The Division of Child Care Services provides assistance to low income families who need help with child care costs while parents work or attend school. They also provide oversight, technical assistance and support in promoting safe, healthy and caring environments for children through licensing, registration and quality improvement activities. The availability of quality child care is not only important for maintaining a strong workforce; it is vital for the growth and development of healthy children.

Responsibilities of the Division of Child Care Services:

• Training and technical assistance for Out-of-School Time programs
• Child care facility development in response to local community needs
• Direct child care assistance payments for qualifying families
• Training and education
• Licensing and registration of child care and afterschool programs

State Plan Public Hearing – June 6th, 2013

The Dept. of Social Services' Division of Child Care Services will hold a public hearing on the two-year State Plan for Child Care Services on Thursday, June 6, 2013, from 7 pm-9 pm Central Time at 910 East Sioux, Pierre SD.

The meeting will also be available via Live Meeting through the internet.  To connect to the webinar, click here.

Click here to view the Powerpoint presentation

The meeting ID is CHILDCARE.  Entry code will be left blank. To participate in the audio portion of the meeting, participants should call in toll-free at (866)410.8397 and enter the code number 7887947504 just prior to the start of meeting.

*To save time before the meeting, you can check your system to make sure it is ready to use Office Live Meeting: click here to check your system.

The purpose of this hearing is to solicit comments on the proposed two-year plan for the administration of the Federal Child Care Development Fund.  Provisions for direct child care services and for increasing availability, affordability and quality of child care in South Dakota will be addressed. 

Interested parties may appear in person at the hearing site or via Live Meeting through the internet. Written comments can be sent to the Department of Social Services, Division of Child Care Services, 910 East Sioux, Pierre, SD 57501-2291.  The proposed plan will be available by May 15, 2013 and can be accessed at: http://dss.sd.gov/childcare/ or by contacting Child Care Services at (800)227-3020 or (605)773-4766.  Written comments will be received at the address indicated above until June 14, 2011.

Notice is further given to individuals with disabilities that this hearing is being held in a physically accessible place.