Beyond the “Band-Aid”: Transforming Lives with Codington Connects! 🤝✨

Board President Sara Foust and Paige discuss transformative community health initiatives on Northeast Radio SD's live broadcast, highlighting the impactful work of Codington Connects.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a recent interview with Northeast Radio SD, Sara Foust of Codington Connects and Community Health Worker Paige Willing detailed a transformative approach to community wellness: the Transition to Success model. Designed to move beyond temporary “band-aid” fixes, the program focuses on treating the root causes of poverty by addressing social determinants of health.

“One of our initiatives with Codington Connects is really just to fill the gaps on needs that aren’t being met in our community,” Foust explained. “The model they’re using is a way that we’ve come together as a community.”

Paige Willing, who currently manages about 10 clients, described the process as a collaborative journey that begins with a “Map of Dreams.” Rather than just providing financial aid, the program uses a comprehensive Life Area Survey covering 20 domains—including mental health, child care, and employment.

“I always tell them to go through that life area survey first, and that can kind of help us determine what basic needs we need to be met,” Willing said. “It kind of just helps regulate those goals and those needs for individuals in our community.”

The program is notable for its “intensive case management” style. Willing meets with clients weekly or bi-weekly, coaching them through budgeting, volunteering, and education. This holistic view is what Foust believes sets the program apart.

“If we want to live a full life, we have to know how to manage our money, we have to be able to have relationships with other people, and we also need to be contributing back to society,” Foust noted. “Transition to Success really looks at: How do we help people become really the most fulfilled person that they can be?”

The impact is already being felt across the county, with over 20 partners—including the Beacon Center and local hospitals—trained in the model. This ensures that whether a resident is at a clinic or a vocational rehab center, everyone is “speaking the same language” regarding their care plan.

Looking ahead, Codington Connects is inviting the public to an ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Training on March 30th and 31st. The event is open to the community, with the Monday night session specifically designed for families and child care providers, featuring complimentary food and child care.

For more information or to access the referral form, residents can visit codingtonconnects.com or the Codington County community services website.