The Dark Skies of Violence There’s another, darker side to Erika’s story. Strangulation isn’t just another type of assault; it’s an extremely dangerous and often lethal act of violence and often the “calling card” of a killer.

Erika’s perpetrator in Sioux Falls strangled her and dragged her up the stairs to physically put her in the street. The husband she fled strangled her when she was pregnant—and eventually held a gun to her head. Going back farther, her own father strangled her when she was a child.

Recovering from a lifetime of abuse and trauma can be overwhelming.

Erika initially began therapy through the Shelter’s free counseling services. She now recognizes that she struggles with PTSD and is continuing therapy.

“They gave me a place to live when we didn’t have anywhere to go. It was the first time I think I felt compassion or empathy in my life to the full extent.”

Today, Erika and her children are doing well. After moving into an apartment, she finished college, earning a degree in psychology. She works with runaway children and youth at a social service agency in Sioux Falls, continues to paint, and to care for her four sons.

“When I need a reminder of why I do what I do, I think of Erika’s story,” says Shay.

Learn more about how you can help domestic violence survivors have the resources they need at chssd.org.

The truth is that Erika could have sought refuge at a domestic violence shelter at any time in her life. Fortunately, she was able to connect with Shelter for Family Safety in time to make change, and to break the cycle for her own children.

About the Shelter, Erika says, “The community needs the Shelter.

It helps mothers and children and gives the moms education on how to raise their kids.”

“Donors aren’t just helping women; they are also helping children.

And in my opinion, that can make a big impact on the future of the community as a whole.”

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About Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety Founded in 1977 as a domestic violence shelter, Children’s Inn merged in 1998 to become a program of Children’s Home Society of South Dakota. In 2022, the name was changed to Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety.

Bring your gifts, whether purchased at the Empire Mall or elsewhere, and our volunteers will handle all your wrapping needs for a donation to Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety.

The shelter provides 24-hour, free services for adults and children who are victims of domestic violence, stalking, elder abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse or neglect.

We serve people from the South Dakota counties of Minnehaha, Lincoln, McCook, Turner and Union. Services are provided regardless of race, color, religion, gender or national origin, and include: • Crisis Shelter • 24-Hour Crisis Hotline • Counseling Services • Parenting Education • Survivor Support Groups: Women’s, Men’s, 2SLGBTQIA+ • Safety Planning • Protection Order Assistance • Court Accompaniment • Outreach Advocacy • Community Education and Referrals

Ways you can help support us • Donate items from our Wish List on page 11.

• Sign up to volunteer at our Gift Wrap Booth.

• Shop our registry at target.com/gift-registry/ gift/chs-shelter-sf and ship directly to Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety!

Macy’s Court in the Empire Mall, Sioux Falls

Black Friday, November 28 – Wednesday, December 24 – HOURS MAY VARY – All proceeds benefit Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety!

Bring a new toy or gift to our Gift Wrap Booth in support of the Hope For The Holidays Toy Drive

Holiday

TOY DRIVE SHELTER FOR FAMILY SAFETY

benefiting Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety.

Or shop online and ship directly to Shelter for Family Safety!

THANK YOU TO OUR GREAT SPONSORS!

FIND OUR HOLIDAY WISH LISTS AT: CHSSD.ORG/SUPPORT/WISH-LISTS

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GUARDIANS OF THE

IRA GIFT PROVISION

CHILDREN

A Special Opportunity for Those 70½ Years Old and Older Diana Dufur-Day and her husband Mike Day are fortunate to have a bird’s-eye view of Children’s Home Society (CHS).

That’s because the Days’ long involvement with CHS spans the breadth of the state—from Sioux Falls to Hill City.

They first learned about CHS when they lived in Sioux Falls next door to current board member and director emeritus, donor and friend, John Rozell.

Mike Day and Diana Dufur-Day

“John was part of a fundraising campaign at Children’s Home Society in Sioux Falls and he took us over there,” remembers Diana. “We toured the facility, and they gave us the information about what they do for children and for the community and we were really impressed.”

