Steve Lindquist

CAREER DEDICATED TO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ALL

1951 • CATEGORY

MEDICAL • HOMETOWN

SIOUX FALLS, SD • NOMINATED BY

THOMAS OTTEN Steve Lindquist has spent his entire professional career in South Dakota, working to improve the lives of countless individuals suffering from mental health challenges, addiction, neglect, and abuse. His focused determination comes from a sincere belief in the inherent worth and dignity of each person and the obligation we have to help others, particularly those less fortunate who have conditions that are often misunderstood, stereotyped, or stigmatized by society. As a professional social worker, Steve has worked as a direct service provider, an executivelevel administrator, a policy-maker, and an educator. Tens of thousands of people across the state have been helped through programs he has developed or directed.

After graduating from the University of South Dakota, Steve’s first job was as a Mental Health Aide at the South Dakota Human Services Center (HSC) in Yankton, SD. Only sixteen years later, Steve would become the youngest Administrator in HSC’s over 100year history.

Steve earned a Master of Social Work degree from Michigan State University, completing a dual emphasis in mental health and administration. These areas would become twin pillars of his career. Upon graduation, Steve returned to South Dakota to work in child protection but was asked to return to HSC to join their initiative to enhance treatment services for patients.

In 1989, Steve was appointed Administrator of HSC in the wake of a tragic event that led to the termination of the facility’s two top administrators. During this time of great challenge, Steve worked to improve safety and security for the Yankton community, patients, and staff; and helped the community, staff, and the state regain

trust in HSC. Steve strengthened HSC’s treatment programs and was privileged to lead the effort to build a new 300-bed facility which, at the time, was the largest construction project in state government history. Steve was also key to the creation of the IMPACT program which allowed individuals, formerly institutionalized at HSC, to successfully move into the community with appropriate treatment supports.

The program was a major success and received the Governor’s Award for Teamwork based on program outcomes and financial savings. That program has now been implemented in many communities across South Dakota.

Steve was additionally appointed Director of Mental Health for the State, making him one of only two people to have held these dual roles.

In 1998, Steve was asked to lead the Behavioral Health Services of Avera McKennan Hospital. He provided administrative guidance for expanded and refined treatment services and established formal partnerships with community behavioral health providers. Steve helped lead the design and construction of the Avera Behavioral Health Center, a world-class 110bed inpatient psychiatric facility, making him one of only a few people in the country to have led two major psychiatric hospital construction projects.

Following retirement from Avera, Steve served as Interim Administrator at HSC and later served as Project Director for The Link, a unique behavioral health community triage center in Sioux Falls created through a partnership between Avera Health, Sanford Health, the City of Sioux Falls, and Minnehaha County.

Steve has served on a variety of boards including; South Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners, HelpLine Center, Southeastern Behavioral Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness – South Dakota, National Association of Social Workers – South Dakota, and served on state task force groups related to healthcare, telemedicine, and state mental health law. For many years he served as Chair of the Avera McKennan Ethics Committee.

Steve has published professional articles on behavioral health and behavioral health ethics. He has been active in the education of future healthcare professionals; teaching social work, mental health, and social policy classes at the University of South Dakota, Yankton College; and assisting with the training of Psychiatry Residents through the USD Sanford School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. Steve was instrumental in obtaining funding and approval for the creation of a Masters of Social Work Program at USD, which produces approximately 50 graduates each year who will serve those with behavioral health and other needs throughout the region.

Steve and his wife, Patricia (who made his career possible) live in Sioux Falls and enjoy their two adult daughters, Ann and April, their husbands, and their four grandchildren.