Mission:
The Maternal and Infant Health Task Force works to improve the health of mothers and infants through data-informed innovation, collaborative partnerships, and sustainable solutions that address disparities to build lasting improvements in care and outcomes.
Guiding principles:
- Community-centered approach: We engage families and local stakeholders as active partners, empowering them to drive decisions and shape solutions that directly respond to their community’s needs.
- Data: We use data as a tool for transparency, illuminating health disparities and guiding informed decision-making to advance accountability in our work and well-being for all.
- Collaboration: We are committed to a multi-sector, statewide approach that values open dialogue, mutual respect, and active engagement among partners to develop forward-thinking and long-term solutions.
Maternal & Infant Health Task Force Plan Maternal and Infant Health Task Force Strategic Plan
Maternal & Infant Health Task Force Members
Katelyn Strasser
Deputy Division Director
Organization: SD Department of Health
Task Force Chair and Systems of Care Committee Lead
Laurel Rick
Infant Health Coordinator
Organization: SD Department of Health
Infant Health Committee Lead
Shelby Kommes
Women’s Health Director
Organization: SD Department of Health
Maternal Health Committee Lead
Beth Walstrom
Assistant Administrator of Data, Office of Lifespan Health
Organization: SD Department of Health
Data Lead
Sandra Melstad
Consultant
Organization: SLM Consulting, LLC
Stephanie Hanson
Assistant Professor/Executive Director
Organization: SD State University / SD Perinatal Quality Collaborative
Denise Hanisch, MD
Medical Director
Organization: SD Department of Health
Eric Emery
Representative
Organization: SD Legislature
Sydney Davis
CRNA, State Senator District 17
Organization: SD Legislature
Kaylyn Davis
Infant and Child Mortality Data Abstractor, Office of MCH Data Analytics & Insights
Organization: SD Department of Health
Ben Tiensvold
Executive Director
Organization: Community Health Workers of SD
Kimberlee McKay, MD
Research Medical Director, RMOMs-SD PI
Organization: Avera Research Institute
Hope Kleine
Administrator, Office of Lifespan Health
Organization: SD Department of Health
Marty Link
Deputy Division Director, Division of Healthcare Access
Organization: SD Department of Health
Josie Petersen
Assistant Administrator, Office of Rural Health
Organization: SD Department of Health
Nikki Krier
Title X Director
Organization: SD Department of Health
Audrey Rider
Early Childhood Field Specialist
Organization: SD State University Extension
Katie Kopp
Director of Nursing, Birth Place Services
Organization: Sanford Health
Joe Kippley
Public Health Director
Organization: Sioux Falls Health Department
Lacey McCormack
Director of Rural Research
Organization: Avera Research Institute
Laura Nordbye
Child Care Licensing Program Manager, Office of Licensing & Accreditation
Organization: SD Department of Social Services
Alyssa Christensen
Nurse Manager
Organization: Avera McKennan Hospital
Taylor Rehfeldt
Representative
Organization: SD Legislature
Jen Tinguely, MD
Medical Director
Organization: City of Sioux Falls Health Department
Nicky Cooney
Strategic Initiatives Consultant, Health Improvement Division
Organization: Wellmark
Chris Soukup
Care Management Program Administrator, Medical Services
Organization: SD Department of Social Services
Anna Waterland Dykstra
Certified Nurse Midwife
Organization: Indian Health Service, Four Directions Clinic in Kyle
Carrie Churchill
Administrator, Office of Home Visiting
Organization: SD Department of Health
Carly Goodhart
Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
Organization: Sanford Health
Kelsie Thomas
Board President
Organization: SD Doulas
Beth Dokken
Director, Division of Family and Community Health
Organization: SD Department of Health
Kristine Randall
Director, NICU
Organization: Sanford Health
London Zerfas
Deputy Administrator, Division of Disease Prevention and Control
Organization: SD Department of Health
Melanie Boetel
Director, Behavioral Health
Organization: Department of Social Services
Mandy Bell
VP of Product Innovation
Organization: Avel eCare
Stacie Ugofsky
Lead Licensing Specialist
Organization: SD Department of Social Services
Wahleah Watson
Community Health Education Program Manager