“Mike and I like to be able to help those that can’t advocate for themselves.” That’s why the Days made a legacy gift to CHS. The Days learned more about CHS over the years and remained involved as they moved to Hill City. Diana joined the board in 2018 and served as president of the Children’s Home Foundation Board in 2024.

“Board service has really given me insight as to what we truly do for the kids and families in the community,” Diana says. “Nobody else takes care of kids from four to fourteen. We’re the only entity in the state that does that. And it’s just amazing what we do for the children and the families we serve.”

Diana is excited about the new CHS facility currently under renovation in Rapid City. “The location will give our kids the opportunity to do more things—the parks, swimming pools, other activities.”

“I also think having everyone under one roof is really, really important,” Diana says.

Locating all Black Hills CHS programs at the Mount Rushmore Road site will result in economies of scale, therapeutic continuity and professional synergy.

She’s also pleased that CHS is building awareness in Rapid City with additional staffing and leadership, along with the new facility. “I realized that there aren’t that many people on the western side of the state that truly know what we do,” she says.

“Our presence here isn’t as prominent as it is in Sioux Falls.”

The Days have confidence in CHS leadership. “Michelle Lavallee has been such a driving force in her term as CEO,” says Diana. “She has so much insight, knowledge and vision, which has brought us to where we are today. I’m completely and totally impressed with both our boards and with our leadership, including Jon Mammenga.”

“CHS has been around for a long, long time and we’ve continued to grow and do well.

We have been good stewards of our finances and endowments. It’s probably one of the most respected boards in the state and it’s truly an honor to serve. We have a lot of great board members, but we’ve got a lot of great supporters too.”

The Days’ hope for CHS is “to be more visible in the entire state, to have more recognition and to have sustainability to carry us on into the future,” says Diana.

Guardians of the Children is a giving program established to recognize and honor those people whose vision, philanthropy and love of children have been demonstrated by a legacy gift to Children’s Home Foundation. Funds from the Foundation support the programs and services at CHS, including Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety.

You can give any amount (up to a maximum of $108,000 per year) from your IRA directly to a qualified charity such as CHS without having to pay income taxes on the money. Gifts of $108,000 or less are eligible for this benefit and you can feel good knowing that you are making a difference at CHS. This popular gift option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, but you may also see it referred to as a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD for short.

Why Consider This Gift?

• Beginning in the year you turn 70½ (72 if born after July 1, 1949), you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD).

• You pay no income taxes on the gift.

The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize.

• Since the gift doesn’t count as income, it may help reduce your annual income level. This may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security that is subject to tax.

Please note: This information is for general purposes only and not intended as legal or tax advice. Consult your financial or tax advisor to understand how charitable gifts may affect your personal situation.

STOCK DONATIONS Making donations of equities/stock helps charitable organizations and can also be an income tax benefit. The more your stock has appreciated, the bigger the benefit can be for you.

When you donate stock (held over one year) you avoid capital gains tax, but you can still get a charitable deduction for the full market value of the stock.

For details, we suggest checking with your financial advisor.

LEARN MORE To learn more about making a gift, please contact: Jon Mammenga CHF Chief Philanthropy Officer P: 605.965.3136 E: jon.mammenga@chssd.org

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C H S P RES ID EN T & C H IEF EX EC U TIV E O F F IC ER

Michelle Lavallee

The Science of Hope: Our Secret to Healing Some of you may remember the Academy Award–winning song “High Hopes,” made famous by Frank Sinatra, which I find myself humming every day:

2025/26 C H I LD RE N ’ S H O ME S OCIETY

Board of Directors

Amy Koenig

Matt Benne

Jack Marsh

Sally Anderson*

Rapid City

Rapid City

Sioux Falls

Mesquite, TX

CHAIR

VICE CHAIR

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Mike Albertson

Teresa Cauwels

Tim Dougherty

Heath Ducheneaux

Rapid City

Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

Kyle

Steve Flanery

Lafawn Janis

Justine Jenshus

Melissa Johnson

Rapid City

Rapid City

Rapid City

Sioux Falls

Bart Miles

John Nooney

John Rozell

Greg Schweiss

Sioux Falls

Rapid City

Sioux Falls

Rapid City

Chirag Shukla

Deb Soholt

Carolynn Stavenger

Kehala Two Bulls

Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

“We’ve got high hopes, we’ve got high apple-pie-in-the-sky hopes.”

