South Dakota Kids Belong

06/15/2026

📣 Pastors, Ministry Leaders, & Community leaders - You’re Invited 🙌

Join us for a FREE lunch and one-hour gathering focused on connection and collaboration as we share what’s working, talk through practical ways churches and faith communities can support foster families, and explore how we can better care for vulnerable children and families together.

📅 July 17, 2026
📍 Love INC – 414 East Omaha Street, Rapid City, SD
🕦 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

📲 RSVP by texting “foster” to (605) 718-5683

06/14/2026

06/13/2026

Behind every foster and kinship family is a community that helps them keep going. 💙

We’re so grateful for the incredible team at Sotera Youth & Family Services and their commitment to supporting children and families across central South Dakota. Through practical resources, caregiver support, community connections, and resources and support designed to strengthen foster and kinship families, Sotera helps ensure families never have to walk this journey alone.

Laura Clark shares what it means to be foster friendly and why community support matters so much. Foster families thrive when the communities around them step up, whether that's through encouragement, services, donations, discounts, or simply recognizing the important role these families play.

That's the heart behind South Dakota's Foster Friendly Business initiative: creating communities where foster and kinship families feel seen, valued, and supported. Thank you, , for being a champion for foster and kinship families and for helping create a community where children and families know they belong. 💙

Learn more about becoming a Foster Friendly Business at https://americaskidsbelong.org/states/sd/foster-friendly-communities-south-dakota/foster-friendly-business-south-dakota

06/13/2026

Get ready to experience the beauty of the Mickelson Trail • Black Hills, SD while making a difference for foster and adoptive families across South Dakota at the South Dakota Kids Belong Ride!

📍 Event Hub:
The ride will begin and end at South Dakota Kids Belong partner location The Little White Church in Hill City, SD — located just 2 blocks from the Mickelson Trail!

🚐 FREE Shuttle Services Available
Shuttles for riders AND bikes will run throughout the day to designated trailheads and return pickup points.

🕗 Shuttle Hours:
• Morning Trailhead Shuttles: 8:00–11:00 AM
• Return Shuttles: Available throughout the day
• Additional vehicle pickup shuttle options available

🌲 Choose Your Ride Adventure
Whether you’re looking for a short scenic ride or a longer Black Hills cycling experience, there’s a route for everyone:
🟢 Route #1
Dumont → Rochford | 10.0 miles (downhill)
🔵 Route #2
Dumont → Mystic | 17.9 miles (downhill)
🟡 Route #3
Dumont → Hill City | 32.5 miles
🔴 Route #4
Dumont → The Mountain/Crazy Horse | 43.0 miles
🟣 Route #5
Rochford → Mystic | 7.9 miles (downhill)

✨ All routes are designed to be simple to moderate and accessible for riders of all experience levels. Every mile ridden helps support children and families impacted by foster care across South Dakota.

06/12/2026

Every child deserves the opportunity to build a bright future. 💙

Every child deserves the opportunity to build a bright future.

I’m grateful South Dakota joined First Lady Melania Trump’s effort to strengthen the well-being of foster youth. As a board member of South Dakota Kids Belong, I've seen firsthand the impact these opportunities and resources can have on a child's future.

https://news.sd.gov/news?id=news_kb_article_view&sys_id=17bea0e397994bd04696b12ef053af57

06/12/2026

🚴‍♀️🌲 We are excited to host the 2026 Kids Belong Ride in the beautiful Black Hills! 🌄💙

Join us Saturday, July 25, 2026 in Hill City, South Dakota for a family-friendly ride along the scenic George S. Mickelson Trail. 🚲✨ Hosted by South Dakota Kids Belong, this event welcomes riders of all ages and skill levels with multiple route options so everyone can participate at their own pace. Whether you’re riding solo or with family and friends, you’ll be part of something bigger. 🤝💛

💙 Why ride?
Because every child deserves to belong, and this ride helps support foster and adoptive families across South Dakota. 🏡✨

