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About BEAM-SD

The mission of BEAM-SD is to increase access to behavioral health care for youth (0-21) by increasing the capacity of primary care providers and school-based professionals to screen, diagnose, treat, and refer youth with behavioral health conditions across South Dakota.

This is done through BEAM-SD programs’ free statewide teleconsultation, training, resources, and referral services which are designed to mitigate workforce shortages of behavioral health professionals due to the rising children’s mental health crisis.

BEAM-SD is South Dakota’s Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program. Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Programs are carried out across the country.

BEAM-SD is South Dakota's Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program. Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Programs are carried out across the country. This video provides an overview of what a PMHCA program is.

Core Team

Eric Kurtz

Ph.D.

Executive Director
South Dakota Center for Disabilities
BEAM-SD Principal Investigator

Nikki Eining

CSW-PIP QMHP

Private Independent Practice Licensed Social Worker
South Dakota Center for Disabilities
BEAM-SD Program Coordinator

Erin Srstka

M.S. M.Ed.

Director
Center for Rural Health Improvement
BEAM-SD Evaluation Coordinator

Tim Soundy

M.D.

Chair Department of Psychiatry
USD Sanford School of Medicine
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Avera Medical Group

Aimee Deliramich

Ph.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
South Dakota Center for Disabilities
BEAM-SD Clinical Coordinator

David Ermer

M.D.

Clinical VP of Behavioral Health Service Line
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Avera Medical Group

Heidi Aderhold

Ed.S.

Educational Specialist
South Dakota Center for Disabilities
BEAM-SD School Coordinator

MacKenzie Mertz

D.O.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Sanford Health

Advisory Board Members

Melanie Boetel, MA

Director, South Dakota Division of Behavioral Health

Melanie Boetel has worked for the Division of Behavioral Health for over 10 years and currently serves as the Director of the Division of Behavioral Health. Melanie has experience in multiple settings as a behavioral health treatment services provider and as a program administrator overseeing crisis, prevention, treatment, and recovery support delivery and services. She obtained her Master of Arts in Counseling at the University of North Dakota.

Whitney Brunner

Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Director, South Dakota Department of Health

Whitney leads a team of public health professionals focused on the health and well-being of South Dakota women, infants, children, adolescents, and children with special healthcare needs.

Rebecca Cain, BS

Office of Student Wellness and Support, South Dakota Department of Education

Rebecca graduated from USD with a BS in Criminal Justice and has worked for the South Dakota Department of Education since 2005.

Amy Iversen, MS

Chief Executive Officer, West River Mental Health, Rapid City South Dakota

Amy has held various executive leadership positions in the private sector and state government, including serving as the Department of Social Services Deputy Cabinet Secretary overseeing behavioral health services.

Janet Kittams

Chief Executive Officer, Helpline Center

Janet has worked in the mental health field for over 25 years in South Dakota.

Jason Simon-Ressler, MPH Candidate

Child and Adolescent Health Coordinator, Title V Program, South Dakota Department Of Health

Jason serves as the Child and Adolescent Health Coordinator for the South Dakota Department of Health Title V Program and as a student assistant at the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment. Jason is a graduate of the University of South Dakota and a current graduate student in the Master of Public Health program.

Tori Thaler, LCSW-PIP, QMHP

Director of Behavioral Health Services and Outpatient Therapist, Wagner Community Memorial Hospital- Avera, Wagner South Dakota.

Tori is dedicated to expanding mental health services, particularly focused on rural South Dakota.

Linda Turner, BA, MS

Director of Special Education and Early Learning, South Dakota Department of Education

Linda has worked at the Department of Education for twenty years and previously taught special education in North Carolina for ten years. Linda has also received National Board Certification in Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/Exceptional Needs.

Carletta Hauck

Executive Director, South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians

Carletta has been the Executive Director for the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians for over 20 years and the Alaska Academy of Family Physicians for 5 years. Both academies have over 300 Family Physician members. She has helped with the Alaska PALPAK program for the last two years and looks forward to sharing BEAM opportunities with the SDAFP membership.

Brad Archer, MD, FACP

Chief Medical Officer, Monument Health

Brad Archer, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer at Regional Health. Dr. Archer joined Regional Health in September 2017 and has over 19 years of healthcare leadership experience. Before joining Monument Health, Dr. Archer was the Chief Clinical Officer and Director of Population Health at Iowa Health Alliance and the University of Iowa Health System. Dr. Archer completed his undergraduate in pharmacy at South Dakota State University, medical school at the University of South Dakota, residency in internal medicine at the University of Iowa-Des Moines, and business training at Dartmouth. He is also specialty-boarded in Hospice and Palliative Care.

Consultation Team

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HRSA

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2.13 million dollars with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, Please Visit HRSA.gov.

Navigation

HRSA

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2.13 million dollars with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, Please Visit HRSA.gov.

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