NDCPD awarded Administration for Community Living Core Grant
MINOT, N.D. – The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD), a University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research and Service at Minot State University, was awarded a $2.735 million grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL).
“NDCPD is recognized – because of this grant – as a university center of excellence, which is a federal designation,” said Brent Askvig, executive director for NDCPD. “This is the first of a five-year grant and we have developed a five-year plan around four key areas: Aging, health, employment, and high quality education. We can take this core grant and leverage it to find other monies to accomplish those key areas.”
Forty-two University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) were awarded five-year grants. The UCEDDs will receive a total of $22,974,000 a year to address issues, find solutions, and advance research in order to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families. ACL also awarded continuation grants to an additional 25 UCEDDs, to continue their five-year grant cycles.
NDCPD will be awarded $547,000 each year over the next five years.
“The NDCPD is a vitally important component of Minot State University,” said Steven Shirley, Minot State University president. “We are fortunate to have the Center at MSU and appreciative of the strong partnerships between NDCPD and MSU’s students, faculty, and staff. The awarding of this five-year Core Grant to NDCPD demonstrates strong confidence in the Center, and is a testament to the exceptional reputation it has established through many years of outstanding service.”
UCEDDs conduct cutting-edge research and bring the latest knowledge to those who can put it to the best use. This includes individuals, families, professionals in the field, and the next generation of lawyers, engineers, educators, health professionals, social workers, and social scientists. UCEDDs unite faculty and students from multiple departments and disciplines within a university and serve as liaisons between academia and the community in every state and territory.
“We have focused on research, community training, pre-service training, and information dissemination for persons with intellectual developmental disabilities,” added Askvig. “There are just 67 centers like us in the United States. We are the only university that can apply for this grant in North Dakota, but you still have to write a really good grant to get it.”
Askvig singled out the NDCPD Executive Group for their work on the project.
“Lori Garnes, our associate director for development, and Mary Mercer, assistant director for program management, along with our four coordinators really did a great job of putting this together,” he said. “Linda Madsen, dissemination coordinator; Hilory Liccini, community service coordinator; Evan Borisinkoff, research coordinator; and JoLynn Webster, interdisciplinary pre-service coordinator, did the lion’s share of putting the words on paper and developing the structure.”
Starting its 28th year, NDCPD will host a Community Kickoff Event to announce its five-year plan August 29. More information on the Kickoff Event will be announced closer to the event’s date.
“We are excited for our 28th year,” Askvig said. “We have 32 operations going on that are all funded by receiving this grant.”
According to the ACL, in Fiscal Year 2015, UCEDDs like NDCPD across the country provided more than 275,000 hours of technical assistance, continuing education for nearly 110,000 professionals, pre-service training for over 57,000 students, community education programs for nearly 190,000 people, and direct model services to over 100,000 people.
For more information on the ACL grant or NDCPD, contact Askvig at brent.askvig@minotstateu.edu.
ABOUT MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 08/14/17 |