🌟 What to expect:
• 🌲 Scenic riding in the Black Hills
• 🥞 Simple breakfast, shuttles, and trail support
• 🎉 Post-ride celebration in Hill City
• 💵 Just $25 per rider
• ❤️ FREE registration for foster & adoptive families

📍 Start & Finish: The Little White Church, Hill City, SD

🚴 Routes along the Mickelson Trail for all levels

🤍 A full day of community, connection, and purpose

Come ride, come connect, and come make an impact. 💫

🔗 Registration Link: https://americaskidsbelong.ticketspice.com/sd-july-2026-kids-belong-ride

06/12/2026

💙🚲 A Huge Thank You to Thrive Adventure Retail Store 🚲💙

We are incredibly grateful for Thrive Bike Ministry through Love INC and their commitment to supporting foster families as a Foster Friendly Organization! Through their amazing deals, children in foster care can receive:

🚲 One FREE single-speed bikes (16"-20")
💲$50 OFF a 24" or 26" bike
🛍️ 20% OFF purchases throughout the Thrive store (excluding e-bikes)
🌟 Access to TRAK, a teen ministry where youth can learn bike shop and retail skills while earning points for store gift card vouchers!

A special shoutout to Jordan for his heart for serving children, youth, and foster families. 💙 Your dedication through this ministry is creating opportunities and helping kids experience belonging in meaningful ways. Thank you for all you do!

🚴‍♀️🎉 As we gear up for the upcoming Kids Belong Ride, we're especially thankful for partners like Thrive who help make biking accessible for more children and families!

If you know a foster family, tag them below, send them this post, or share it with your network so they can learn about these amazing bike deals and opportunities available to children and youth in foster care.

06/11/2026

We are so grateful for Governor Larry Rhoden's commitment to supporting youth in foster care across South Dakota. 💙

Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced a commitment to support First Lady Melania Trump’s efforts to strengthen the well-being of foster youth by ensuring Social Security survivor benefits for eligible foster children are protected through Trump Accounts. This action will help safeguard these benefits for foster youth across the state and support their long-term financial security.

Every child deserves the opportunity to dream, plan, and build a bright future. We are encouraged to see continued efforts to support the well-being and long-term success of youth in foster care throughout our state.💙

A special thank you to First Lady Sandy Rhoden for her ongoing advocacy for children and families impacted by foster care, and to the South Dakota Department of Social Services for their ongoing work serving children and youth in foster care across South Dakota.

06/11/2026

Today is goodbye. I’ve learned so much through our first experience with foster care. It’s been a beautiful, painful, joyous, heartbreaking process.

I didn’t know I could truly love another woman’s child like I do my own.

I didn’t know I would develop a fierce, mama bear-like protectiveness over you.

I didn’t know I would get so much joy out of watching all your firsts: first steps, first words, first hugs and kisses.

I didn’t know that those firsts would also bring pain, knowing your mama was missing them.

I didn’t know I would watch us grow so much as a family. Or that the sacrifice wouldn’t seem so sacrificial.

I didn’t know that my kids would truly become your siblings. I didn’t know how much I would watch them grow as they loved you unconditionally. I didn’t know that they wouldn’t mind sharing their home, their bedroom, their free time, their things, and their parents.

I didn’t know how grateful I would be to watch our family and friends embrace you and love on you. I didn’t know how much their support would be needed. I didn’t know they would mourn with us as we say goodbye.

I didn’t know how much I would love your mama. I didn’t know that I wouldn’t hate her or judge her for her mistakes. I didn’t know that my heart would break for her as she said goodbye to you week after week. I didn’t know that she would become my friend. My family. I didn’t know that in my mourning, I could rejoice with her on her reunion. I didn’t know I would be so proud of her and so grateful to see her family restored to her.

I didn’t know how much I would break at your departure. I didn’t know a piece of my heart would be gone. I didn’t expect such mourning.
Or such peace, knowing that this is what is right.

I thought foster care would allow us to change someone’s life. I didn’t know how it would change mine.

Shared by: Talena Krull

06/10/2026

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