Education & Early Intervention Projects

Minot Infant Development Program

This project supports activities which identify infants (birth-3) who are developmentally delayed, high risk, or at risk. In addition, this contract provides for in-home programming and infant stimulation activities for eligible children.
Contact Person: Kathy Lee ,Program Director 701-858-3054, kathy.lee@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Department of Human Services

Northwest Infant Development Program

This project supports activities which identify infants (birth-3) who are developmentally delayed, high risk, or at risk. In addition, this contract provides for in-home programming and infant stimulation activities for eligible children.
Contact Person: Kathy Lee, Program Director 701-858-3054, kathy.lee@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Department of Human Services

Transition Partnership Project

This project has been developed to secure funding for a variety of secondary transition activities in ND. This includes: 1) continued collection and evaluation of ND data on transition systems and impact on youth with disabilities; 2) improve personnel development standards and activities for those staff implementing school-based secondary transition services; and 3) increase the information dissemination efforts to state constituents regarding transition systems and promising practices.
Contact Person: Janet Green, Project Director 701-858-4473, janet.green@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Department of Public Instruction

Right Track

This project identifies infant and toddlers that may be at risk for Developmental Disabilities, provides developmental screenings, refers children to other services as appropriate, and provides developmental information to families.
Contact Person: Kathy Lee, Program Director 701-858-3054,  kathy.lee@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Department of Human Services

Experienced Parent

This project provides information and support to parents with a child enrolled in Developmental Disabilities services including the Minot Infant Development Program.
Contact Person: Kathy Lee,  Program Director 701-858-3054,  kathy.lee@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Department of Human Services

Child Disability Clinic

This project supports a team of professionals from private, public, school, community, family support groups, and academic areas that provide screening, diagnostic, and follow-up services for children with disabilities.
Contact Person: Marita Hoffart, Project Director marita.hoffart@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Department of Health & Human Services

ND Early Hearing, Detection, and Intervention program (ND EHDI)

The mission of this project is to ensure that children with hearing loss achieve communication and social skills appropriate to their cognitive abilities. The ND EHDI program has two grants at NDCPD to support this mission, they are the ND First Sounds Project and Project Kaylyn. Both grants perform similar functions but have different areas of emphasis. ND First Sounds provides screening equipment to all birthing hospitals in ND and the necessary training to run this equipment. The main emphasis has been to ensure that babies receive an initial newborn hearing screening. Project Kaylyn focuses on ensuring that babies receive a second follow-up hearing screening or audiological assessment if needed, and be provided early intervention services if necessary.
Contact Person: Kathy Lee,  Project Director 701-858-3054, kathy.lee@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: HRSA & CDC Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ND Hear Now

The ND Hear Now Program will build on the infratstructure established through the ND Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (ND EHDI) initiative. Over the past 8 years, ND EHDI has helped every ND birth hospital obtain equipment, training, and tracking software to provide infant hearing screening. ND Hear Now will focus efforts on reducing the loss to follow-up via 4 goals: 1) Assure that 98% of babies born in ND have their hearing screened before one month of age; 2) assure that ND babies that do not pass initial screenings receive an audiological evaluation by 3 months of age; 3) assure that ND babies with confirmed hearing loss receive early intervention services by 6 months of age; and 4) provide evaluation data regarding the effectiveness of ND Hear Now.
Contact Person: Wendy Thomas, Project Director 701-858-4367, wendy.thomas@minotstateu.edu 
Funding Source: Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration

Great Plains Autism Spectrum Treatment (GPAST)

The Great Plains Autism Spectrum Disorder Treatment Program (GPAST) provides training, research, diagnostic and treatment services to North Dakota children and youth suspected or diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). GPAST’s primary focus is to conduct research with rural families in North Dakota by utilizing distance technologies to connect families and teachers with professionals for training, networking, and services. These efforts are being made to find a suitable service delivery model that meets the needs of our state and provides a quality and worthwhile service to families. It is our hope that through this process, we can affect statewide change by making recommendations to ND policymakers on how to enhance service delivery models in ND. Other GPAST activities include sharing evidenced-based practices through trainings and the dissemination of information through our website.

Tele-Audiology

This project will develop a diagnostic and management protocol that will be used as a basis to replicate audiologic testing of infants utilizing a telemedicine network around the country. The project will utilize MSU as a hub facility using the existing IVAN network that connects all public schools, regional health units and universities and place equipment in several remote locations to complete the beta testing. It is our intent to develop a training manual for paraprofessionals that would be used to train people in remote sites to connect infants to equipment while they are monitored and directed by a pediatric audiologist at a hub site. In addition we will develop a technical protocol that can be used to replicate this procedure across the country. This document will address minimum requirements of the network, equipment, procedures etc. A management protocol will also be developed that will explain a variety of approaches and methods that could be used to address problems that are encountered by this project.

