Behavioral Health, Education, Access, and Management for South Dakota (BEAM-SD)
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Event Details
Objectives:
- Describe the purpose and core components of the Behavioral Health, Education, Access, and Management for South Dakota (BEAM-SD) initiative, including its mission to increase capacity to address pediatric behavioral health needs for children and youth ages 0–21 statewide.
- Explain the program objectives of BEAM-SD and how the initiative supports providers across clinical, behavioral health, education, and community systems to improve early identification, coordinated care, and treatment access.
- Identify multiple ways physicians and clinical teams can engage with BEAM-SD to promote behavioral health care and strengthen outcomes for their patients and families.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the BEAM-SD professional-to-professional consultation line, including:
- How to register and gain access
- When and how to utilize the consultation service
- What types of pediatric behavioral health concerns can be addressed through the consultation line
- Navigate BEAM-SD’s resource hub, including evidence-based screening tools, treatment resources, referral supports, and clinical decision aids.
- Describe the structure and purpose of the BEAM-SD ECHO Intensive Series launching in 2026, and identify opportunities to participate in interprofessional learning to deepen skills in pediatric behavioral health assessment, treatment, and care coordination.
Target audience: Hospital
Dr. Eric Kurtz is the Executive Director of the Center for Disabilities at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. The Center for Disabilities is South Dakota’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Dr. Kurtz provides leadership and strategic direction for its core functions across clinical services, research, interprofessional education, training and technical assistance, information dissemination, as well as policy-related efforts. Dr. Kurtz is also the Principal Investigator for the South Dakota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND) program and Principal Investigator
for the South Dakota Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program. He also holds several additional appointments including Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the USD Sanford School of Medicine.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Kurtz led the Rural Healthcare Program at the Helmsley Trust overseeing a $40 million annual budget with over $175 million in active investments working to provide sustainable solutions to improve healthcare access and quality in underserved areas.
Dr. Kurtz has over 20 years of experience as a developmental psychologist in health, educational, and forensic settings. He has extensive experience in coalition building and providing technical assistance, consultation, and training to a variety of organizations regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Nikki Eining is a private independent practice licensed social worker who serves as the Statewide Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program Coordinator for The USD Center for Disabilities. Nikki brings a diverse set of experiences and passions, spending over 19 years working in the mental health field. Her previous experience has focused on supporting youth and families in office, school, and community settings through outpatient behavioral health services and prevention programming. She has professional experience in clinical mental health, education, research design, non-profit, program development, and trauma-informed care practices.