FARGO, N.D. – The House of Everyday Learning is a nonprofit dedicated to helping children grow and thrive. The nonprofit offers free screenings, therapy camps and scholarships for equine-assisted therapy to provide essential developmental support to families in need. These tools make a lasting impact on children's health and well-being.
Previously, The House of Everyday Learning was limited to supporting underserved areas of the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo region. Now, a $5,000 BUILD grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation has allowed their programming to expand into rural communities in Cass, Richland, Sargent and Ransom counties with their mobile therapy unit (MTU).
MTU assists families with barriers to pediatric care, said Brittany Anderson, board member of the House of Everyday Learning. The mobile sensory/motor gym provides free developmental screenings as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy services to children and families.
During the summer months, the MTU team performed free developmental screenings and corresponding therapy treatments. With help from the Caring Foundation BUILD grant, The House of Everyday Learning increased the number of children served and the services offered during the summer.
"We added a speech therapist to our MTU team, so we were able to care for three children at one time," said Anderson. "The MTU, which is a renovated school bus, gets a bit crowded with all of us in the same space. However, we got creative. We adjusted how and where therapy took place on the MTU and in nature right outside of the bus. We received funding for a tent which allowed the therapists more space to provide care during the summer months."
The MTU decreases barriers for rural families who need to bring their children to larger cities for specialized programs. It also decreases the burdens of transportation, cost and time away from work and school.
BUILD grants support rural health care providers and their communities. These funds, made possible by the BCBSND Caring Foundation, help organizations address their unique health and wellness needs.
"We love this project because we understand how challenging it is to access specialized services, especially in rural areas," said Amber Blomberg, Foundation & Community Engagement Executive Director for BCBSND. "The MTU from House of Everyday Learning simplifies care, ensuring individuals and children don't go without."
BUILD grants work to transform the health of rural North Dakotans. This year, the grants invested more than $45,000 into eight organizations. In addition to House of Everyday Learning, 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.
- 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. The 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 who are experiencing hardships, like food insecurity or 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: This project 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.
The BUILD Grants program aims to make an impact by addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) at the local level in rural North Dakota. The primary mission of these grants is to cultivate a future of health equity and well-being for all.
Improving access in rural communities
A major factor for small towns is finding health care close to home. BCBSND's 2022 Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) study reported a shortage of primary care physicians, dentists and mental health providers in North Dakota even with low uninsured rates and advances in telehealth. This is even more prolific in rural areas affected by access and affordability issues. Programs like this one help bridge the gap for individuals who may not have the financial means for transportation or time away from work to visit their providers miles away from their work or home.
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
