up-logo

Uplifting Parents

Uplifting Parents helps single parents prosper and grow professionally by providing mentoring and financial resources for a college education. Assisting single parents in western South Dakota since 2014, Uplifting Parents believes that all single-parent families deserve the right to have access to the financial resources they need to help their families grow.

See the latest UP news

Who We Are

The Uplifting Parents Program (UP Program) was created to empower single parent families by providing resources to support their advancement in education. The goal is to assist single parents in acquiring the education or certification needed to become financially sustainable and thereby provide stability and opportunity to their children. The UP Program works with over thirty community partners to continue developing the program.

Those selected to participate in the Uplifting Parents Program have the opportunity to receive one-on-one mentoring,  a monthly financial stipend, parenting education and support, and crisis-diversion case management. All within a community of peer and professional support.

Prospective UP Participants


Eligibility Requirements

Single parent seeking advancement in higher education
Degree completion in 6-24 months
Currently parenting or expecting
Must be referred by coalition partners and fill out an application
Must be self-motivated and interested in strengthening themselves and family
Must be able to travel to Rapid City for meetings and classes
Participant must demonstrate a history of stability and potential to follow through with program requirements
Not presently struggling with addiction or substance abuse
Preference given to lower income participants
May be male or female
All religious affiliations/denominations welcome

How to Apply

Eligibility Form

Community Partnerships

The Uplifting Parents program partners with agencies, employers, and organizations throughout the community.

Our Referral Partners are those who are direct service providers within an organization or agency that work with clients who may be eligible to participate in Uplifting Parents. We rely on our Referral Partners to serve as ambassadors and refer those prospective participants to us so they can apply to be an Uplifting Parents participant.

Our Coalition Members are the organizations that support the work being done by the Uplifting Parents program by serving in an advisory capacity to inform our program's vision, strategy, and processes.  Within their company or agency, they are champions for UP and share updates and information about the Uplifting Parents program throughout their organization.  Coalition Members are represented by a leader or decision-maker within the Member-organization.

The Uplifting Parents Program is Made Possible by our Community Partners

About the Uplifting Parents Program


Mission

To uplift parents to achieve success in providing stability and greater opportunity for their family.

Vision

To empower single parents to achieve greater financial and socioemotional stability for their families by assisting parents in advancing their education and careers by providing mentoring services, community resources, and scholarship funding.

Mentoring Services are the Heart of the Program

UP participants are matched with an Uplifting Parents Mentor from Catholic Social Services. A major task for the mentor is to help anticipate and intercept potential crises that could derail the participant’s success. Mentoring is the heart of the program and helps provide the wraparound services that will assist that participant in achieving success and completing their degree.