Employment Related Projects

ND Comprehensive Employment Services – Continuation

North Dakota is seeking funding as a fully eligible state for a 4 yr Comprehensive Employment Systems Infrastructure Development Grant. The project will develop a strategic planning process, driven by consumers, to develop a comprehensive employment system assisting individuals with disabilities seek and maintain gainful employment. In addition, this project builds on efforts of the previous MIG project to advance employment outcomes for North Dakotans by providing technical assistance on self-employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and best-practice approaches in person-centered planning and customized employment supports. The NDCES will continue to identify and implement systemic solutions to barriers identified by MIG stakeholders, such as access to benefits planning, personal assistance services, and affordable/accessible housing.
Contact Person: Tom Alexander, Principal Investigator, 1-800-233-1737, or tom.alexander@minotstateu.edu.
Funding Source: US Dept of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Health Related Projects

North Dakota Disability Health Project

This five year project will promote the health and wellness of ND citizens with disabilities, and prevent or lessen the effects of secondary conditions associated with disabilities. The project is a collaboration between NDCPD, the Center for Rural Health at the University of ND, and the ND State Health Department.
Contact Person: Brent Askvig, Principal Investigator, 701-858-3052, or brent.askvig@minotstateu.edu.
Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

North Dakota Integrated Services (NDIS) Project

This three year grant project will assist state agencies, local medical providers, and families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) ages birth to 21 years to develop the knowledge and infrastructure to assure that all children and youth receive the coordinated care they need. This project focuses on the components of quality service, specifically in the areas of 1) patient-centered care or medical home; 2) healthy transitions to adult health care, work, and independence; and 3) family involvement and cultural competency. Project goals are to create a network of learning collaboratives, pilot programs, and a comprehensive plan for integrated services.

ND I Can Do It

This project is an 8 week mentoring program for youth with disabilities supporting physical activity, nutritional awareness, fitness and health lifestyles. Mentors, with or without disabilities, meet weekly with an adolescent with a disability to help them learn the value of physical activity and nutrition. Working with their mentors, mentees chose their own individualized physical activity and nutritional goals and work towards these goals.

Leadership

Community Staff Training Project (CSTP)

This project, which began in 1983, provides training services for staff members employed by agencies/facilities serving individuals with MR/DD.
Contact person: Mary Mercer, Project Director, 701-858-3260, mary.mercer@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Department of Human Services

ND FamNet

The ND FamNet project supports the efforts of several family support agencies to form a rural health network. Activities include establishing a governing board, planning a new web portal that helps families reach various support agencies more easily, and supporting collaboration and strategic/business development activities.  The joint mission of the network members is to do together what may not be done alone to enhance the well-being of ND families of children, youth and adults with special health care needs or disabilities.

ND FamNet web portal: http://www.ndcpd.org/ndfamnet  

Quality Assurance Projects

Regional ICC

This project coordinates RICC meetings, conducts focus groups, and develops and tracks implementation of the regional Quality Improvement Plan.
Contact Person: Kathy Lee,  Project Director, 701-858-3054,  kathy.lee@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Department of Human Services

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

This project will help ND seniors, including those in the most rural counties and those with disabilities, review their Medicare bills to assure that no errors, fraudulent charges, or abuse have occurred.
Contact Person: Linda Madsen, Project Director, 701-858-3424, Linda.Madsen@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: US Administration on Aging

SPDG Evaluator Project

This project provides an independent program evaluation of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction State Education Personnel Development Grant.
Contact Person: Dr. Brent Askvig, Principal Investigator, 701-858-3052, brent.askvig@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND Dept of Public Instruction

ND Data Linkage

Data Linkage will enhance the capacity to accurately identify, match, and collect unduplicated data on early hearing detection, by using a common identifier for each occurrent birth and then implementing an electronic system that will allow different and distinct data systems to be cross referenced. The objective is to electronically link the current hearing screening data systems with Vital Records, metabolic screening, and immunizations. Data Linkage is a joint effort of ND EHDI, ND Health Dept, NDCPD and MSU and the birthing hospitals of ND.

Quality of Life Projects

Consumer Participation in the Annual NDACF Conference

This project encourages and financially supports consumer involvement and participation at the Annual Conference of the ND Association of Community Facilities.
Contact Person: Mary Mercer, Project Director, 701-858-3260, mary.mercer@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source: ND State Council on Developmental Disabilities

WE’RE READY

The purpose of this project is to involve persons with disabilities in current and future emergency planning going on at the local, county, and state levels.
Contact Person: Janet Green, Project Coordinator, 701-858-4473, ndcpd@minotstateu.edu
Funding Source:  ND State Council on Developmental Disabilities, ND Protection & Advocacy Project, NDCPD

Mythbuster Project

This project is a coordinated effort that began in October 2006 between the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Protection & Advocacy Project, and the ND Center for Persons with Disabilities to change the perceptions of North Dakotans about developmental disabilities. The project engages in a variety of public awareness activities aimed at increasing positive public perceptions about people with disabilities. To view three, 30-second television public service announcements developed by the project click Mythbuster PSAs
Contact Person: Steve Peterson, Project Director, 701-858-3356, or steve.peterson@minotstateu.edu.
Funding Source: ND State Council on Developmental Disabilities, ND Protection & Advocacy Project, NDCPD

MSU Disability Awareness

This project's objective is to enhance the university communities' concept of diversity by bringing awareness to disability issues.
Contact Person: JoLynn Webster, Co-Project Director, 701-858-3206, jolynn.webster@minotstateu.edu
Cynthia M. Salazar, Co-Project Director, 701-858-3356, or cynthia.salazar@minotstateu.edu.
Funding Source: MSU Diversity Committee