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Community services director reports $100,000 grant award, CHW funding and staffing plans
Summary
Community Services Director Sarah Faust said the county received $100,000 for a Reaching Rural project, a $30,000 Department of Health award for community health worker expansion, and plans to interview for a substance use and justice programs coordinator; office space and childcare planning were discussed.
Sarah Faust, Codington County Community Services Director, briefed commissioners on Feb. 11 about grants, staffing and local partnerships.
Faust said the county received a $100,000 award to support a Seeding Reaching Rural project (the meeting referenced the Reaching Rural initiative and a culminating event in Washington, D.C.). That funding will support year‑one position costs for the project and the county is moving ahead with hiring. Faust also said the county had been notified it was awarded $30,000 through the South Dakota Department of Health to expand community health worker (CHW) services; the grant covers $15,000 per CHW and Codington County expects two CHWs to be supported under the award, starting in May or June.
On staffing, Faust said interviews for a substance use and justice programs coordinator will start this week and she is evaluating office staffing and space needs. The county is considering renting additional office space and Faust said she will brief commissioners on specific space options and costs before any lease decisions are finalized.
Faust outlined ongoing programs and partnerships: the county’s child‑care affordability planning is proceeding with Watertown Development Company taking lead on a contract to develop a plan for employer supports; the centralized child‑care location business plan and feasibility work is ongoing. The Codington Connects annual meeting and ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) training in January drew high attendance, Faust said; roughly 70 attended an introductory session, 50 attended the lunch meeting, and about 40 attended a more in‑depth afternoon session.
Faust noted the county’s Community Health Worker Medicaid billing and South Dakota Cares administrative reimbursements and invited providers to an interagency meeting at the Boys & Girls Club on Thursday at 9 a.m. to coordinate services.
Ending: Faust said she will continue evaluating space and staffing needs, complete interviews for the new coordinator role and continue work on child‑care planning and interagency coordination.
