South Dakota Kinship Care Resources
South Dakota Has a Kinship Navigator Program
Many states fund dedicated Kinship Navigator Programs that connect grandparents and relative caregivers with benefits, legal help, and support services. South Dakota's Kinship South Dakota program is delivered by Lutheran Social Services under contract with DSS and serves kinship families whether or not they are involved with CPS. For support and referrals, call LSS Kinship Services at 605-601-3410. South Dakota is not listed in the current GRAND Voices roster managed by Generations United.
The navigator is a good starting point, while legal aid, benefits offices, and advocates can help with other specific needs.
Free Legal Aid
If you need legal help with guardianship, custody, benefits appeals, or any court-related kinship issue:
East River Legal Services (ERLS)
- Covers 33 eastern South Dakota counties
- Free civil legal assistance for low-income households (usually up to 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines, with exceptions up to 200%); some senior and veteran services are not income-sensitive
- Services include guardianship help, public benefits appeals, and family law representation
- Phone: 1-800-952-3015
- Website: erlservices.org
Dakota Plains Legal Services (DPLS)
- Serves 34 counties across South Dakota and North Dakota, as well as nine tribal nations
- Free civil legal assistance, including family law, guardianship, and tribal court representation
- Phone: 1-800-658-2297
- Website: dpls.org
Both organizations have service and income eligibility rules and limited staff capacity, so apply early. ERLS says some services for seniors and veterans are not income-sensitive.
Disability and Special Education Advocacy
Disability Rights South Dakota
- Statewide coverage for families navigating special education
- IDEA enforcement, IEP advocacy, Section 504 accommodations, and mental health rights
- Phone: 1-800-658-4782
- Website: drsdlaw.org
If the child in your care has a disability or learning difference, Disability Rights South Dakota can help you understand your rights in the IEP process and advocate if the school isn't meeting its obligations.
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State Bar and Attorney Referrals
State Bar of South Dakota
- Lawyer Referral Service for finding a private attorney
- Information on State Bar-approved guardian training, which is required before regular appointments; the court may not require it for temporary guardianships and may waive it for good cause (SDCL 29A-5-110 and 29A-5-119)
- Phone: 1-800-952-2333
- Website: statebarofsouthdakota.com
Benefits and Financial Help
South Dakota offers several benefit programs that kinship caregivers can access without legal custody:
TANF child-only grants — If no parent is present in the home, a relative caregiver may qualify for child-only TANF benefits through the Department of Social Services. Only the child's financial resources are evaluated — the caregiver's household income is handled differently than for adult TANF. These child-only payments don't count toward the 60-month lifetime limit and don't come with work requirements for the caregiver.
Medicaid and CHIP — Available through the Access SD portal. Relative caregivers can apply on behalf of a child living in their home. MAGI household rules apply. Children qualifying through MAGI-based Medicaid or CHIP are not subject to an asset test.
SNAP — The child can be added to the caregiver's household for food assistance. Eligibility is calculated based on total household income and the number of people who purchase and prepare meals together.
Free school meals — Children in kinship care can access free or reduced-price meals through direct certification (if the household receives SNAP or TANF) or by submitting a standard meal application.
Note: getting approved for health insurance or food assistance does not grant medical consent authority. Insurance pays the bill; consent is a separate legal question.
National Resources
Grandfamilies.org — National clearinghouse for state-specific kinship care law and policy, maintained by Generations United. Includes a state fact sheet for South Dakota with links to relevant laws and resources.
Kinship/Grandfamilies Support Network (GKSN) — National support network with connections to local groups and policy updates.
Court Resources
If you need to file for guardianship, the South Dakota Unified Judicial System publishes forms and instructions:
- Self-help guardianship information and forms are available through the UJS website
- Total court costs for a guardianship filing are $72 on the current UJS schedule
- Important: Form UJS-149 is for modifying or terminating an existing guardianship, not for starting one. UJS also publishes a Petition for Appointment of Guardians for a DSS-placement context; ask the clerk or a lawyer which forms apply to other cases.
Putting It All Together
These resources serve different needs, and figuring out which ones apply to your situation is half the battle. The South Dakota School and Medical Consent guide includes a directory of all these resources organized by what you need — school enrollment, medical care, benefits, or court proceedings — along with a decision flowchart that helps you determine which path fits your circumstances.
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