Fostering a child's mental health is as important to overall well-being as shelter, nutritious food and health care. Good mental health allows children to think clearly, develop socially and learn new skills.

That prompted South Dakota Voices for Children to develop a new Web site - www.sdkidsmentalhealth.org - especially for South Dakota parents. It includes information about mental health disorders that can affect children, available services, and how and where to get help. The Web site includes:

• A Parent's Guide to Children's Mental Health Services in South Dakota
  • DVD Version
  • Printed Version
• And because not all parents get their information from reading, a companion video to the Parent's Guide can be viewed on the site,
• The Wings for Life parent newsletter series, with information and tips relating to children from kindergarten to 8th grade,
• Searchable directory of mental health providers throughout South Dakota,
• Searchable bibliography of helpful children's books
• Other resources include South Dakota Kids Mental Health bookmarks, copies of A Parent's Guide to Mental Health Services in South Dakota or copies of a companion DVD: Click here. These resources are also available on this Web site.

This Web site was developed with the guidance of experts in the field and a Mental Health Advisory Group. South Dakota Voices for Children is grateful for The Wellmark Foundation's funding support in developing the Web site and for sustaining support from Avera and from Sanford Health.

The Outreach Partnership Program a nationwide outreach initiative of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that enlists state and national organizations in a partnership to help close the gap between mental health research and clinical practice, inform the public about mental illnesses, and reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. Click here for the January 15, 2011 edition.