Introduction to Quality Care South Dakota

The South Dakota Department of Social Services partnered with the 日本av视频 Quality Collaborative to develop and implement Quality Care South Dakota, South Dakota鈥檚 Quality Recognition and Information System. The purpose of Quality Care South Dakota is to support early childhood and school-age care programs in their continuous quality improvement efforts. High-quality early childhood and school-age care programs are essential not only to South Dakota children, but also to their families and to the communities in which they live. Quality Care South Dakota provides a consistent measure of quality, helping parents make informed decisions when choosing child care. Quality Care South Dakota is housed at the Child and Family Resource Network on the campus of 日本av视频.

Our Mission

Quality Care South Dakota is dedicated to enhancing the quality of early childhood and school-age care by providing a comprehensive framework to evaluate and recognize child care services. Our mission is to support state-registered and licensed childcare providers by offering clear standards, resources, guidance and support to improve care environments for children. Through Quality Care South Dakota, we aim to foster growth, accountability and continuous improvement, ensuring that all children receive the highest quality care. Quality Care South Dakota is committed to empowering parents with the information they need to make informed choices, while also supporting providers to grow professionally.

Partnerships

Quality Care South Dakota works closely with the South Dakota Early Childhood Enrichment System. South Dakota鈥檚 Early Childhood Enrichment programs offer a systematic approach to providing early childhood and school-age education professional development, technical assistance and coaching. Services are available to all child care and school-age educators, parents and others involved in the day-to-day care of children and youth. The Early Childhood Enrichment system supports program efforts in the Quality Care South Dakota through coordination and collaboration with the program and Quality Care South Dakota team.

Learn More

Want to learn more about the system, please visit and sign up for the program newsletter The Loop, below.

The Quality Recognition and Information System Pilot took place from 2022-2024. Please view our video to learn how the pilot supported licensed child care and school-age care programs and registered family day care home.