Organization: Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation
Victoria Wakeman
Certified Doula and Trainer, Certified Lactation Peer Counselor
Organization: Childbirth Support Specialists
Terri Rattler
TMIECHV Program Manager
Organization: Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board
Alicia Mousseau
Vice President
Organization: Oglala Sioux Tribe
Johanna Hewitt
Nurse Practitioner, DNP
Organization: Indian Health Services, Pine Ridge Hospital Pediatrics
Joel Arriolacolmenares
Administrator, Office of Public Health Nursing
Organization: SD Department of Health
Beth Laughlin
Labor and Delivery Nurse Manager
Organization: Monument Health
Shannon Muchow
Nurse Manager, Office of Public Health Nursing
Organization: SD Department of Health
Kelly Cronin
Bright Start Home Visiting Nurse
Organization: SD Department of Health
Sandy Lown
Executive Director
Organization: Teddy Bear Den
Jordyn Gunville-Pourier
Senior Research Associate
Organization: Johns Hopkins - Center for Indigenous Health
Tony Burke
Government Relations Director
Organization: American Heart Association
Matt Tribble
Public Health Analyst, Overdose Response Strategy
Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Steve Ardis
Officer
Organization: Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
Renee Forred
Doula, Owner
Organization: SD Doulas; Transitions: Doula and Life Services
Laura Rose
Assistant Chief Financial Officer, Human Resource Director
Organization: The Bebela Project
Alejandra Ortiz
Infant and Child Health Epidemiologist, Contractor with SD DOH
Organization: Black Hills Special Services
Lorrie Lendvoy
Maternal Morbidity Epidemiologist, Contractor with SD DOH
Organization: South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care
Lindsay Munkvold
Registered Nurse
Organization: Mobridge Hospital
Cathy Mickelson
Registered Nurse
Organization: Mobridge Hospital
Laura Hoefert, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Organization: Madison Regional Health System
Jennifer Folliard
Executive Director
Organization: SD Doulas
Gretchen Stai
Substance Use Services Program Manager
Organization: SD Department of Social Services
Samantha Marts
Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas
Organization: Administration and Program Coordinator
Lindsey Karlson
Director of Programs and Training
Organization: Administration and Program Coordinator
Darla Biel
Assistant Director
Organization: Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment
Alysia Dressler
Bright Start Home Visiting Nurse
Organization: SD Department of Health
Amanda Tilberg
Bright Start Home Visiting Nurse
Organization: Children's Home Society of South Dakota
Taylor Gustafson
Obstetrics Nurse Clinician
Organization: Monument Health
Mandy Steen
Doula, Owner
Organization: Dakota Doulas
Jodi Berscheid
SD Head Start Collaboration Office Director
Organization: SD Department of Education
Ashlyn Plooster
Care Coordinator
Organization: Great Plains Tribal Health- Healthy Start
Madoona Wright
Health Educator
Organization: Great Plains Tribal Health- Healthy Start
Megan Veldkamp
Nursing Faculty
Organization: South Dakota State University
Strategic Plan
Maternal & Infant Health Task Force Strategic Plan, 2026
This strategic plan outlines South Dakota’s coordinated approach to improving maternal and infant health through data, partnerships, and sustainable solutions. It identifies key needs and gaps and establishes objectives focused on women’s health, infant health, and systems of care to improve access and outcomes across the state.
South Dakota Maternal and Infant Health Task Force Releases Five-Year Strategic Plan to Improve Outcomes for Mothers and Babies
Today, the South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) and the South Dakota Maternal and Infant Health Task Force announced the release of a new five-year strategic plan (2026–2030) aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and infants across the state.
South Dakota Launches Maternal and Infant Health Task Force and Releases New Data to Guide Prevention Efforts
The South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) has launched the Maternal and Infant Health Task Force, a statewide initiative to reduce preventable deaths among mothers and infants and to improve health outcomes for families across South Dakota.