Fargo, N.D. – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation is honored to announce 2025’s spring strengthening people, access, resources and knowledge (SPARK) grants. These grants are awarded to community-based initiatives that support the health and well-being in local communities, reflect community priorities and demonstrate the ability to create lasting change.
We congratulate the following 2025 spring SPARK grant recipients and look forward to seeing the impact of their future endeavors.
- North Dakota Autism Center (NDAC) — Statewide
- Expanded School-Based Support
- NDAC will enhance their partnerships with North Dakota schools’ specialized educational services and resources, ensuring children with autism in North Dakota receive tailored support to thrive socially and academically.
- NDAC will enhance their partnerships with North Dakota schools’ specialized educational services and resources, ensuring children with autism in North Dakota receive tailored support to thrive socially and academically.
- Expanded School-Based Support
- Spectra Health — Grand Forks
- Being PRAPARed
- Spectra Health will expand the reach of their social services teams, providing on-site support for low-income patients to navigate the complicated world of health care, housing and social services using the evidence-based screening tool, PRAPARE. It will obtain vital optometry equipment to enhance vison services and will expand translation/interpretation services to offer more translated materials and readily accessible interpretation services for patients.
- Spectra Health will expand the reach of their social services teams, providing on-site support for low-income patients to navigate the complicated world of health care, housing and social services using the evidence-based screening tool, PRAPARE. It will obtain vital optometry equipment to enhance vison services and will expand translation/interpretation services to offer more translated materials and readily accessible interpretation services for patients.
- Being PRAPARed
- Standing Rock Community Development Corporation (SRCDC) — Standing Rock Reservation
- Healthy Futures Initiative
- SRCDC will expand community-based health and wellness programs that address critical issues such as food sovereignty, youth development and mental health services in underserved areas. These efforts will enhance collaboration with local schools, public health entities and community members to create lasting health improvements for the region.
- SRCDC will expand community-based health and wellness programs that address critical issues such as food sovereignty, youth development and mental health services in underserved areas. These efforts will enhance collaboration with local schools, public health entities and community members to create lasting health improvements for the region.
- Healthy Futures Initiative
- Turtle Mountain Chippewa Heritage Center — Turtle Mountain Reservation
- Seven Feathers Program
- They will offer education and information about Indigenous regalia and styles of powwow dance, having community members make their own regalia for their chosen style of dance. This program will offer a unique opportunity for community members to participate in, in an effort to deter high-risk behaviors. It will also improve access to physical activity, enhance cultural practices and knowledge, foster a relationship with elders and mentors in the program and bring together community members in a positive environment.
- They will offer education and information about Indigenous regalia and styles of powwow dance, having community members make their own regalia for their chosen style of dance. This program will offer a unique opportunity for community members to participate in, in an effort to deter high-risk behaviors. It will also improve access to physical activity, enhance cultural practices and knowledge, foster a relationship with elders and mentors in the program and bring together community members in a positive environment.
- Seven Feathers Program
- Immigrant Development Center — Fargo
- Refugee Behavioral Health & Wellness Program
- They will to improve access to culturally appropriate behavioral health services and support for refugee communities in Fargo. This will reduce isolation for New Americans, increase behavioral health literacy among refugees and preserve cultural identity through cross-cultural events.
- Refugee Behavioral Health & Wellness Program
BCBSND Caring Foundation will begin accepting letters of intent for the 2025 fall SPARK grant cycle beginning in July 2025. Visit www.BCBSND.com/SPARK for more details.
About the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation
Established in 1989, the BCBSND Caring Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Through giving and investing, the Caring Foundation focuses on key health issues to help improve the health and well-being of North Dakotans and their communities. Caring Foundation staff collaborate with grantees to support non-profit sustainability, promote shared outcomes and create lasting change.
