SDCL § 26-6-1: Agencies and institutions defined as child welfare agencies--Department of Social Services.

Any agency or institution maintained by a municipality or county, or any agency or institution maintained by a person, firm, limited liability company, corporation, association, or organization to receive children for care and maintenance or for placement in a family home, or that provides care for mothers and their children, is considered to be a child welfare agency. The Department of Social Services is a child welfare agency.