Operation Warm

This past week’s freezing temperatures left us all shivering, but Shelter for Family Safety is filled with warmth and love. Several of our friends at Schulte Subaru stopped by last week to drop off 120 brand new coats for children in our care. Click here to read more. 

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2025 EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION

Celebrate good times, come on!

The 2025 Employee Appreciation events are right around the corner! Come with your song requests and dancing shoes because along with the award announcements and great food, there will be some fun entertainment from JUST DUET! Dueling Piano Show.

• BHCH will be celebrating on Tuesday, February 4, from 5:30-9 PM at the Rushmore Hotel.
• SFCH and Shelter staff will gather on Thursday, February 13, from 5:30-9 PM at the Sanford Event Barn.

Tentative Schedule

• 5:30-6PM: Social Hour and Heavy Hors d’oeuvres
• 6PM: CEO Remarks and Awards
• 6:30-8:30PM: JUST DUET! Dueling Piano Show

We can’t wait to celebrate good times with you! See you all soon!

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Deanna Larson is Retiring!

What was only supposed to be a six-month stay turned into 20 months of hope and transformation. As many of you know, Deanna came out of retirement and resigned from our board to be our interim COO in 2023. But now, with a newly constructed home, grandbabies on the way and a husband who is ready to do some traveling, she has decided to officially retire.

“She brought unprecedented and excellent change through process improvements, new services, an integrated care model, COA accreditation for all programs and a renewed focus on quality,” says President and CEO Michelle Lavallee. “We thank her for her exemplary service and leadership.

Join us in celebrating Deanna’s marvelous achievements on her last day, Friday, January 31. The party will be in the SFCH Admin building in Room with a View from 2-4:00 PM.

Refreshments will be provided, but please bring your well wishes and favorite memories of Deanna. Let’s show her how grateful we are for everything she’s done for CHS!

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Send Us Your Stories

One of the best things about GOOD WORKS Weekly is the stories we get from you. We love highlighting your achievements in On the Rise, sharing your trips, weddings and new bundles of joy in CHS Scrapbook, showcasing your cute pets in Featured Pet and diving into the story ideas that you pass along to us.

But we also want to hear about interactions with the kids, clients and coworkers that brought a smile to your face. We want to share your updates on previous clients and the exciting things happening in your classrooms and units. Please, send us your Heartfelt Moments!

If you have a Heartfelt Moment, news, story ideas or a pet to share, please reach out to Krystal Schoenbauer or email news@chssd.org.

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On the Rise

We know CHS is filled with GOOD employees, so let’s take a moment to celebrate some amazing achievements.

• Congratulations to Shelter for Family Safety Therapist Rachel Abraham for obtaining her National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification. Way to go, Rachel!
• Tina Reiter recently received her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification and accepted a new role as a Therapist at Shelter for Family Safety. Awesome job, Tina!

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CHS Scrapbook

“We are so lucky to have another blessing in our family,” said Assistant Program Director of Bright Start Kathy Schneider. Harvey Hugo
Schneider entered the world on Monday, January 13. Only a week old and he is already incredibly loved by his sisters, Octavia and Piper. See photos here!

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Apply Now! Refer a Friend

Qualified staff can be the first to apply for any open position at CHS. This week’s featured posts include:

• Residential Youth Counselor – Black Hills CHSSD
• Residential Youth Counselor – Sioux Falls CHSSD
• Intermediate Classroom Teacher – Owen School, Black Hills CHSSD

View our full listing of job openings at all CHS campuses. And don’t forget to refer your friends and family for a referral bonus of up to $1,000!