At Children’s Home Society, we really do have high hope—which we can measure. Over the past year, we’ve embraced the Science of Hope as a central philosophy of care.

Hope is not wishful thinking, an emotion or blind optimism. The Science of Hope, as described by researchers Dr. Chan Hellman and Dr. Angela Pharris, is built on three ingredients: goals (a vision for the future), pathways (the strategies to get there), and agency (the willpower to keep going). Research shows that hope is the single best predictor of well-being and resilience.

Recently, we completed our first Hope Assessment among children, clients, employees and board members.

The results are encouraging. Among CHS employees, 95% reported high or moderate hope—proof that our staff are true “hope givers.” As Hellman notes in his book Hope Rising, “Hopeful employees are more innovative and productive…and more likely to stay for the long haul.”

Our Boards of Directors scored even higher, with a collective hope score of 100%, reflecting their shared vision and confidence in CHS’s future.

Not surprisingly, hope levels are lower and much more variable among those we serve. In our residential and day school programs, 20% of children reported high hope, 33% moderate, and 47% slight hope—and none reported low hope. Importantly, children who stay longer with us show stronger hope scores, evidence that daily support gives kiddos more strategies and resilience.

In Outpatient Mental Health Services in Rapid City, 11% of clients reported high hope, with 50% expressing moderate hope and 39% with slight hope. At Shelter for Family Safety, our children scored 37% with high hope, 27% with moderate hope and 36% with slight hope.

We will continue to measure hope and build strategies to strengthen it across all programs. Because when hope rises, healing and well-being follow—and that is reflected in our vision statement: A world that stands up to trauma, where all people are safe, healthy and resilient.

Michelle Lavallee

Sioux Falls

Rapid City

–Directors Emeritus– Julie Anderson Friesen Lynne Byrne John Brewer Gary Brown Jeb Clarkson Steve Egger Tim Hamel Blake Hoffman Bob Hoover Gary Jensen Tim Meyer Linda Mickelson Graham Rob Mudge

T.J. Reardon George Roberts John Rozell* Dave Schmidt Peg Seljeskog Scott Sletten Carolynn Stavenger* Pam Taylor Jansa Gene Uher Marilyn Van Demark Meg Warder *Current Board Member

*Sally Anderson is an honorary member, and the great-great-granddaughter of Children’s Home Society co-founder Elizabeth Sherrard.

» PAG E 9 CHF CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER

Jon Mammenga

Hello, friends, volunteers and supporters Hope is rising at Children’s Home Society (CHS)! Whether it shows up in the hope of our dedicated staff, the hope of those we serve, or the hope we are bringing to the Black Hills with our new Rapid City campus, CHS remains grounded in our mission to prevent, treat, and heal trauma.

Throughout our 132-year history, philanthropy has been the driving force in ensuring we are able to offer our services to those who need them most. In short, your philanthropic support of CHS is a critical component in creating hope for so many. I feel very blessed to be part of such a great organization with an important and meaningful mission. Thank you for your support and for the ongoing commitment you have shown to CHS. Last year we announced the purchase of the former National American University building in Rapid City. The renovation of the facility is well underway and is expected to be complete by November 2026. This move will allow us to relocate all our services under one roof and into the city.

