South Dakota Public Health Association

01/11/2026

A new year, and we are looking for new members! Come join us at SDPHA as we support and promote public health in South Dakota!

01/11/2026

Webinar on Thursday, January 22nd at 12:00 p.m. Central to hear speakers from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) discuss a brief history of rural populations, rural definitions, and how rural areas eligible for rural health grant programs are identified using data from various federal agencies. Includes highlights from the most recent September 2025 data release.

ICYMI: Our recent features an upcoming webinar on federal rural definitions and more!

https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/updates/2026-01-07

01/11/2026

Volunteer opportunity!

Calling All Volunteers! Do you want to be part of something bigger? By joining the ServSD volunteer program, you can play a crucial role in your community’s response to emergencies. Your service can make a real impact during public health events and disasters. Get involved and be ready to make a difference.

Sign up at https://volunteers.sd.gov/ and help South Dakota stay strong!

01/08/2026

Join us for our February book club!!

01/05/2026

Great training opportunity. Deadline is Jan 20th!!

Excited to announce our inaugural Public Health Policy Champions (PHPC) cohort in partnership with the South Dakota Public Health Association! Looking for public health leaders like you to apply for this unique training opportunity.

Deadline is fast approaching - January 20, please reach out with questions!

01/01/2026

THIS!! ❤️ .

01/01/2026

The Department of Health is reporting the first two influenza deaths of the 2025 - 2026 season, both Minnehaha County residents in the >64-year age group.

View the full press release: https://ow.ly/LRJf50XQLGx

12/29/2025

Longevity report!

Longevity research in public health is evolving. Beyond disease prevention and caregiving, it takes a life-course approach, recognizing how early-life exposures, midlife behaviors, social environments, and aging experiences shape long-term health and well-being. Emerging research areas include addressing ageism and loneliness, strengthening social connections, advancing geroscience, improving exposome measurement, and leveraging innovations like AI.

The socioecological framework (Fig. 1) outlines key areas for longevity prevention research including:

👤 Individual
👐 Interpersonal
⚙️Organizational
👥 Community
🏛️ Public Policy
🌐 Global

Want to learn more about what’s next for healthy longevity research? Explore ASPPH’s Healthy Longevity Report: https://aspph.org/our-work/initiatives/healthy-longevity/

12/28/2025

Provides resources and answers frequently asked questions regarding the requirements and benefits of the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) program. Addresses how to become a RHC, reimbursement, staffing requirements, patient characteristics, the differences between RHCs and Federally Qualified Health Center...

12/23/2025

Congratulations Shelby!

Shelby Kommes, Women's Health Director in the Office of Lifespan Health, has been accepted into the Region 8 Public Health Leadership Institute for Systems Change. This six month program is designed to support public health professionals as they grow into impactful and strategic leadership roles.

Through the program, Shelby will work with a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and participate in hands-on systems thinking activities. These experiences will help her strengthen her leadership skills and enhance her ability to guide meaningful change in the maternal and child health space.

We are proud of Shelby and her continued dedication to improving women's health in South Dakota.

12/22/2025

State and regional officials are forming health alliances to fill gaps in U.S. public health. The gaps formed due to federal agencies’ withdrawing from much of the public health landscape. https://vist.ly/4jeky

12/20/2025

Some great topics covered!

Our January 2026 issue is now online!

It features a special section on trust in public health with select articles covering partnerships with policymakers, effective communication, and meaningful community engagement.

Other articles in this issue address opioid overdose mortality, housing status and health, political polarization during disease outbreaks, and more.

🔗: https://buff.ly/H3rK3vb