HEART
Healing, Education, Awareness, Resilience, Trauma
Recognizing the strong connection between mental health and community transformation, we’ve combined these efforts into one integrated initiative: HEART. These initiatives focus on reducing trauma and meeting the Resilient Community Standards.
Mental Health
"Create an environment that informs, encourages, and supports mental health wellness"
We found that many adult community members who want help for their mental health will not seek that help. The response of “I thought I could handle it myself” is the primary reason given by adult respondents. Self-stigma and uncertainty regarding mental health services is a huge barrier.
We also see the community’s concern of suicide, depression, and anxiety. 
Based on our coalition's research and available state and community data, we knew we needed to address suicide rates in our community. We needed to illustrate the importance of caring for one’s mental health is important for every community member.
We provide a service that is evidence based and data driven. As a trusted resource within the Watertown area, the coalition feels it is our duty to create and provide specific variations of resources, print material, tools that is accessible for the different groups within our community.
Glacial Lakes SAFE (Suicide Awareness for Everyone) meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at noon at the Human Service Agency.
Community Awareness:
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May Mental Health month – Green Day to end the stigma & support mental health awareness
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Annual Suicide Prevention Awareness Event – Second Saturday in September. Follow the Glacial Lakes SAFE Facebook page for updates.
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Provide FREE resources for those who are struggling or know someone who needs support.
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Presentations and trainings are available for any age groups or organizations/businesses.
Additional Information and Resources on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention:
For free materials/swag that you can order anytime:
https://sdbehavioralhealth.gov/request-materials - pens, pencils, bookmarks, stickers, tattoos, etc
https://www.helplinecenter.org/9-8-8/988-promotion/ - 988 material
https://orders.gpo.gov/SAMHSA988/Pubs.aspx - national resources/materials
List of local providers
List of free resources
Identified Mental Health Strategies
- Address gaps in mental health crisis services to increase access and affordability for all Codington County residents.
- Increase awareness of mental health concerns, crisis services, and available resources among social service providers in Codington County through targeted communication efforts.
- Implement, oversee, and evaluate public health campaigns on mental health services focused to support Individual and community needs.
- Help strengthen clients' ability to navigate the process of accessing mental health services in Codington County.
- Empower the community to take ownership of addressing mental health and substance use/misuse needs for others.
Community Transformation
Resilient Communities 
Our hard work earned the designation of being a Resilient Community! To earn this designation, the Codington County Social Services Advisory Council worked with SD Resilient Communities.
SD Resilient Communities was created by the Center
for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment at the University
of South Dakota School of Health Sciences, along with its partner organizations, to help address factors that put children
at risk for childhood maltreatment. It creates an environment that is trauma-informed so community members understand the effects of experiencing childhood maltreatment. The process identifies existing resources that can be used to strengthen prevention and increase a community’s capacity to collaborate across sectors. Codington Connects strengthens community resilience through collaboration, support, and accessible resources.
The Codington Connects Resilient Community initiative is focused on making the community a safe and healthy place for all of our residents. Through coordinated efforts, the community has come together in an impressive way to address some of the most challenging issues facing our community. These efforts improve our economic outlook as well as make Watertown a better place to live.
Identified Community Transformation Strategies
- Develop and provide training and programming that builds capacity for life skills and resiliency among Codington County residents (adult skills, basic skills, generational poverty).
- Develop and implement mentoring opportunities to build pro-social connections.
- Explore opportunities to provide long-term supports and resources to build capacity for self-sufficiency.
- Explore community perceptions and awareness of social services, stigma related to utilization of social services and/or barriers to access social services.