Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: Kinda stormy
This week, you'll find some health news for back-to-school and some changes to how Falls Community Health offers dental care. Plus, there's a whole bunch of events to check out this week.
And now, news:
CITY
How a new dental agreement could make Falls Community Health more money
Simplified: A restructured agreement between the University of South Dakota and Falls Community Health aims to increase access to affordable dental care in Sioux Falls, while also taking advantage of higher Medicaid reimbursement rates.
Why it matters
- USD has long partnered with Falls Community Health, though up until now they've operated as a separate clinic within Falls. The clinic has served as a place for dental hygiene students to complete supervised clinical hours while also providing affordable access to dental appointments for people in the city.
- Under the new agreement – approved unanimously by City Council on Tuesday night – Falls Community Health will take over operations of the USD clinic while still offering those same opportunities to students.
- As a federally qualified health center, Falls has a more desirable Medicaid reimbursement rate, Public Health Director Joe Kippley said, which means by taking over the operational side of things, the city could bring in more than $150,000 in revenue from Medicaid reimbursement from USD's patients.
"The revenue that comes from these investments definitely outweighs any expenses," Kippley said.
Tell me more
HEALTH
Five tips for back-to-school wellness
Simplified: Kids are heading back to school, and with that comes the return of bedtime routines, packing lunches and a classroom full of germs. Here are some tips from local pediatricians on how to keep your kids healthy this school year.
Why it matters
- Back-to-school season can be a busy time for families, but it's important to prioritize health – from ensuring kids have the vaccines they need to making sure they're getting the right amount of sleep.
- It's a good time to check in with your child's doctor about their growth, development and nutrition, said Dr. Halle McGee, a pediatrician at Sanford.
- It's also a good time to check in on your child's mental health – especially if you've got a kid going to a new school or starting middle or high school. Dr. Kara Bruning, a pediatrician at Avera, recommends in this video that parents tour the new school and talk about
"There's a lot of things we can do to alleviate those fears before the first day of school," Bruning said.
Here are five tips for back-to-school wellness
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- 'A life of significance.' The public is invited to a celebration of the life of billionaire philanthropist T. Denny Sanford on Saturday, Aug. 29 at the Washington Pavilion. Doors open at 1 p.m. with a program set to begin at 2 p.m. "A Life of Significance" will celebrate the remarkable life Mr. Sanford lived, the people he inspired and the lasting impact of his vision and philanthropy. The event is open to the public.
- Hit up the Friday Night Farmer's Market.* Pomegranate Market is hosting its monthly Friday Night Farmer's Market this week at Cherapa Place downtown. Park in the ramp off of Sixth Street and walk over to find live music, activities for kids, and more than a dozen local vendors, including Katz Cream, Grace Place, Mama Troll Salsa, Berrybrook Organics and more. Find more details here.
- Summer camp for grown-ups.* Take a break from work emails, and reconnect with your inner kid at the YMCA's Big Vikes Leif Ericson Adult Day Camp this weekend. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, this 21+ event will feature food trucks, kayaking, archery, goat yoga and, of course, s'mores. And, you can feel extra good about your trip down memory lane because your ticket purchase supports scholarships for local youth to experience Camp Leif Ericson and the life-changing opportunities it offers. Learn more and get your tickets here.
- 2,000 adoptions. The Sioux Falls Area Humane Society marked a milestone 2,000 adoptions so far this year. The 2,000th pet adopted was Delilah the dog. Learn more about the humane society and find adoptable pets here.
*Denotes a paid partnership
EVENTS
Stuff to do: Aug. 19-25
- Find some local laughs.* Friday Night Comedy is going down this week at The Grain Bin at 5013 N. Cliff Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show at 7:30 and an open mic to follow at 9 p.m. Learn more on the Sioux Falls Comedy website.
- Check out Roots Fest. Roots of Brasil is hosting the third annual Roots Fest on Saturday with live music, a kid zone, local vendors and, of course, lots of delicious food. Learn more here.
- Learn to babysit. Parents of teens, this one's for you. Transitions Doula and Life Services is hosting a "Safe Sitter" course for aspiring babysitters. The course starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. Learn more and register here.
- Catch live music. The Four Winds music festival is happening Friday and Saturday downtown at Icon Events and Dada Gastropub. Find the full lineup of artists and get day passes or weekend tickets here.
- Chill at the hill. Great Bear's weekly Chill at the Hill event is back Wednesday with food from Breaking Burrito and local musician Tara Faber. Learn more here.
- Play volleyball for charity. Digz Volleyball this weekend is bringing back Digz4Kidz, a volleyball tournament fundraiser. This year's event will support Fun & Friends, a nonprofit that provides programming for kids with disabilities in Sioux Falls. Details and registration here.
*Denotes a paid partnership
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
This Rare by Design panel will share the ‘power of being seen’
An upcoming event from local nonprofit Rare by Design aims to start conversations about the importance of representation for people with disabilities and rare diseases.
Megan Raposa
This local documentary shares a snapshot of homelessness
A new, local documentary called “24 Hours on 8th Street” debuts at the State Theatre later this month.
Megan Raposa
Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on new affordable housing development
A brand new housing development in northeast Sioux Falls will bring eight twin-homes and a total of 16 housing units.
Megan Raposa
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, The Premiere Playhouse, The Good Night Theatre Collective and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
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