Cabinet Secretary
Matt Althoff

DSS Mobile Logo
Mobile Menu Button


Behavioral Health Services

Treatment Services

The Division of Behavioral Health contracts with accredited behavioral health providers across the state to provide quality services to both adults and youth.

Mental health and substance use disorder treatment services are available including if you need assistance in paying for services. Find services in your area or visit the national Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locater.

Mental Health Services

The Division of Behavioral Health contracts with 11 accredited community mental health centers across the state to provide quality services to both adults and youth. Services provided include screenings and assessments, specialized outpatient services, individual therapy, group therapy, and crisis intervention. Funding assistance may be available, contact your local treatment agency for more information. Learn about available mental health services below.

Educational Resources:

Substance Use Disorder & Recovery Support Services

Substance Use Disorder & Recovery Support Services

The Division of Behavioral Health contracts with accredited substance use disorder treatment agencies across the state to provide quality services to both adults and youth. Services include screenings and assessments, early intervention, detoxification, outpatient and inpatient treatment services. Funding assistance may be available, contact your local treatment agency for more information. Learn about available substance use disorder services below.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Program

The South Dakota Public Safety DUI Program provides DUI offenders 18 years of age and older classes that revolve around education and prevention of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Division of Behavioral Health does not provide financial assistance for fees associated with the classes.

Recovery Support Services:

Supported Housing is designed to address the recovering person’s need for a safe and healthy living environment as well as provide other needed services to support the journey of recovery.

Peer Support Resources:

  • Face It Together provides confidential, evidence-based peer coaching for those impacted by addiction, including loved ones.

Services for Problem Gambling

Substance use disorder treatment agencies contracted with the Division of Behavioral Health are able to screen for problem gambling. Depending on the individual’s needs, the agency may refer to another agency. Services can be in-person or via telehealth and financial assistance is available.

Intensive Methamphetamine Treatment Services

Intensive Methamphetamine Treatment (IMT) services offer long-term, evidence-based programming to individuals with severe methamphetamine use disorders. Individuals receiving IMT services require extended treatment to allow for recovery of cognitive capacity as well as on-going case management. Treatment may include residential services, outpatient treatment and care coordination to support long-term recovery. Learn about IMT services below.

Services for Pregnant and Parenting Women

Pregnant Women and Women with Dependent Children (PPW)
Pregnant women and women with dependent children is a specialized treatment service that offers evidence-based programming for this unique population who have a substance use disorder. This program allows for long- term support, which includes a stable living environment through the duration of treatment. This program can assist in supporting the client’s participation in psychiatric and medical care, childcare needs, parent education and child development, employment services and job training, as well as treatment interventions.

There are two locations
Volunteers of America - New Start Sioux Falls
West River Mental Health – Full Circle Rapid City

Support Services for Pregnant and Parenting Women

Support Services for Pregnant and Parenting Women

Bethany Christian Services:
ReNew program

Providing case management and peer support for mothers with newborns for the full first year of the child’s life.

 Sioux Falls
Rapid City
Oxford House

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) friendly recovery housing for men and women

They do accept children in both men's and women's homes as long as they have needed room available

 Sioux Falls
Rapid City
Aberdeen
Face It Together Peer recovery coaching Sioux Falls
*Virtual services

See Also:


Involuntary Commitments

South Dakota state law allows a person to proceed with an involuntary commitment for the treatment of another person with a serious mental illness or substance use disorder.

Mental Health Involuntary Commitment Criteria

A person with a serious mental illness can be involuntarily committed if they meet the statutory criteria in SDCL 27A-1-2.

For more information regarding the commitment process, see SDCL 27A or contact your local county board of mental illness for procedures in your area.

Substance Use Disorder Involuntary Commitment Criteria

A person with a substance use disorder can be involuntarily committed if they meet the statutory criteria in SDCL 34-20A-70.

For additional information regarding the commitment process, see SDCL 34-20A or the Substance Abuse Road maps below

The Department of Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health and the Unified Judicial System created a short video and workbook outlining the role and responsibilities of attorneys in the substance use disorder involuntary commitment process, including the procedures to be followed. View the video and download a copy of the workbook below.

