News & Events
Helpline Center’s news and events are the critical link between great community and the programs Helpline Center is involved in.
At Terry Redlin, Cleveland, and Anne Sullivan elementary schools, too many students are waiting for a mentor. At the start of the 2025-2026 school year, there were more than 1,000 mentors serving Sioux Falls school district students, yet only about 50 were matched in these three schools combined.
- Who We Are: A collaborative initiative between the Helpline Center, Teammates, LSS, and the Sioux Falls School District to increase mentoring at three Sioux Falls elementary schools.
- What: Mentors are supportive adults who meet with their mentee one-on-one to play games, make crafts, and be a listening ear.
- Where: Anne Sullivan, Cleveland, and Terry Redlin elementary schools
- When: Meet with your mentee weekly for about 40 minutes during lunch, recess, or after school.
Click here for all the details…
South Dakota Day of Giving is on #GivingTuesday, December 2, 2025. It’s the one day of the year where nonprofits like the Helpline Center come together to raise funds, build awareness, and have a little fun along the way. Whether this is your first Day of Giving or you’re a seasoned vet, you don’t want to miss out on all that the Day has to offer.
This special day is about more than donations—it’s about community. Every gift, no matter the size, helps us continue providing critical services like 211, volunteer connections, and mental health support to thousands of South Dakotans. When you give, you’re not just supporting a program—you’re helping someone find hope in their hardest moment.
We invite you to join us in spreading the word! Share our social media posts, tell your friends, and encourage others to give. Together, we can make a powerful impact and show what South Dakota can accomplish when we unite for good. Your involvement—whether through giving or sharing—truly makes a difference.
Let’s make this #GivingTuesday unforgettable. Click here to donate online to the Helpline Center and learn more about how your contribution changes lives. Thank you for being part of this movement of generosity!
An Easy-to-Use Platform For Childcare
Quality child care provides our children with safe and loving environments to grow, learn, and thrive.
To support providers and families, the Helpline Center provides a free, easy-to-use platform for childcare provider listings and family searching.
For Providers:
Each provider has a profile in the system allowing you to post all the options you have to offer, including current openings.
For Families:
The Childcare Helpline also gives families options to search for openings based on important variables, such as proximity to work and availability.
To learn more, update your profile, or search for childcare, click here.
Join the Helpline Center for an unforgettable Family Volunteer Day Celebration!
Prepare for a delightful mix of family fun and volunteer activities that will bring smiles to everyone.
When: Saturday, November 22. 9am-12pm
Where: Sioux Falls and Rapid City
Contact: 605.274.8794 or vol@helplinecenter.org
learn more and sign up here: https://volunteer.helplinecenter.org/need/index?s=1&need_init_id=13985
Join the Helpline Center and Habitat for Humanity in the nation’s largest annual day of service. We will be completing projects to serve the Sioux Empire and Black Hills communities. Participants will take part in meaningful, hands-on projects that uplift neighborhoods, support families, and build stronger communities.
Sign up to serve: https://volunteer.helplinecenter.org/need/index?s=1&need_init_id=13963
The Helpline Center is partnering with the United Way for the Huron Day of Caring. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12th, 2025. A variety of projects will be available to be completed that day, and participants can register as groups or individuals.
Some projects will be available at other times if this day does not work for you or the group.
To register by phone, call 211. Contact the United Way at (605) 352-3537 or by email at uwhuronsd@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.
The Nonprofit Exchange is a monthly gathering designed to bring together nonprofit, social service, and human service organizations in a collaborative, supportive environment. Our goal is to foster meaningful connections, encourage knowledge sharing, and strengthen the impact of those dedicated to serving the Sioux Falls community. Join us to learn, connect, and make a difference—together.
The Helpline Center will host two in-person events on Thursday, November 6, 2025 in Sioux Falls with film and television actor and mental health advocate Sean Astin. You probably know him from Rudy, The Goonies, Lord of the Rings and Stranger Things, and we are pleased to welcome him to our community. He’ll share his personal stories of living with a mother who suffered from bipolar disorder (the late Patty Duke). You’ll have two options to see him in Sioux Falls that day. First he’ll speak during a ticketed luncheon event at The Catelin Hotel (formerly Hilton Garden Inn downtown). Then that evening he’ll speak at a free event at O’Gorman High School. Both events are open to the general public. Click the links below for additional details on each event. The Helpline Center’s speaker series is made possible through funds raised from The 437 Project.
Click below for more information or to register for either event:
The Helpline Center is excited to announce that with its partnership with the Department of Social Services (DSS), during the month of May there is a powerful piece of art at the Washington Pavilion, featuring over 13,000 unique sticky notes. Each note represents a call, text, or chat received by South Dakota’s 988 Helpline in 2024, symbolizing lives touched by compassionate, professional support during moments of crisis.
“The Helpline Center is immensely proud of the success of the 988 phone number and our partnership with the Department of Social Services,” said Janet Kittams, chief executive officer at The Helpline Center. “Most importantly, the 13,000 sticky notes represent that 988 counselors at the Helpline Center were there when people needed help the most.”
The installation, adorned with positive affirmations inspired by DSS’s Division of Behavioral Health “Notes to Self” campaign, aims to reduce stigmas around mental health and celebrate resilience. Launched in 2023, the “Notes to Self” campaign encourages open conversations about mental and behavioral health in South Dakota.
“The Notes to Self campaign uses real stories to inspire real people,” DSS Cabinet Secretary Matt Althoff said. “South Dakotans are able to see themselves in the stories and messages portrayed. If they are struggling, they see they are not alone. We hope the connection they feel will invite that struggling individual to reach out for help.”
The Washington Pavilion art installation is open throughout May in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. A kick-off reception was held earlier this week to help raise awareness and highlight 988’s vital role in South Dakota. The public is invited to view the display, learn its purpose, and join the movement to destigmatize behavioral health support.
Click here to view a video about the display.
The Helpline Center is proud to join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month this May. First recognized in 1949, this month-long observance aims to highlight the importance of mental well-being, reduce stigma, and celebrate the strength found in recovery. In continued support of this goal, the Helpline Center is offering several opportunities for the community to get involved and help promote mental health awareness:
- Inspirational Yard Signs: Community members and businesses are invited to display free 988 yard signs with various inspirational messages to show their support for mental wellness. Signs can be requested online at helplinecenter.org/988-promotion and picked up at Helpline Center offices in Sioux Falls or Rapid City.
- Free Mental Health 101 Trainings: As part of the Sioux Falls Suicide Prevention Task Force, the Helpline Center will help host two Mental Health 101 training sessions that are free and open to the public.
- Monday, May 6 from 10–11 a.m. at the Downtown Library in Sioux Falls (200 N Dakota Ave)
- Monday, May 27 from 5–6 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church (5509 W 41st St, Sioux Falls)
These informative sessions aim to educate participants about mental health is, coping skills, signs and symptoms, how to help, and available resources. Registration is not required for these in-person trainings (www.helplinecenter.org/trainings).
The Helpline Center also reminds the community that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing emotional distress, a mental health crisis, or substance use issues. People can also call, text or chat 988 if they are concerned about a loved one who may need help, even if the situation isn’t an immediate crisis or if it’s simply to gather mental health resources or information.
“Mental Health Awareness Month gives us a meaningful opportunity to support one another, spread awareness, and share vital resources with our communities,” said Janet Kittams, CEO of the Helpline Center. “Together, we can create a culture where mental health is prioritized and no one feels alone.”
Free marketing materials are also available all year long on the Helpline Center’s website for 988, 211 and general agency information as well. Click here to request a 988 yard sign or other free marketing materials.
