A workgroup was formed in 2011 to guide the long term vision of the future behavioral health system. Workgroup members included legislators, community mental health and substance abuse providers, tribal providers, inpatient behavioral health providers, advocacy groups, county mental illness boards, the Unified Judicial System, Indian Health Services, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Social Services.
The Workgroup developed recommendations by first looking at the structure of the behavioral health system and focusing on current services, gaps in services, and critical service needs. The Workgroup created specific goal areas for improving the behavioral health system in South Dakota as listed below. The Workgroup’s Final Report with recommendations is also linked below.