SIOUX FALLS – More than 730 health professionals, educators, emergency service workers, and community members interested in strengthening behavioral health services are expected to attend the annual Behavioral Health Conference next week in Sioux Falls.

The Department of Social Services will host the conference August 11–12 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. This two-day event takes a comprehensive look at behavioral health in South Dakota, including suicide and substance use prevention, treatment and recovery support, crisis services, reducing stigma in behavioral health care, and practical models for integrating behavioral health into primary care, specialty care, and hospital settings.

“The strength of South Dakota lies in its people,” DSS Cabinet Secretary Matt Althoff said. “We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure every South Dakotan feels supported, is empowered to seek help, and has access to the resources they need.”

This is the fifth year DSS has hosted the “Your Journey Matters” Behavioral Health Conference. Your Journey Matters is designed to help strengthen behavioral health resources in our state by featuring updates to practice models and delivering inspiration to those who serve in the behavioral health and aligned fields. 

Featured keynote speakers include:

Lauren Sister
Lauren Sister is a former collegiate gymnast, Emmy Award–winning sports broadcaster, ESPN sideline reporter, author, and keynote speaker. After losing both parents within hours to their hidden struggle with prescription drug addiction, Lauren transformed her pain into purpose. Through authentic and dynamic storytelling, she encourages audiences to face adversity with courage, embrace their own stories, and move toward a life of greater meaning and fulfillment.

Dennis Gillan
Dennis Gillan is a national advocate for suicide prevention and mental health. Motivated by personal loss, Dennis has spent decades supporting individuals in crisis, volunteering on suicide prevention hotlines, and working with nonprofits dedicated to mental health. Through candid, relatable presentations, he helps audiences understand warning signs, reduce stigma, and confidently support those who may be struggling.

Sam Quinones
Sam Quinones is a journalist, storyteller, former Los Angeles Times reporter, and author of five books of narrative nonfiction. His 38-year career includes a decade living and reporting in Mexico and extensive work covering immigration, drug trafficking, and community issues across the United States. Quinones is the author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, a landmark book examining the roots of the nation’s opioid crisis. He continues to write and report on issues related to addiction and communities through freelance work and his weekly Dreamland Newsletter on Substack.

For more information on the conference including a full agenda, visit https://sdbehavioralhealth.gov/conference.

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The South Dakota Department of Social Services is dedicated to strengthening families to foster health, wellbeing, and independence. For more information, please visit dss.sd.gov.