NDCPD News

NDCPD is involved in many exciting activities throughout the state. Below are just a few of the top stories highlighting our efforts.

ND Family support organizations to form Rural Health Network

Minot, ND- May 1, 2008. Minot State University’s North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities recently received a three-year federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop the Rural Health Network for Family Support. The purpose of the grant is to establish the RHNFS as a self-sustaining network to help rural families who have children with special health care needs. The network will strengthen its capacity to serve this population by achieving the grant outcomes in collaboration, training, system navigation and leadership.

“This grant will provide the resources for participating agencies to come together and create something that is difficult for any one organization to achieve alone,” said Cathy Haarstad, the project director. “Network activities will benefit not only families and providers but participating network agencies as well.”

To develop this rural health network, NDCPD will partner with Family Voices of North Dakota, the North Dakota Center for Rural Health, and several other family support organizations. RHNFS will serve families whose children meet the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, a bureau of the Heath Resources and Services Administration, broad definition “those who have or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions who require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.

In March 2007, NDCPD received a one-year strategic planning grant to fund the North Dakota Family Support Coalition Project. This project’s personnel focused on rural families with children with special health care needs who may have limited or no access to necessary specialized supports for ongoing health care. Over the past year, they completed five regional and statewide focus groups to access existing need and to develop a preliminary strategic plan to guide forming the RHNFS.

“The process supported by and completed through the one-year planning grant led to applying for a grant for what is the logical next step – establishing a self-sustaining network,” explained Haarstad. “We couldn’t be more pleased that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agreed.”

The goals of the RHNFS are to operate a rural health network, to increase collaboration to enhance family support, and to secure the sustainability of the network. The project will support development of a new non-profit organization and board that will direct the network’s efforts.

Haarstad said that through the year’s work, the project’s leadership has been able to overcome several significant trust crises and forge a positive working relationship that can serve as a model for other partners. The result of this effort has been that several additional agencies have signed a memorandum of agreement to join the network.

For more information regarding RHNFS contact Cathy Haarstad at 1-800-233-1737 or cathy.haarstad@minotstateu.edu .

MSU disability course sponsored by NDCPD receives university approval

Minot, ND- April 1, 2008. During the 2007-2008 academic year, NDCPD offered a new course called “Disability and Society”. This course is designed to address disability issues, challenge myths and prepare students to encounter and respect people with disabilities. This small, discussion-based class introduces disability issues across the lifespan. Learners review information on how disability impacts careers. Course content includes real-world, hands-on assignments, in class activities and presentations by speakers with disabilities, family members & professionals.

The “Disability and Society” course was recently approved by the MSU faculty senate to meet the university requirement for diversity credits. This approval will hopefully encourage student to register for the course. Because people with disabilities are encountered in all walks-of-life, this course complements any major. As students become more prepared to interact successfully with people with disabilities and families, everyone benefits.

For MSU students seeking more information about this course, please contact JoLynn Webster, Pre-Service Training Coordinator, at 858-3206 or 1-800-233-1737. Course flier  

The talents of Art Venture on display at NDCPD

Minot, ND-March 24, 2008. The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD), a University Center of Excellence in Disability Research, Services, and Education at Minot State University (MSU), is honored to host a display of artwork created by children with disabilities from the Art Venture program of Bismarck. NDCPD, in partnership with the Dakota West Arts Council (DWAC), is bringing this vibrant collection of artwork to Minot. This rotating display located in Memorial Hall on the MSU campus will treat visitors to a new series of art every other month.

The Art Venture program is in its ninth year of providing unique, quality arts experiences to children who are “at risk”. The core Art Venture program is in the Bismarck Early Childhood Education Program at the Richolt School of Bismarck. The children are ages 3-6 and most of them have disabilities ranging from mild to profound. Art Venture also provides classes at Head Start, whose children are at risk. After School programs for Art Venture are done in partnership with the Missouri Valley Family YMCA and provide art classes for kids grades K-6.  Many of these children are economically disadvantaged and some have disabilities. Overall, the Art Venture program reaches about 500-600 students.

Art Venture classes are taught by teaching artists who have experience in art, in education, and/or in working with kids who have disabilities. Each teaching artist designs and implements unique lesson plans that do not replicate those taught as part of regular school programming. Classes in visual arts, creative movement, performance art, and theatre are offered.

All classes are evaluated regularly to assess improvements in the recipient children in the areas of cognitive thinking, social skills, fine and large motor skills, self-esteem, teamwork, and listening skills. These evaluations are documented proof of the value of Art Venture.

Art Venture is managed by DWAC and furthers their mission to support and encourage artistic opportunities to area residents and visitors. Funding for the Art Venture program is provided through a matching grant with VSA arts international in association with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. VSA was founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to ensure all people have equal access to the arts. It stands for Vision of an inclusive community, Strength through shared resources, Artistic Expression that unites us all.

With affiliates in all 50 states and 61 foreign countries, DWAC is the only North Dakota affiliate organization. Because of the success of the Art Venture program a separate 501 (c) 3, VSA arts of North Dakota, is being formed with the intent of creating a statewide VSA program with possible programs in Grand Forks, Minot, and Fargo.

For more information about Art Venture contact, Linda Olsrud, Executive Director, DWAC, at 701-222-6640 or linda@dakotawest.org.

NDCPD to launch a new service, training, and research program on Autism at the ND Symposium on Autism March 17, 2008.

Minot, ND- March 17, 2008. The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) announces the arrival of a new autism initiative during their Autism Symposium held at Minot State University March 17th, 2008. Nearly 300 professionals, parents, and students attended the symposium to network, listen to nationally renowned speakers, and discuss key autism issues for the State of North Dakota (ND). Work conducted during the symposium will help guide future activities of the Great Plains Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment Program (G-PAST). For more information about this initiative, contact Wendy Thomas, Community Services Core Coordinator, at 1-800-233-1737 or visit www.ndcpd.org/autism .