Welcome to Building Our Families
Our Mission
Building Our Families empowers families through wraparound, trauma-informed supports that address physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. By building trusting relationships and equipping families with lifelong skills, we strengthen the health and resilience of our entire community.
Building Our Families
Building Our Families functions as a community hub that links families to the supports they need.
Rather than creating new systems, we connect and strengthen existing ones. We help families access services, stay engaged, and move between programs without falling through the cracks.
This coordinated approach improves outcomes for families while reducing strain on emergency, healthcare, and child welfare systems.
A Speck of Hope
A Speck of Hope is not just an organization, but a Community. We are a community who fights for the possibility of freedom through our anxiety and through whatever hinders our Mental Health.
Everybody’s Mental Health exists on a different level, but nobody’s is perfect. To exist is to have a mind, and to have a mind is to have mental health. This makes up who we are and how we exist in our world today.
Rachel's Hope
Here at Rachel’s Hope, we believe that everyone should have access to personal hygiene and household cleaning essentials.
We strive to provide accessible assistance of these essentials to anyone who presents a need, regardless of their life circumstances.
We offer delivery to homes, no questions asked. It's not a special request, it's an option provided to all who seek assistance.
Our Store
Our Store is a community store with a purpose — open to everyone.
When you shop here, your purchase helps meet real needs for local children and families, like food, diapers, school supplies, safety items, and support during crisis.
Some families shop.
Some families receive support through our Free Store by referral.
Shopping here helps us respond faster, keep services local, and support families with dignity.
The Building Our Families Story
Founded in 2018 through the vision of Carol Weber and Living Word Church, Building Our Families began as a grassroots effort to support local families in crisis. A board of compassionate community members formed to lead the initiative, seeking support from area churches and organizations. Today, our board has grown—and we are actively inviting new members who share our passion for protecting children and strengthening families.
Supporting Families.
Strengthening Mental Health.
Building Stability.
Building Our Families
Practical support. Clear expectations. Stronger families.
Building Our Families helps children and families facing mental health challenges, financial stress, housing instability, and child welfare involvement. We partner with families to address immediate needs while working toward lasting stability.
In our rural communities, long travel distances, limited transportation, and complicated systems can make getting help difficult. We provide local support to help families stay connected, follow through, and move forward.
BOOST Program
Building Opportunities with Optimal Supports & Teaching
BOOST combines practical help, coaching, and accountability. We work alongside families to understand what is happening, identify barriers, and create a plan with clear steps toward change.
How We Help
Depending on a family’s needs, support may include:
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Budgeting and financial guidance: Reviewing income, expenses, and spending choices to build a realistic household budget.
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Basic needs and housing stability: Helping families explore resources for food, clothing, utilities, and housing. Financial assistance may be considered when funding is available and program requirements are met.
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Parenting and life skills: Building routines, problem-solving skills, and habits that support a stable home.
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Mental health support: Providing encouragement, practical guidance, and connections to counseling and other professional services.
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Employment support: Helping families take steps toward work, build job skills, and explore employment opportunities, including opportunities at Our Store.
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Advocacy and coordination: Helping families navigate healthcare, schools, child welfare, and community resources.
What We Expect From Families
We do not simply give money away. A phone call asking for a bill to be paid does not guarantee assistance.
Families seeking funds must commit to working with us toward change. That means taking an active role in budgeting, financial responsibility, and the steps needed to improve their situation.
Families are expected to:
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Complete required forms and provide accurate information about their needs and finances.
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Participate in budgeting and bring requested financial records.
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Work with us to create a plan and follow the agreed-upon guidelines.
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Make responsible spending choices that prioritize housing, utilities, food, and other essential needs.
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Work toward employment or other appropriate steps toward stability, based on their abilities and circumstances.
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Attend appointments, communicate when barriers arise, and follow through on agreed-upon steps.
We understand that progress takes time and setbacks happen. We help families address barriers and adjust their plans, while continuing to expect participation and effort. If a family does not participate or follow through, financial assistance may be limited or paused.
Assistance depends on the family’s circumstances, participation, program guidelines, and available funding. It is not guaranteed.
Working Together as a Community
We partner with other nonprofits and community agencies to make support more coordinated and effective.
With the required consent and releases of information, we share relevant information about services, needs, and plans. This helps us avoid duplicating assistance, identify gaps, and make the best use of community resources.
Together, we help families connect with the right support and understand what steps they need to take.
Our Goal: Helping Families Thrive
We want families to gain the skills, confidence, and stability to move forward. That takes a partnership: we bring guidance, resources, and encouragement, and families bring participation, effort, and a commitment to change.
You do not have to have everything figured out before reaching out. You do need to be willing to work with us.
To learn more or begin the process, contact Building Our Families at 605-467-9364 or buildingourfamiliesgc@gmail.com.
Who We Serve
BOOST supports:
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Families experiencing mental health challenges
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Parents and caregivers facing crisis, financial stress, or housing instability
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Families involved with child protection or foster care
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Children impacted by trauma, instability, or family stress
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Families who need help building budgeting, parenting, employment, and life skills
Our goal is to help families build stability and confidence. Families seeking financial assistance must be willing to participate in budgeting, follow an agreed-upon plan, and work toward responsible choices and lasting change.
