1,683 Kids In South Dakota Are In Foster Care

Nationwide only half as many licensed foster homes are available as kids in care.

As of January 31, 2024

At South Dakota Kids Belong we’re working with Stronger Families Together to educate and inspire more people to say yes to fostering and adoption.

Of all the ways to care for a child in foster care nothing has a greater positive impact than a safe, loving family.

South Dakota's Strong Families Together Foster Care Initiative

Meet the Kids

Nationwide nearly one-quarter of kids in foster care are eligible for adoption.
Our I Belong Project is a video storytelling initiative that gives kids a face and a voice and helps connect many of them with loving, forever families.

Whether you’re just beginning your journey to foster, you’re a seasoned foster parent considering adoption or you are simply someone with a heart for vulnerable kids, we invite you to encounter some of the amazing kids right here in our state in need of adoptive families.

Couple Shares How Their Plan To Adopt Grew From One Child To Three Siblings

“This was the first time in three years they [the three siblings] lived together in the same home. Not only did we keep the sibling group together, we actually got to reunify them.

“I think have their siblings there, having that companion made the transition a little smoother.”

Angie Devos

Here’s How We Help Create Sustainable Change In Foster Care

South Dakota Kids Belong is part of the America’s Kids Belong family, a nonprofit committed to dramatically improving the experiences and outcomes of kids in foster care.

Foster Family Recruitment

Foster Family Recruitment

A family for every child

community

Community Engagement

A Foster Friendly community for every family

Coalition for Change

Coalition for Change

Hope for foster care in every community

Rapid City Issues Foster Care Proclamation

Rapid City recently issued a proclamation committing to support South Dakota Kids Belong and our efforts to recruit enough foster, adoptive and kinship families to meet the needs of children in foster care.

Thank you to Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun, Lt Governor Larry Rhoden and Second Lady Sandy Rhoden for supporting efforts to care for vulnerable children in our state.


*Estimate as of 2020, according to the Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data Center

**According to South Dakota Department of Social Services “Foster Care (Out-of-home Care) is “a temporary service provided by states for children who cannot live with their families. Children in foster care may live with relatives or with unrelated foster parents. Foster care can also refer to placement settings like group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters and supervised independent living.”

South Dakota’s Kids Belong is an affiliate of America’s Kids Belong. We are a 501c3 – EIN #85-3580236