BEAM SD (Behavioral Health, Education, Access and Management for South Dakota)

Overview:

This session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents in South Dakota, while highlighting the barriers to accessing care faced by communities throughout the state, particularly in rural and Tribal areas. Attendees will gain insights into the current challenges within the behavioral healthcare workforce and explore the Behavioral Health Education, Access, and Management for South Dakota (BEAM-SD) initiative, which seeks to enhance capacity and improve outcomes for pediatric behavioral health.

Presenters:

Dr. Eric Kurtz is the Executive Director of the Center for Disabilities at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. The Center for Disabilities is South Dakota’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Dr. Kurtz provides leadership and strategic direction for its core functions across clinical services, research, interprofessional education, training and technical assistance, information dissemination, as well as policy-related efforts. Dr. Kurtz is also the Principal Investigator for the South Dakota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND) program and Principal Investigator for the South Dakota Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program. He also holds several additional appointments including Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the USD Sanford School of Medicine.

Nikki Eining is a private independent practice licensed social worker who serves as the Statewide Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program Coordinator for The USD Center for Disabilities. Nikki brings a diverse set of experiences and passions spending over 18 years working in the mental health field. Her previous experience has focused on supporting youth and families in office, school, and community settings without outpatient behavioral health services and prevention programming. She has professional experience in clinical mental health, education, research design, non-profit, program development, and trauma-informed care practices.