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Uniting in Sioux Falls to Advance Equitable Outcomes for Families

August 15, 2025

Last week, we had the opportunity to visit Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as part of our Family Stabilization Initiative. The site visit created valuable space to connect with staff and leadership around key priorities including community engagement, sustainability, and cross-sector partnerships.

Through our collaborative learning model approach, we reviewed data and outcomes to date, engaged in scenario-planning to address current challenges, and discussed innovative strategies to better support families and mobilize the broader community. These conversations allowed us to continue building on our Family Stabilization Initiative Sustainability Toolkit, which has helped to inform our Community Building Framework set to be released this fall in partnership with Chapin Hall.

With the support of these tools, we explored efforts to strengthen family engagement and community partnerships, and ensure fidelity as the team works towards advancing equitable outcomes for all families in South Dakota.

Renada Johnson is Senior Director of Children, Youth & Family Initiatives and Elizabeth Vetter is a Program Manager at Lutheran Services in America.

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