It will also allow us to offer an increased quality of care for the children and families we serve in the Black Hills. As you know, with a project like this, philanthropy plays a vital role in our success. Seven months ago, we started the process of actively fundraising to support this project. I’m happy to report that in this short time we have been blessed with amazing success! Among many other gifts in support of this project, we were able to secure the second largest one-time commitment in CHS history. The overwhelmingly generous response has been humbling to witness. The Rapid City project is blazing a trail forward for CHS! But it doesn’t stop in Rapid City. CHS is a statewide organization. Last year CHS offered services to more than 16,000 children and families, serving every county in South Dakota. Your philanthropic support is what makes all this possible. This year, 23% of our budget must come from charitable giving. Your ongoing and generous support is vital to our organization. Every donation, regardless of size, has a profound impact. We celebrate each gift as a meaningful step toward our vision of a world that stands up to trauma where all people are safe, healthy, and resilient. Your generosity fuels hope in so many!

Thank you again to our Board members, volunteers, advocates, and donors! Your passion is heartfelt and your impact profound. With your current and ongoing support, hope will continue to rise at CHS!

Jon Mammenga

2025/26 C H I LDRE N ’ S H O ME FO U N DATION

Board of Directors

Eric Lee

Marty DesLauriers

Bob Baker

Rapid City

Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

Janet Kahler Rapid City

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

TREASURER

Diana Dufur-Day

Dennis Aanenson

Kim Burma

Justin Cutler

Hill City

Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

Hill City

Joel Engel

Gina Hopkins

Marty Jackley

Bill Lindquist

Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls

Pierre

Sioux Falls

Ben Marcello

Jeffrey Meyer

Val Mickelson

Sioux Falls

Rapid City

Sioux Falls

Dustin Morrison

Molly Peterson

Bobby Sundby

Paul Thorstenson

Jill Weisser-Pekoske

Brandon

Rapid City

Rapid City

Sioux Falls

SECRETARY

Rapid City

–With Our Thanks– We recognize these outgoing board members for their dedicated service!

Julie Anderson Friesen

Darla Crown

Paulette Davidson

Laura Johnson

Sioux Falls

Rapid City

Rapid City

Reva

Lori Lewison

Luke Lindberg

Tommy Ibrahim

Sioux Falls

Harrisburg

Sioux Falls

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Drive Out Domestic Violence

Service Awards TH ANK YOU TO O UR G E N ER OU S S P O NS OR S!

Fueled by Vern Eide Motorcars $40,000 raised • 800+ items donated • Daily social media posts The purpose of this annual campaign is to increase awareness of domestic violence and raise funds to support survivors. In partnership with Lewis Drug, the campaign also gathers donated items such as baby lotion, baby wipes, body wash, deodorant, hairspray and mousse, laundry detergent, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and over-the-counter products like Tylenol and ibuprofen.

This year, Assistant Director of Development and Events Ashley Neeley noted: “While collecting donations and bins from our Drive Out Domestic Violence campaign, one of the Lewis employees—an older woman, I would guess, in her 70s—asked if I needed any help and then went on to say: ‘Your organization holds a special place in my heart. I lost my daughter many years ago to domestic violence. It wasn’t talked about nearly as much back then. Thank you for everything you do.’

I gave her my condolences and let her know we are raising awareness in our community about domestic violence, while also supporting victims. She spoke with great pain about her daughter’s passing but was incredibly grateful for the increased awareness and the fact that domestic violence is not so ‘taboo’ anymore, as well as for the Shelter’s existence.”

Harold & Helen Boer

Joseph Sztapka

» PAG E 11

The Children’s Friend Keeping The Porch Light On This issue of The Children’s Friend features a new masthead and new contents. To avoid duplication and lower costs, the Foundation has brought The Porch Light (Shelter for Family Safety’s annual publication) under the umbrella of The Children’s Friend. We felt it was important to retain The Children’s Friend name to honor our founder’s legacy and our remarkable history.

