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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Advocates: South Dakota Needs More Foster Families

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Thursday, May 31, 2018   

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Family First Prevention Services Act passed by Congress earlier this year acknowledged the growing need for more foster parents - who are being honored today.

The new law provides more funding for programs such as parenting classes, substance abuse treatment and mental health services. In many states, the shortage is due to the nationwide opioid crisis. But Kevin Kanta, program specialist with the state's Child Protection Service office, said drug addiction of a different kind is causing the problem in South Dakota.

"In South Dakota, we don't see opiates as much as we see methamphetamines,” Kanta said. “Methamphetamine is a growing issue for us here in South Dakota. It's a difficult drug to deal with."

Today is National Foster Parent Appreciation Day. For more information about South Dakota's foster care program, go to FosterOneSD.org.

Kanta said while foster parent issues in South Dakota are different in each community, the state is working to meet the needs of those communities by implementing a blended learning model that allows in-person and online training to make it easier for foster parents to get their licenses.

"There's a shortage statewide,” he said; “although the greatest need is for Native American families, families who can care for sibling groups, teenagers and children with medical needs."

Jaia Lent, deputy executive director with Generations United, added that with additional children being cared for by grandparents or extended family outside the foster care system, it's more important than ever to support those caregivers.

"The positive news about relying on relatives is that we know that children actually do better when they are placed with supported relatives versus non-relatives,” Lent said.

As of 2016, South Dakota had 1,400 kids in foster care, and there are 438,000 nationwide.


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