About South Dakota Kids Belong

South Dakota Kids Belong started in 2018, as a pilot of America’s Kids Belong. Our mission is to improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in South Dakota’s foster care system.

South Dakota Kids Belong Is A Proud Member Of The America’s Kids Belong Family.

We’re dramatically improving the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

We have 1 mission: FAMILY

We Target 2 Profound Problems

  • RECRUITMENT – Foster care has half as many foster parents as kids in care.
  • RETENTION – Half of new foster parents quit within a year.

We Offer 4 Signature Solutions

I Belong Project logo

Our I Belong Project video storytelling initiative films kids in foster care in need of adoptive families. It is the largest, most effective program of its kind that also inspires thousands of people to engage foster care.

I Belong Project logo

We come alongside people exploring fostering and adoption to provide the inspiration and information they need to find a way they can make a difference.

I Belong Project logo

Our Foster Friendly
Communities movement and App seek to retain families by equipping businesses, faith communities, nonprofits and elected officials to value, support and encourage local foster families.

I Belong Project logo

Our coalition campaigns
leverage the convening authority of state governments to get businesses, faith communities and government working together to create collective and drive sustainable change in foster care.


Our South Dakota Team

South Dakota Kids Belong ED Damen Woolsey

Damen Woolsey

Executive Director

South Dakota Kids Belong - Krist Woolsey State Wrap Director

Kristi Woolsey

Social Media Specialist

South Dakota Kids Belong - Kate Thompson Operations Manager

Kate Thompson

Operations Manager

South Dakota Kids Belong Carly Winterstein Project Manager

Carly Winterstein

I Belong Project Manager

South Dakota Kids Belong Catlin Young Region 1 Community Catalyst

Catlin Young

Foster Friendly Community Catalyst

Leah Biorn 2024

Leah Biorn

State WRAP Director

Ashlie Buckley

Ashlie Buckley

Program Support Specialist &
Event Coordinator