Prevention Services

Prevention providers tailor their prevention efforts around the needs of their community, using effective community-based, school-based and/or individual evidence-based programming to reduce the impact of substance use and mental health challenges in South Dakota. In addition, there are three Prevention Resource Centers that provide technical assistance and training to promote wellness within the communities of their region.

Learn about the Prevention Strategic Plan and the Suicide Prevention Plan

Suicide Prevention Resources

Local Resources National Resources
South Dakota Suicide Data American Association of Suicidology
South Dakota Suicide Prevention American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Suicide Prevention Awareness materials order form Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
Request Suicide Prevention Training Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Substance Use Prevention Resources

Substance use prevention places a focus on helping people develop the knowledge, attitude, and skills they need to make good choices about harmful behaviors of substance misuse or abuse. Each substance use prevention provider tailors prevention efforts around the needs of their community, using effective community-based, school-based and/or individual evidence-based programs.

Behavioral Health Crisis Care

Crisis services are an integral component to address mental health and substance use disorders across South Dakota. Crisis services are for everyone, everywhere, every time.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Are you or a loved one experiencing a behavioral health crisis? Call, text or chat 988 to connect with a trained crisis specialist 24/7 for free and confidential support.  When dialed from a 605-area code, 988 will be routed to the Helpline Center, South Dakota’s only 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline. 

Calling 988 is available in English and Spanish and uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages.

Texting 988 is currently available in English only.

Chatting 988 (English only) is available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s website at 988lifeline.org/chat.

Veterans Crisis Lifeline

The Veterans Crisis Line connects individuals to caring, qualified responders within the Department of Veterans Affairs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many are Veterans themselves and you don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or heath care to connect.

LGBTQI+ Crisis Lifeline

LGBTQI+ people under 25 can access 24/7 LGBTQI+ support on 988. To call an LGBTQI-trained crisis counselor, dial 988 and then press 3. To text, send the word PRIDE to 988. To chat, you can opt-in on the Pre-Chat Survey by checking off the box for LBGTQI+ support.

Short-Term Crisis Care Services

Appropriate Regional Facilities (ARFs) are designed to provide 24/7 overnight residential services to stabilize acute psychiatric or behavioral health symptoms, evaluate treatment needs and develop a crisis stabilization plan affording the ability for individuals to be stabilized closer to home.

During the 2020 Legislative Session SDCL 27A-10.1.2 passed allowing other types of providers to seek designation and provide services as ARFs.

During the 2021 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 144 and 186 passed to support behavioral health crisis stabilization.

As a result of the passing of Senate Bill 144, the Department of Social Services contracted with Pennington County to establish an ARF.

During State Fiscal Year 2022, one-time general funds were used for the purpose of continuing to invest in ARFs. Through the Request for Proposal process, the following contracts were awarded for the purpose of construction of ARFs.

Governor Noem’s 2021 budget address included $15,000,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the development and expansion of ARFs.
For more information:

During State Fiscal Year 2023, federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act was used to support the development and expansion of ARFs. Through a Request for Proposal process, the following contracts were awarded.

Virtual Crisis Care Services

The Virtual Crisis Care program provides probation and law enforcement with 24/7 access to behavioral health professionals who can assist in responding to people experiencing a mental health crisis.

Avel eCare, our partner in virtual services, provides immediate services to local police, sheriffs, and other law enforcement. Tablets with the software are made available to departments to assist in de-escalation, stabilization, and safety assessment on location. This service provides timely access at a substantial savings to departments, communities, and the state.

Hear firsthand from law enforcement and providers throughout the state providing eCare on how it’s being implemented and the process Virtual Crisis Care.

These crisis response options work to increase connection to services in rural and urban communities throughout South Dakota, strive to prevent future crisis situations, reduce the pressure on emergency departments and hospitals by resolving crises on location where the individuals are, and help reduce direct law enforcement involvement.