Contact Us

Staff and Program Directory

Here you will find detailed descriptions of the different divisions and programs within the department, who to contact for each area and how to contact them.

Secretary
Provides administration and direction to all areas of the Department of Social Services. Contact: Kim Malsam-Rysdon: 605-773-3165
  • Deputy Secretary
    Contact: Lynne Valenti: 605-773-3165
  • Deputy Secretray
    Contact: Amy Iversen-Pollreisz: 605-773-3165
  • Administrative Hearings
    Holds hearings and determines issues if persons are affected by the department’s actions concerning Food Stamps, Medical Assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Child Care Services, Central Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect matters within the Division of Child Protection Services, Low Income Energy Assistance and Child Support Enforcement. Contact: Eric Monson, Chief Hearing Examiner: 605-773-6851
  • Administrative Rules
    Administrative Rules are statements of general applicability; which implement, interpret, or prescribe the actions that may be taken by the programs administered by the department.
    Contact: Laura Ringling: 605-773-3165
  • Constituent Liaison
    Provides information to the public about services in our department. This individual receives and investigates complaints and ensures they are responded to in a comprehensive and timely manner. Contact: Valerie Porter-Hanson: 1-800-597-1603
  • Communications Director
    Provides a system of mass communication services related to public relations, web development, media relations and other information pertinent to the public. Contact: Kristin Kellar 605-773-3165
  • Crime Victims' Compensation Program
    Provides monetary compensation to victims of violent crimes.
    Contact: VictimsServices@state.sd.us or 605-773-3656 or 1-800-696-9476
  • Domestic Abuse Program
    Provides shelter and support services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
    Contact:     VictimsServices@state.sd.us or 605-773-3656
  • Recoveries and Fraud Investigations
    Provides benefit fraud investigations, recovers Medicaid expenses from third party resources, administers the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program and is responsible for recovery of all debts owed through the department.
    Contact: Brandin Seibel: Program Administrator: 605-773-3653
  • Statistical Information
    Provides statistical information and data analysis for the department. Contact: Richard Jensen: 605-773-2054

Accounting and Finance, Chief Financial Officer
Provides support services to oversee and manage the department’s budget and financial operations. Contact: Brenda Tidball-Zeltinger: 605-773-3165

Division of Adult Services and Aging, Division Director
Provides home and community service options to individuals 60 years of age and older and 18 years of age and older with physical disabilities, regardless of income. The focus of this division is to enable these South Dakotans to live independent, meaningful and dignified lives while maintaining close family and community ties. Contact: Marilyn Kinsman: 605-773-3656 or 1-866-854-5465

Division of Child Care Services, Division Director
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. Contact: Patricia Monson: 605-773-4766 or 1-800-227-3020

  • Child Care Licensing
    Provides accurate information pertaining to the licensing of child care facilities in South Dakota. Contact: Carroll Forsch: 605-773-7176
  • Child Care Assistance
    Provides Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant funds to help low-income families pay for the child care as they work, attend school, or both. Contact: Amy Gorham: 605-773-7274

Division of Child Protection Services, Division Director
Works with families in difficult situations by receiving and assessing reports of child abuse and neglect and connecting parents with resources to help increas their ability to keep children safe. They also administer the state's adoption and foster care services. Contact: Virgena Wieseler: 605-773-3227

  • South Dakota Family and Children Information System (FACIS) Provides intake information, alternative care information, case management data, foster care inquiries, adoption inquiries, foster care licensing, adoption approvals, and Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data. Contact: 605-773-3227

Division of Child Support, Division Director
Helps parents establish a financial partnership to support their children when they do not live together. They also help locate non-custodial parents, establish paternity and enforce child support orders and collect and process support payments. Contact: Terry Walter: 605-773-3641

Division of Community Behavioral Health Services, Division Director
Ensures children and adults with mental health disorders and chemical dependency in South Dakota communities have the opportunity to choose and receive effective services needed to promote resilience and recovery. Contact: Shawna Fullerton, 605-773-3123 or 1-800-265-9684

Division of Correctional Behavioral Health Services, Division Director
Provides mental health and chemical dependency treatment services for youth and men and women in the state's correctional institutions. Contact: Tiffany Wolfgang, 605-367-5236

Division of Economic Assistance, Division Director
Provides medical, nutritional, financial, and case management services to promote the well-being of lower income families, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Contact: Carrie Johnson: 605-773-4678

Division of Legal Services, Division Director
Provides legal services to the department secretary as well as to other programs within the department. Contact: Dan Todd: 605-773-3305

  • Discrimination Complaints
    Ensures program services and benefits are available to every qualified applicant without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion and national origin. Call: 605-773-3305
  • HIPAA
    Ensures the confidentiality of individual health information and increases their access to personal medical records.
    Call: 605-773-3165
  • Public Hearings and Legal Notices
    View the most current hearings and other legal notices held by the Department.
  • Ensures all open and public record requests are handled in a timely and effective manner based on the intent of the request.
    • To submit a request for public record, please contact Dan Todd at 605-773-3305 or send a written request to the Division of Legal Services, 700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501.

Division of Medical Services, Division Director
Oversees all areas of the Medicaid Program, except for the eligibility criteria which is handled by the Division of Economic Assistance. This division works with all enrolled South Dakota Medicaid providers.
Contact: 605-773-3495

  • Provider Information: 1-800-452-7691
  • Recipient Information: 1-800-597-1603
  • South Dakota Medical Electronic Data Exchange (SD MEDX) SD MEDX enhances our ability to meet the needs of the individuals we serve by offering more efficient claims and payment processes, enabling access to useful information for our providers and recipients, and helping us to more effectively manage Medicaid operations. For help in navigating through this new system, click here.

Human Services Center, Interim Administrator
Provides individuals who are mentally ill or chemically dependent with effective, individualized professional treatment enabling them to achieve their highest level of personal independence in the most therapeutic environment. Contact: Pam VanMeeteren: 605-668-3100