Lutheran Social Services of SD – Spearfish

I was sent here when i was younger, almost ten years ago. I like to hope + remember that i had good, meaningful experiences here but in reality much of it was a blur. I remember a few friends i made, a friend i loss who… just barely made it out of here. i remember being roommates with another resident, who was nearly four/five years older than me, and being sexually abused by them. Being scared to speak out out of fear of punishment. Everyone has had different experiences here, but i don’t think anyone forgets the stressful situations we were all more or less put through, or the nice ones we spent together, watching movies, hiking, etc. I think about everyone i was in there with often, and i hope you all are well.

Some staff were amazing at what they do but there were some staff really didn’t care and they really only worked there for the money (even though it doesn’t pay well (heard from staff members)) Along with only working… for the money they never cared about the well-being of any of the kids in there. I went there and I was there for 11 months, I hated most days but some were okay, I became friends with a lot of residents and became very close with a couple staff but other then that I didn’t really gain anything from my experience. In my opinion I got worse. It might just be my fault on why I never got better or why I got worse but either way I think it just depends on who you are as a person and where your mental health is really at to be willing to receive the help you are needed but you have to let yourself receive help or you just won’t take anything away from coming here. Also we have little to no freedom in this place!😒

Very friendly staff as well as a very clean building.

I was just picking up something for a disabled friend,.the church staff was very helpful & kind

I still sometimes think on this place, wasn’t very staff friendly here. Some would be quiet literally, antagonistic towards the residents. But there’s some very fun, understanding staff here too. Had lots of fun times… here, well at least 2nd shift lol. The therapists are great too, although the little pamphlets were honestly just for group time. Depends on what you take from it I suppose, anyways it’s a fine place, just needs better staff discipline and greater understanding.

My son goes here and 99% of my experience is great. They are really helpful.

I watched a resident throw a chair at another resident, as well as saw someone dragged away by force in this facility, it is very stressful and not a good place to put you’re child/teenager.