How We Work
We partner with families and community organizations, including:
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Healthcare and mental health providers
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Schools and school support staff
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Child Protection Services and foster families
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Housing and community action programs
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Local nonprofits and resource providers
With required consent and releases of information, we share relevant information and coordinate support. This helps us reduce duplicate assistance, identify unmet needs, and use community resources where they can make the greatest difference.
A phone call does not automatically result in a bill being paid. We take time to understand each family’s situation, review available resources, and develop a plan together. Financial assistance depends on participation, program requirements, and available funding.
Our Approach
BOOST combines compassion with clear expectations. Our support is:
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Trauma-informed: We recognize how difficult experiences can affect daily life and follow-through.
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Relationship-based: We build trust through consistent support and honest communication.
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Strength-focused: We help families recognize their abilities and build practical skills.
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Family-centered: We develop goals that reflect each family’s needs and circumstances.
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Accountability-focused: We expect participation in budgeting, responsible financial decisions, and work toward agreed-upon goals.
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Community-driven: We coordinate with partners to help families receive effective support.
We understand that change takes time. When barriers or setbacks arise, we work with families to address them while maintaining clear expectations.
We bring guidance, encouragement, and resources. Families bring effort, participation, and a willingness to change. Together, we work toward a future where families can thrive.
Our Impact
Through practical support, coaching, and community partnerships, we work to help families:
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Build budgeting skills and make responsible financial decisions
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Develop job skills and work toward greater financial stability
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Stay connected to mental health care and other support services
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Address problems early, before they become larger crises
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Strengthen parenting skills, household routines, and family stability
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Follow through on goals with clear expectations and ongoing encouragement
By coordinating with community partners, we work to reduce duplicate assistance, address unmet needs, and make community resources go further.
Our goal is lasting progress: families gaining the skills, confidence, and support to thrive.
Supporting Foster & Kinship Families
Building Our Families supports foster and kinship families in Grant, Deuel, Codington, Clark, Hamlin, Brookings, Lake, Miner, and Moody counties in South Dakota, and Big Stone County, Minnesota.
We provide practical support to help caregivers meet children’s needs, reduce stress, and build connections. Depending on availability and program guidelines, support may include:
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Children’s clothing and everyday essentials
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Comfort items, including trauma blankets
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State park passes to encourage family time and connection
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Free cheese through our partnership with Valley Queen
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Foster camp opportunities for children and families
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Special family events that build community
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Training and education to strengthen caregivers
Foster and kinship support follows its own eligibility and program guidelines. Families may need to provide documentation of placement or caregiver status. Items, activities, and assistance depend on available supplies, funding, and partner participation.
Contact us to learn what is currently available and what documentation is needed.
Our goal is to help caregivers feel supported and ensure children have what they need to feel safe, connected, and ready to thrive.
South Dakota State Park Passes
Each year, Building Our Families distributes South Dakota State Park Passes to licensed foster families in Grant, Clark, Brookings, Codington, Deuel, Hamlin, Lake, Miner, Moody, and Kingsbury Counties through a grant from the Valley Queen Foundation.
Foster families can request a pass between February 1 and March 30.
Requirements:
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Must live in one of the listed counties
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Must be a licensed foster family for the current year
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Must upload a copy of their current foster care license
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They do not need to currently have children placed, but must have an active license
Complete the form request for your pass. Passes will be mailed out in May.
Weighted Blanket Request Form
Building Our Families provides free weighted blankets for licensed foster families in these 10 counties:
Grant, Clark, Brookings, Codington, Deuel, Hamlin, Lake, Miner, Moody, and Kingsbury Counties.
Families should complete the form to request a blanket.
Note: families must live in one of the listed counties and have an active foster care license to qualify.
Need Support or Want to Learn More?
If your family is struggling, you are not alone.
Building Our Families is here to help.
A safe place to land.
A strong place to start.
If you are in need of services, please fill out the form below and someone will contact you promptly.
If you are a partner or funder, thank you for helping us strengthen families in our community.
Building Our Families
Staff
Terri Mielitz
Executive Director
Kristal Gallegos
Our Store - Assistant Manager
Help further our mission, scan the QR code to donate now to Bof!
Your support means the world to us. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of children and families. Join Building Our Families in our mission to create a brighter future for all. Every contribution, big or small, helps us build stronger communities and brighter tomorrows.
Our Sponsors
Our Store advances family stability by generating local, sustainable support for children and families through a community-based retail model.
Our Store is for everyone — and every purchase has a purpose.
It’s a community store where anyone can shop, find great value, and help local families move forward.
We also provide jobs for families we serve. Working at Our Store gives family members the opportunity to earn income, build skills, and gain work experience while receiving support through Building Our Families. They help run the store and contribute to the same community that supports them.
Support comes with responsibility. Building Our Families does not simply give money away. Families seeking financial assistance are required to work with us on budgeting, follow an agreed-upon plan, and make responsible choices that support their family’s needs. Our goal is to help families build lasting stability, with guidance and accountability along the way.
When you shop here, you support:
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Jobs and work experience for families
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Budgeting, coaching, and family support
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Help with food, diapers, school items, safety supplies, transportation to visits, and other needs
Some families shop here. Some receive support. Some work here. Some do all three at different points in their lives.
Our goal is to help families move forward through practical support, meaningful work, and respect.
If you shop here — thank you.
If you need help — we’re here to help you take the next steps.
If you’re both at different times — that’s okay too.
That’s what a strong community looks like.
