IMPACT
in Rapid City
Your Generosity in Action
Thanks to your support, United Way of the Black Hills is proud to share real stories — told in the words of our partners — that show how your generosity is making a difference every day.
Early Childhood Connections – Starting Strong Rapid City
Early Childhood Connections (ECC) was contacted by a Childcare Director seeking immediate support for a child exhibiting highly aggressive behaviors, speech challenges, and academic delays. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, we promptly took action to provide comprehensive assistance to both the child and their family.
ECC’s team has employed a range of assessment tools to evaluate the child’s academic performance, behavioral challenges, and social-emotional development. These assessments have allowed us to tailor targeted one-on-one interventions aimed at addressing the child’s specific needs and improving overall performance in both academic and social settings.
In addition to these interventions, ECC’s Social Emotional Specialists and Family Outreach Specialist have expedited referrals to outside agencies, ensuring the child receives specialized care to address the significant trauma affecting their behavior and development. Through this collaborative approach, we can provide the child with the necessary resources and support to foster growth and stability.
The child and family were referred to West River Mental Health, where they have been receiving care as part of a collaboration with the State of South Dakota through ECC’s Social Emotional Program.
Furthermore, ECC has been instrumental in providing financial assistance through Starting Strong scholarship funds, ensuring that the child’s access to necessary services and care is uninterrupted.
Our ongoing support, through assessments, targeted interventions, and financial assistance, has been crucial in promoting the child’s development and ensuring their continued access to essential childcare services. ECC staff also collaborate closely with the child’s teacher to ensure they are well equipped to manage the child’s challenges in the classroom.
By offering intensive mentoring, problem-solving strategies, and wraparound support, we ensure that all individuals involved in the child’s care have the necessary resources to promote their success in school.
Challenging behaviors pose a significant threat to a child’s continued enrollment in essential early childhood development programs and is disruptive to learning for other children in the classroom. Through a comprehensive, collaborative, and multi-faceted approach, ECC has continuously supported this child’s growth and ensured that they have every opportunity to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
Thanks to generous donors like you, United Way of the Black Hills is able to make stories like this possible!