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In recent years, rural healthcare providers have faced overwhelming challenges. Staff shortages have forced nurses and other professionals to take on additional tasks, leading to burnout and fatigue. But with this project, we’re offering hope—a way to relieve the pressure on existing staff while creating fulfilling career pathways for new workers.

South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is proud to lead a four-year workforce grant (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2027) with one powerful goal: to improve access to healthcare services across rural South Dakota by developing a strong, sustainable pipeline of essential workers. At its heart, this project is about creating opportunities—for individuals seeking meaningful careers and for rural communities striving to thrive. Our efforts focus on discovering and developing talent among rural community members, second-career adults, and high school students. By investing in these populations, we can build a workforce ready to meet the unique challenges of rural healthcare.

This project brings together an inspiring network of partners, including critical access hospitals, nursing homes, technical schools, universities, and nonprofit organizations. Together, these groups form the South Dakota Rural Workforce Network (SDRWN)—a coalition committed to supporting rural communities and ensuring they have the essential workers needed to deliver high-quality care. SDAHO’s Workforce Development Coordinator leads the project to address the ongoing workforce crisis by attracting job seekers to entry-level healthcare workers such as nursing assistants, phlebotomists, home health aides, housekeepers, food service workers, and medical assistants. These roles are vital to the smooth operation of any healthcare facility, ensuring that nurses and other licensed professionals can work at the top of their abilities.

We believe this project is more than just an initiative—it’s a movement to transform rural healthcare by investing in people, creating opportunities, and building stronger communities. If you have any questions or want to join this journey, please contact Lindsay Stroman at Lindsay.Stroman@sdaho.org or 605-789-7537.

Together, we can ensure that rural South Dakota has the dedicated, well-trained workers it needs to thrive.

How We’ll Make a Difference

• Achieving Efficiencies: By training and placing skilled entry-level workers, we can ensure that nurses and licensed professionals spend more time providing the care only they can deliver. No longer will they be stretched thin handling tasks like meal delivery, equipment sanitation, or patient surveys.
• Expanding Access and Improving Quality: With sufficient staffing, patients and families will experience better outcomes—fewer infections due to proper cleaning, safer food handling, and more attentive care overall.
• Strengthening the Rural Healthcare System: By addressing staff shortages, we’ll reduce burnout and fatigue, enabling healthcare teams to deliver the highest level of care with greater consistency and safety.

This Project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,150,097 with 0% percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.