State of South Dakota's child: 2002

In 2001, for the second consecutive year, there was an increase in births in South Dakota that also included the highest rate of low birth weight infants born in 28 years. The infant mortality rate also increased from its exceptionally low rate in 2000. The rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in South Dakota is over twice that noted nationally and emphasizes the need for vigilant efforts to promote substance free pregnancies and safe sleeping for infants. The special topic of this year's report is emergent literacy. This concept reveals the continuum of experiences that begin in infancy and contribute to a child's learning how to read and write. Efforts that have successfully promoted reading with well-baby and child health care visits are described.