South Dakota Community Foundation Awards $20,000 to LifeScape
April 30, 2025 // Grants, South Dakota Fund Grants
South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) recently awarded a $20,000 South Dakota Fund grant to LifeScape. Funding will assist their workplace safety program.
“Support from the South Dakota Community Foundation has enabled the implementation of new technology to increasing the safety of staff and the children they support at LifeScape,” said Jessica Wells, LifeScape Foundation President. “It has also increased the efficiency of documenting learning progress so teachers can adjust plans and approaches in real time aiding the students in more meaningful learning each day. LifeScape is grateful for the partnership and support of the South Dakota Community Foundation helping children and adults live their best life.”
LifeScape was formed in 2014 with the combining of South Dakota Achieve and Children’s Care Hospital and School and provides a wide range of services for more than 4,000 children and adults with disabilities in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Workplace safety is vital for healthcare providers supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through LifeScape’s workplace safety program, staff are trained to use adaptive and assistive technologies that are both innovative and essential. These technologies provide the proper equipment for staff to help prevent injuries that could lead to absenteeism, burnout, and possible turn-over challenges that exacerbate staffing shortages. The 90-day onboarding program has been created to provide new employees improved performance, happiness, and better outcomes for both the employee and LifeScape as the employee gains a steady footing in their new role.
“Workplace safety not only trains the staff to take care of themselves, but also ensures sustainable care for society’s most vulnerable,” says Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer. “We are happy to assist LifeScape in this innovative program.”
To learn more about funding opportunities offered by SDCF, please visit our website at SDCommunityFoundation.org.
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers 1,300 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $40 million in grants in 2024 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.