South Dakota's behavioral health sector saw a modest addition of 8 providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, contributing a small fraction to the national total. With a total of 15 providers identified in this update, the data suggests a relatively small or emerging behavioral health workforce in the state, particularly concerning specialized ABA services.
Credential Mix and Supervision Capacity
Among the 15 total providers in this update, the ABA-specific workforce shows a critical imbalance. The data identifies 0 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and 2 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) by credential. These counts reflect primary credentials listed in this specific update, not the state's entire behavioral health workforce. The absence of BCBAs, while two RBTs were identified, highlights a significant gap in supervision capacity, which is foundational for RBTs to practice ethically. Other credentials observed include several Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), indicating a broader mental health focus.
Workforce Demographics
Of the 15 providers, 10 are individuals and 5 are organizations. The individual workforce exhibits a clear gender distribution: 7 individuals are female, representing 70%; 2 individuals are male, making up 20%; and 1 individual identifies as nonbinary, accounting for 10%. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data.
This snapshot suggests that while there is some growth in general behavioral health professions in South Dakota, the specific ABA workforce, particularly at the supervisory level, faces significant challenges in expansion, potentially limiting access to ABA services across the state.