Penned, printed and mailed by Children’s Home Society founder William Sherrard, The Children’s Friend made its debut in 1895 as a monthly, four-page “paper.” The first issue in our archive, dated March 1896, included financials—$823.55 balance on hand; a request for a fresh milk cow and lists of donations including eggs, cookies, corset waists, stockings, children’s handkerchiefs and amounts ranging from 25 cents to $10.

IMPACT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS TODAY: Can you help?

At Shelter for Family Safety, we depend on your generosity to serve victims of domestic violence.

Our guests often come to Shelter with little or nothing besides the clothes on their backs. We provide personal items and a few pieces of clothing for our guests, and we rely on our community for donations of these items.

OUR TOP 10 CURRENT NEEDS ARE: NEW

Chief Philanthropy Officer Jon Mammenga says, “Uniting these two publications allows us to share more stories, more hope, and more impact, all in one place, while being mindful of resources.

We’re excited to continue uplifting the people we serve and highlight the work we do, together.”

1. Toys and gifts for kids of all ages 2. Baby wipes 3. African American hair products (silk sleep bonnets, shampoo, hair oil, conditioner) 4. Lotion 5. Deodorant (for women and men) 6. Pain reliever (for children and adults) 7. Hairbrushes/combs 8. Shampoo and conditioner (full size) 9. Body wash (full size) 10. New underwear (adults, all sizes)

You will find full wish lists for Shelter for Family Safety, Sioux Falls Children’s Home and Black Hills Children’s Home here: chssd.org/support/wish-lists.

Thank you for supporting our mission and the children, adults and families we serve.

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Learn More About CHS Sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter, A Letter From Home, at chssd.org

MISSION To prevent, treat and heal trauma.

VISION A world that stands up to trauma where all people are safe, healthy and resilient.

VA LU E S

We are better together.

We choose kindness.

We are tenacious.

UPCOMING EVENTS Established in 1893, Children’s Home Society (CHS) was South Dakota’s first human services, nonprofit organization. Our mission is to prevent, treat and heal trauma.

We offer: • Residential Treatment and Schools • Emergency Shelter and Crisis Intervention • Outpatient Mental Health Services • Forensic Interviews and Advocacy • Therapeutic Foster Care and Adoption • Nurse Home Visitation • Child Abuse Prevention CHS is accredited by Council on Accreditation (COA) and licensed by the South Dakota Department of Social Services.

Privacy Policy: To protect the privacy of the children and families we serve, it is our practice (unless otherwise noted) to use names and photos that represent our stories and ensure confidentiality.

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2025 Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety Gift Wrap Booth Empire Mall, Sioux Falls....................................................................... November 28–December 24 To volunteer, contact Ashley Neeley at ashley.neeley@chssd.org.

2026 Knights of Columbus Bowling Tournament Meadowood Lanes, Rapid City.......................................................................................... January 10 To sponsor or reserve your team, contact Heather Hoeye at heather.hoeye@chssd.org.

Legacy of Hope–Gala benefiting Children’s Home Society Rapid City Campus Hyatt Place, Rapid City............................................................................................................ March 14 To sponsor or reserve your table, contact Theresa Schreiner at theresa.schreiner@chssd.org.

12th Annual Cleavers Chef Challenge The District, Sioux Falls............................................................................................................... April 2 To sponsor, contact Tyler Honke at tyler@cateringbycleavers.com.

Open House with Elevate–Outpatient Mental Health and Child Advocacy Center Facilities Children’s Home Society, Rapid City..................................................... 4:30–6:30 p.m. on April 14 For information, contact Heather Hoeye at heather.hoeye@chssd.org.

13th Annual Kieffer Sanitation Trash Can Open Golf Club at Red Rock, Rapid City............................................................................................. June 11 To sponsor, contact Heather Hoeye at heather.hoeye@chssd.org.

Rotary Club of Rapid City Rushmore Golf Tournament Arrowhead Country Club, Rapid City....................................................................................... July 27 To sponsor, contact Theresa Schreiner at theresa.schreiner@chssd.org.