Above: T. Denny Sanford (center) and Children's Home Society CEO Michelle Lavallee cut the official ribbon for the new Children's Home Shelter for Family Safety (formerly Children’s Inn) (formerly Children’s Inn) on Thursday, October 13.
Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety (formerly Children’s Inn), a program of Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, hosted a Greater Sioux Falls Chamber Ribbon Cutting event on October 13. The new building at 113 N St Paul Avenue in Sioux Falls will house the program’s 24-hour emergency shelter and services for victims of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.
“This shelter represents the culmination of six years of hard work from our board, donors, friends, community partners and our employees,” says,” Michelle Lavallee, CEO of Children’s Home Society. “We are prioritizing high-quality care for the people we serve, as well as the wellbeing of our staff, by providing a beautiful, healing environment.”
The new 48,000-square-foot facility was designed by Koch Hazard Architects and built by Lloyd Companies. It increases capacity from 40 beds in 24 rooms to 96 beds in 38 bedrooms to alleviate the chronic overcrowding in the previous building. The new space includes enhanced dining facilities, larger family rooms, more indoor and outdoor play space and additional areas for case management and other support services. It also features state-of-the-art security for client safe
“Our focus is always on the brave children, women and men we serve,” says Program Director Amy Carter. “We’re excited about new shelter and how it can impact the services we provide.”
In addition to a location change, the program name changed from Children’s Inn to Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety. The new name better describes the services available and emphasizes the program’s connection with Children’s Home Society.
Move-in takes place November 15.
The Shelter for Family Safety, then Children’s Inn, was founded in 1977, becoming one of nation’s first domestic violence shelters. It grew over the years and merged with Children’s Home Society in 1998. In addition to providing emergency shelter, meals and transportation, Children’s Inn also offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling services, parenting education, support groups, community referrals and more.