Cabinet Secretary
Matt Althoff

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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.

Advocacy Resources:

  • Disability Rights South Dakota is a non-profit legal services agency dedicated to protecting and advocating for the rights and inclusion of South Dakotans with disabilities.

Peer Support Resources:

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

Community Resources & Crisis Response:

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.

Recovery Support Services:

Supported Housing is designed to address the recovering person’s need for a safe and health 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.

Community Resources & Crisis Response:

Self Help Resources:

  • Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery is a nationwide, nonprofit organization which offers free support groups to individuals who desire to gain independence from any type of addictive behavior. SMART Recovery also offers a free Internet Message Board discussion group, and sells publication related to recovery from addictive Behavior.
  • Al-Anon or Alateen meetings in South Dakota
    • Al-Anon is a support group for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. By sharing common experiences and applying the Al-Anon principles, families and friends of alcoholics can bring positive changes to their individual situations, whether or not the alcoholic admits the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help.
    • Alateen, a part of the Al-Anon Family Groups, is a support group of young people (mostly teenagers) whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. By attending Alateen, teenagers meet other teenagers with similar situations. Alateen is not a religious program and there are no fees or dues to belong to it.
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a fellowship of people in recovery from drugs who meet regularly to help each other stay clean and practice abstinence from all drugs.
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of people who share their experiences, strengths and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

Educational Resources:

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.

National Problem Gambling Helpline

The National Problem Gambling Helpline is a confidential support network designed to assist individuals seeking help and/or treatment services for problem gambling. Help is available 24/7/365 by call, text or chat.

South Dakotans can also call 1-888-781-HELP (4357). Calls are referred to help and treatment resources in their hometown.

Self Help Resources:

  • Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.
  • Gam-Anon is a self-help organization for the spouse, family or close friends of compulsive gamblers.
  • GamTalk  is a 24/7 moderated online peer support forum.
  • NODS-SA self-assessment will help you figure out if there is a problem, but only a professional can diagnose if it is a gambling problem, a different problem, or both.

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.

Behavioral Health Voucher Program

The Behavioral Health Voucher Program offers funding assistance and support for mental health services for farmers and rancher and for persons impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Dial 211 to learn more and determine if you are eligible for treatment cost assistance.

What Services Do Vouchers Cover?

  • Mental Health Services
  • Transportation and Medication Cost Assistance

Services can be in-person or via telemedicine. A voucher supports up to eight services.

Do I Qualify for a Voucher?

  • Experiencing mental health related issues - you qualify.
  • Need funding support to cover costs of services - you qualify.
  • Out of pocket/co-pays on your insurance are beyond your means - you qualify.
  • You are a Farmer/Rancher or related to a Farmer/Rancher.

*Participating Agencies and Clinics will be updated monthly

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
Behavior Management Systems - 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
Interlakes Community Action Partnership Accept families in their program and provide case management services Watertown
Face It Together Peer recovery coaching Sioux Falls
*Virtual services

See Also:


Court Ordered Competency Evaluations

South Dakota Codified Law does not allow a person to be tried, sentenced or punished while they are mentally incompetent to proceed. If there is reasonable cause presented by the defense, the prosecution, or the courts an evaluation can be ordered to ensure that a defendant is able to understand the nature and consequences of the court proceedings and to assist properly in their defense.

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

In South Dakota, community prevention providers focus on community, youth, and young adults to promote healthy lifestyles. 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 Program Strategic Plan and the Suicide Prevention Plan

Suicide Prevention Resources

Local Resources National Resources
South Dakota Suicide Fact Sheet American Association of Suicidology
South Dakota Suicide Prevention American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Bethe1SD Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
Suicide Prevention Awareness materials order form Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Request Suicide Prevention Training  

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 Line

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.

Crisis Text Line

The Crisis Text Line is a free support to individuals in crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Text 741741 from anywhere in the United States to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.

  • Text TALK to 741741

Teen Crisis Texting

The Helpline Center’s Text4Hope provides crisis texting support for all high school students in the state of South Dakota 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since texting is the preferred means of communication for adolescents, offering a crisis texting program allows students to share their concerns privately with trusted staff.

  • Text icare to 898211

Trevor Project

The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services 24/7 to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Call, text, or chat anytime for free and confidential support.

Appropriate Regional Facilities

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.