South Dakota Peer Leadership

The mission of South Dakota Peer Leadership (SDPL) is to promote positive peer role modeling and environmental strategies that create healthier and safer lives for the young people in South Dakota. SDPL is a place where peer-to-peer education and prevention organizations can come together.

Each Fall, the NEPRC hosts a SDPL Training in Watertown. This training provides leaders from area schools the opportunity to learn about upcoming campaigns, resources available, network with other leadership groups, and share ideas.

The NEPRC collaborates with the Southeastern and Western Prevention Resource Centers to host two state SDPL Conferences in Rapid City and Watertown. These conferences promote teambuilding, networking, mental health awareness, substance use prevention, leadership, and collaboration.

For the SDPL State Conference, the NEPRC and SEPRC select a regional SDPL Advisory Board. The SDPL Advisory Board is made up of high school students interested in helping plan and run the SDPL Conference in Watertown. To learn more and apply, check out the application due November 30th.

SDPL has worked alongside many school and community based groups such as SADD, Natural Helpers, TATU, Student Council, Key Club, Ambassadors, and Youth Groups. If your group is interested in learning more about SDPL, contact neprc@humanserviceagency.org.

Natural Helpers of South Dakota

Natural Helpers of South Dakota was founded with the knowledge that within every school, an informal “helping network” already exists. Students experiencing problems naturally seek out other students – and also adults – whom they trust. Natural Helpers uses this helping network to disseminate as much accurate information as possible to all students. It provides training to students and adults who are already serving as helpers, giving them skills to help others more effectively.

The program uses an anonymous school-wide survey to identify a cross-section of students and school adults. These students and staff will learn skills to become a better Natural Helper.

To learn more about Natural Helpers of South Dakota, click HERE!

To bring a Natural Helpers of South Dakota Training to your school or to be trained to provide Natural Helpers of South Dakota, contact Dodi Haug at dodih@humanserviceagency.org or 605-884-3516.