The Arc, Upper Valley, is a member and volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that works to improve the quality of life for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families through education, research and advocacy.  This online resource has been developed to provide you with easy access to facts, contacts and news updates that will help you learn more about our constituents, mission and core values.

The Latest

A Community Build is scheduled for September 24 - 28, 2008 for Phase I of Ali’s Boundless Playground in Sertoma Park.  For more information, visit our playground page.

The Arc, Upper Valley is accepting nominations for its annual awards. There is no limit to the number of nominations you can make.  Download the following forms for a description of each award. Deadline for submission is October 10, 2008

Teacher of the Year

Professional of the Year

Employer of the Year

Bill Sackter Citizenship Award

The Arc, Upper Valley recently awarded $10,000 from the Frances Robertson Memorial Fund for the care and comfort of people with intellectual disabilities. Click here to view the awards.

The Faith Inclusion Forum  is a group of community members interested in promoting inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the life of faith communities. If you are interested in joining us in planning a conference with a national speaker in the fall of 2009, please call Lois Ustanko at 746-1454.

Download the inclusion guide, “All One in the Image of God,” here.

Legislative Issues

Take a moment to download and read the September 15, 2008 issue of the Capitol Insider.
It is a great source for your weekly news and information on disability public policy related to mental retardation, cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Publications

Read the August 2008 issue of
RX Connector (a publication of the North Dakota Insurance Department.

Assistance

The ND Department of Human Services has a new program available to North Dakota children with medically fragile needs.  The program is designed to assist families in taking care of their children at home.

Complete application (Form # 394)from their website or call 701-328-3701 for more information.

The Arc, Upper Valley has partnered with LensCrafters to act as a referring agency for their Gift of Sight Program in our service area (Grand Forks County and surrounding area).  If you are living on limited funds or have no health insurance, you may qualify for free eyeglasses through this program.  Download the application to review guidelines.

Prescription Connection for North Dakota is a program of the North Dakota Insurance Department that connects children and families with free and discounted prescription drugs. For mroe information or to sign up for the program call  1-888-575-6611 or visit their website.

Third Street Clinic is a non-profit organization that provides health care, emergency dental care, vision care and limited prescription medication assistance for persons who have no health insurance, who cannot access treatment through other agencies and do not have the resources to purchase their own medical or dental care. Third Street Clinic has been meeting the needs of the medically underserved who are low income or even homeless in the Grand Forks area for 16 years.  For more infomation visit their website.

The Donated Dental Services program provided oral health care to 116 of North Dakota’s most vulnerable individuals during fiscal year 2006. The donated Dental Services Program is a partnership between the North Dakota Department of Health’s Oral Health Program, the North Dakota Dental Association, and the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped. Individuals who need care can contact the Donated Dental Services Program coordinator at 866-572-9390 (toll-free). For more information about the Donated Dental Services Program, contact Kimberlie Yineman, North Dakota Department of Health, at 701-328-4930 or visit their website.

North Dakota’s SHIC TALK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling) newsletter for August 2008.

The Arc, Upper Valley
2500 DeMers Avenue   PO Box 12420
Grand Forks ND 58208
(701) 772-6191 Phone
(701) 772-2195 Fax