Six Community Grants
There are currently 6 community grants awarded, targeted at increasing FASD awareness and services throughout the state of Minnesota. These programs are impacting systems in 23 counties and a handful of reservations. The average amount of each grant is $100,000 annually, for five years. They are:
Clinic and Community Connections Project
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Regional Network (FASDRN)
Uniting our Resources
Project Harmony Program
Northland FASD Connection
White Earth Reservation Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Project
Clinic and Community Connections Project
Impact Area: Metro Region
The Clinic and Community Connections Project is designed to bring medical providers into FASD prevention efforts. This will be accomplished by training clinic staff to incorporate the practice of appropriate screening and support service referrals. The plan focuses on developing partnerships community clinics in the West Metro area to be trained and monitored to incorporate a practice clinic system to identify pregnant women who are using alcohol and identify and track alcohol exposed children in the general clinics setting.
Lead Agency: Native American Community Clinic
Contact: Dr. Lydia Caros, Project Director
1213 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
P: 612-872-8086
Lcaros@nacc-healthcare.org
Contact: Renee Gust, M.A., R.N.
Senior Health Promotion Specialist
Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health
phone: 612-348-4935
renee.gust@co.hennepin.mn.us
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Regional Network (FASDRN)
Impact Area: East Metro Region
The goal of the FASDRN is to increase awareness of FASD through professional and community trainings, early identification, the development of more effective programming and resources, and improved access to services. This grant works towards innovation and collaboration with the development of a new diagnostic clinic serving the East Metro area.
Lead Agency: Washington County Children's Mental Health Action Collaborative
Contact: Cathy Luiken or Cynthia Neubecker
375 East Orleans Street
Stillwater, MN 55082
P: 651-351-3152
cluiken@hsicares.org
cneubecker@hsicares.org
FASDRN grant website:
www.fasdrn.nonprofitoffice.com
Uniting our Resources
Impact Area: Todd, Wadena, Cass, Crow Wing, Ottertail and Morrison Counties
Uniting our Resources will focus on the expansion of the FASD outreach and education in these counties. The project aims to educate a variety of professionals in order to build community awareness and create systems that have competency and capacity to work with individuals who have participated in the FASD diagnostic clinic, which is housed within Lakewood Health System.
Lead Agency: Lakewood Health System
Julie Krause, Project Director
401 Prairie Avenue NE
Staples, MN 56479
P: 218-894-8328
juliekrause@lakewoodhealthsystem.com
Mary Jo Hofer, FASD Grant Coordinator
maryjohofer@lakewoodhealthsystem.com
P: 218-894-8054
218-296-1400 (Cell)
Project Harmony Program
Impact Area: Meeker, McLeod and Sibley County
The goal of the Project Harmony Program is to build the capacity of communities in Meeker, McLeod, and Sibley Counties to better leverage resources, incorporate culturally competent best practices and enhance FASD prevention, intervention and support services in a more coordinated and comprehensive fashion. A partnership with Glencoe Regional Health System has allowed for the start-up of a diagnostic clinic in this region.
Lead Agency: Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Service
Rhonda Buerkle, Project Director
Meeker McLeod Sibley CHS
P.O.Box 398
Hutchinson, MN 55350
(320) 510-1449
rhonda@meeker-mcleod-sibleychs.com
Northland FASD Connection
Impact Area: Serving the region including Aitkin, Carlton, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis Counties and Fond du Lac, Bois Forte and Grand Portage Reservations
The long-term goals include reducing the incidence of prenatal alcohol exposure through the Superior Babies program, which supports women who are pregnant and/or parenting that have substance use issues. This grant will also increase general awareness and reduce the incidence of "secondary disabilities" in those living with FASD in the targeted region.
Lead Agency: St. Louis County Public Health & Human Services
Julie Burns, Project Director
Northland Office Building
PO Box 1148
Virginia, MN 55792
P: 218-725-5221
burnsj@so.st-louis.mn.us
White Earth Reservation Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Project
Impact Area: The regions of Mahnomen, Becker, and Clearwater Counties; White Earth Reservation
The White Earth Reservation proposes to increase FASD knowledge among the three county service area that includes the White Earth Reservation. Components of the project include the creation of a network that includes tribal and country programs/agencies to provide referral, prevention, intervention and support services for individuals suspected and diagnosed with FASD and their families, as well as facilitate a new FASD diagnostic clinic.
Lead Agency: White Earth Tribal Council
Ruth Rice, Project Manager
PO Box 348
White Earth, MN 56591
P: 218-983-3286 ext. 1434
ruthr@whiteearth.com