South Dakota’s Statewide Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition
As the designated domestic violence and statewide sexual assault coalition for South Dakota, The Network brings together statewide collaborative services, member agencies, and key partners to strengthen survivor support and system response across the state. Through coordinated programs, shared resources, and cross-agency collaboration, these initiatives improve access to services, promote trauma-informed practices, and ensure consistent and equitable responses for survivors in every region of South Dakota.
Domestic Violence
Overview
As the designated domestic violence coalition for the state of South Dakota, the Network works to address domestic violence through advocacy, training, policy engagement, and systems improvement. This work centers on survivor safety, autonomy, and equity while supporting programs that respond to the complex and ongoing needs of individuals and families experiencing domestic violence.
Who It Serves
Survivors of domestic violence, advocacy programs, shelters, Tribal partners, community organizations, and statewide systems involved in safety, justice, and support services.
How It Works
The Network provides training and technical assistance on domestic violence dynamics, survivor-centered advocacy, risk assessment, safety planning, and community coordination. The Network also supports collaboration among our member agencies, service providers, and systems to strengthen local and statewide responses.
Member & Partner Role
SDNAFVSA facilitates learning, coordination, and statewide strategy. Member programs and partners provide leadership, lived experience, and practical insight to guide effective and responsive services.
Impact / Reach
Enhances survivor safety and access to services, strengthens advocacy capacity, supports coordinated community responses, and advances consistent, survivor-centered domestic violence practices statewide.
Sexual Assault
Overview
The Network provides leadership, training, and systems coordination to strengthen sexual assault prevention, response, and survivor-centered services statewide. This work supports culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches that promote safety, healing, and accountability.
Who It Serves
Sexual assault survivors, healthcare providers, forensic examiners, victim advocates, and statewide systems involved in prevention and response
How It Works
The Network offers training and technical assistance on best practices in sexual assault advocacy, forensic response, prevention education, and coordinated community response. The Network supports collaboration across systems, promotes survivor-centered and victim-defined practices, and elevates emerging issues affecting survivors. The Network also helps communities across South Dakota to develop and strengthen Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs), supporting coordinated protocols, cross-disciplinary training, regular team meetings, shared response standards through training, technical assistance, and statewide coordination.
Member & Partner Role
SDNAFVSA provides statewide leadership, training, resources, and technical guidance. Member agencies and community partners (law enforcement, hospitals, advocates, prosecutors) carry out the direct coordinated response at the local level.
Impact / Reach
Improves consistency of sexual assault response across communities, strengthens interagency coordination, and enhances survivor access to trauma-informed systems statewide.
Tribal Advisory Division
Overview
The Network’s Tribal Advisory Division is a partner-led advisory body that guides the Network’s efforts to ensure services, systems, and policies are culturally responsive and aligned with the needs of Tribal communities. The committee strengthens collaboration between Tribal governments, service providers, and statewide partners.
Who It Serves
Tribal communities, Tribal governments, Tribal service providers, the Network staff and programs, and statewide partners working on services, policies, and systems that impact Tribal communities.
How It Works
The committee provides consultation, guidance, and feedback on programs, policies, training, and systems work affecting Tribal communities. It supports relationship-building between Tribal partners and statewide systems.
Member & Partner Role
SDNAFVSA facilitates and supports the committee’s structure and integration into statewide strategy. Tribal partners provide leadership, expertise, and direction to ensure services reflect Tribal priorities and cultural context.
Impact / Reach
Strengthens culturally responsive service delivery, increases Tribal representation in statewide systems work, and improves collaboration between Tribal and non-Tribal partners.
Law Enforcement & Prosecutor Collaboration
Overview
The Network partners with law enforcement and prosecutors to strengthen system responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, and related crimes while centering victim safety, rights, and access to justice. This work promotes collaboration, shared understanding, and trauma-informed practices across justice systems. The goal is to strengthen survivor-centered investigations and increase system accountability statewide.
Who It Serves
Law enforcement officers, investigators, prosecutors, victim advocates, and criminal-justice partners across South Dakota.
How It Works
SDNAFVSA provides coordinated training, technical assistance, protocol development, and continuing education focused on trauma-informed response, victim rights, evidence collection, and coordinated systems practice. Trainings are delivered through statewide partnerships and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Member & Partner Role
SDNAFVSA develops and coordinates the training curriculum and technical assistance. Member agencies collaborate in training delivery and systems coordination, while law enforcement and prosecution partners participate and implement practices at the local level.
Impact / Reach
Strengthens statewide consistency in trauma-informed response, improves survivor experience within the justice system, and enhances the quality of investigations and prosecutions.
Upcoming Events
Connect with local agencies throughout South Dakota that provide support, advocacy, shelter, and resources for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.