Fargo, N.D. – When we think of health care, we don’t always think of weeding, changing diapers and playgrounds on a converted bus. Nevertheless, these projects are bringing much-needed care to rural North Dakota.
This year, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation distributed more than $45,000 in grants to eight organizations across the state. From Williston to Wahpeton, the funds purchased adaptive equipment and allowed for training, education and other resources.
"Rural community members are grateful for these resources and excited about these projects,” said BCBSND Foundation & Community Engagement Executive Director Amber Blomberg. “Collectively, they impact children, seniors and everyone in between.”
Among the projects is a vegetable garden in Cooperstown for the residents of the Griggs County Care Center. In the garden’s eight months, Foundation Director Amber Wogsland said she can see improvements in the residents’ well-being.
“Residents who normally would not come out of their rooms took a stroll and checked things out,” she said. “At first, they only observed, watching others enjoy the space. As the growing season progressed, they got their hands dirty. Residents who struggle with memory loss started telling stories of what they grew and created from their own home gardens or from living on the farm. We know this impacted the residents’ social health and elevated their well-being.”
Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions, according to BCBSND's Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) report. Those conditions include high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and even death. People who find themselves unexpectedly alone due to the death of a spouse or partner, separation from friends or family, retirement, loss of mobility and lack of transportation are at particular risk.
“With these grants, health care providers and their communities collaborate to address their rural health and wellness challenges,” Blomberg said. “Removing barriers is so important to the health of an individual as well as to the vitality of a community.”
In addition to growing gardens in Cooperstown, the Eckert Youth Home is growing confidence in Williston. The team there used BUILD grant funds to purchase a RealCare Baby 3 Simulator – “Baby Clara.” They also purchased curriculum to incorporate this education into existing programming.
Its purpose?
Prevent pregnancies and support individuals who have or are expecting children.
Eckert Youth Home is an adolescent youth treatment facility for students experiencing substance abuse. The facility serves about 50 North Dakota students ages 14-18 each year.
"These young people are often self-medicating due to trauma like physical violence, domestic violence and human trafficking. This is not their fault," said, Dr. Leah Hoffman, clinical director. She said many students didn’t have the opportunity to learn parenting skills at home or at a traditional high school. "We hope Baby Clara can help them understand how difficult parenting can be."
Gaining these skills and building confidence impacts both the youth the home serves as well as generations to follow.
Improving access in rural communities
BUILD grants work to transform the health of rural North Dakotans. This year, the grants invested more than $45,000 into eight organizations. Those organizations include:
- Cooperstown Center Medical Foundation – Cooperstown: The focus of this project was to create a handicap accessible garden that is a safe environment for care residents and community to connect to nature, associated with improving physical and mental health.
- Eckert Youth Homes – Williston: In this project, Eckert Youth Homes purchased the RealCare Baby 3 Simulator and curriculum to incorporate this education into existing programming.
- House of Everyday Learning - Fargo: The focus of this project was to help alleviate the burdens that families experience driving to Fargo for pediatric screenings or therapy services on a weekly or bi-weekly frequency. The Mobile Therapy Unit (MTU) Program brings these services directly to the rural communities and decreases barriers such as transportation, cost and time away from work and school for the families that it serves.
- Langdon Prairie Health - Langdon: The Langdon community educated and provided resources to community members from different socioeconomic backgrounds to raise awareness that mental health services are available by telehealth in a private, confidential and secure setting. This program concentrated on two specific population groups, youth and farmers, to assist in treatment of depression, anxiety and traumatic events.
- Northland Health Center – Turtle Lake: “A Care Closet” provided a free resource for students and their families experiencing hardships: food insecurity, lack of weather-appropriate clothing, basic hygiene supplies, school supplies and more.
- Pembina County Memorial Hospital - Cavalier: This project provided an outdoor activity for the residents, staff and community volunteers at Wedgewood Manor, a skilled nursing facility in Cavalier. The Cycling with Love project includes all ages and stages of life.
- Sanford Health – Hillsboro – provided adaptive devices to allow those with mobility issues to get to medical appointments.
- Sanford Health – Valley City: The Promotion of Breastfeeding in Rural Populations program addressed several social determinants of health areas including health care access and quality, economic stability and education access and quality. One Certified Lactation Consultant and two nurses travel to other Sanford Health rural clinics where lactation services and support do not exist.
Learn more about BUILD grants at bcbsnd.com/caring-foundation.
About the BCBSND Caring Foundation
Established in 1989, the BCBSND Caring Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Over these 30 years, the Caring Foundation has worked to improve the health and well-being of North Dakotans and their communities. Through collaborations with organizations across North Dakota, it is our goal to support sustainable and innovative efforts that promote better outcomes and create lasting change.
Contact:
Melissa Richard
Director of Communications
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH DAKOTA, FARGO
952-240-3477 (mobile) | melissa.richard@bcbsnd.com | www.bcbsnd.com
