The Life Skills and Transition Center works with other providers to deliver effective services in the least restrictive setting. The specialized services provided at the Life Skills and Transition Center are based on individual needs and goals.
Traditional Intermediate Care Facility/Intellectual Developmental Disability Services
These services have been the core of the LSTC for over 100 years. An intermediate care facility provides 24-hour comprehensive services and supports including medical and clinical programming. This includes services for those requiring skilled nursing and behavioral health services, services for youth in transition from the agency to community settings, and services for adults with sexual offending behaviors.
Vocational Services
The Work Activity Program provides services for people in vocational work on-site at the LSTC and in various locations throughout the greater Grafton community such as at Hugo’s, Marvin Windows, the local chamber of commerce and the airport.
- Dakota East supports people during the day at work and volunteer/leisure activities.
- The LSTC operates a local business called Dakota East Trophies and Engraving.
- LSTC team members and people supported at the center manage the Second Time Around Thrift Store for the Grafton Ministerial Association.
Dakota East Day Program Services
A licensed day supports provider, Dakota East provides productive and meaningful work to help people reach their work potential. This is accomplished through evaluation at various work sites to determine interests, abilities and training needs.
Services are provided in conjunction with physical and occupational therapy, adaptive equipment, and psychological and medical services, as appropriate.
Employment training opportunities range from direct employment with a range of support to enclave and sheltered workshop assignments. Production line rooms, mobile work crews and community job sites are available for employment experience.
Items produced by the employees of Dakota East are available at its gift shop and through a variety of retail outlets. Wholesale products are distributed to many local and regional retailers for value-added processing.
Collette Fitness Center
Collette Fitness Center is an affordable, full-service gym open to the community and located on the LSTC campus. It offers great hours and friendly, helpful staff who assist people with their fitness goals. Amenities include a weight room, cardio room, full-size gymnasium, swimming pool, walking tunnels, racquetball, towels, locker rooms, showers and room rentals.
A variety of fitness classes and youth programs are offered too. Eligible Silver Sneakers members are welcome and those eligible for several health club reimbursement programs.
Recreation Services
Recreation services provide the LSTC with a variety of fun, engaging resources and programs. Resources include Dial a Ride to assist in participating in the life of the community and swim assessments, basic water rescue training, swim program/lessons and lifeguard services.
A pinewood derby and dart and billiards leagues are a few of the favorite activities we promote. Special Olympics events are another way the team provides active opportunities.
The team creates LSTC and community calendars to provide people with information about local activities. Also offered is training on Collette Fitness Center equipment, Grafton High School athletic ticket sales, North Dakota state park passes and fishing licenses and Shrine Circus tickets.
Statewide Crisis and Support Services
The LSTC has expanded its statewide crisis services to ensure people with intellectual or developmental disabilities have access to support and services to live successfully in their home communities.
Anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis can call 211 for a 24-hour response. Individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability will be linked to a specialized team of CARES Crisis Coordinators who can provide stabilization, support and service coordination within 24 hours of the initial call.
CARES Crisis Coordinators are located throughout the state and work closely with the behavioral health mobile crisis teams from the state’s regional human service centers. They are part of the CARES behavioral health team.
Specific components include:
- Applied Behavioral Analysts deliver behavioral assessment and intervention services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They function on a fee-for-service basis and consult with families and over 20 provider agencies.
- CARES Crisis Coordinators provide a support network that responds to developmental disabilities crisis needs at the community level. They provide prevention and intervention services for people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs through crisis response, training and consultation. They also provide support to families, providers and community partners.
Transition to the Community Support
Each person at the LSTC has a formal person-centered transition plan that is developed together by the LSTC team, a community provider team and a developmental disability program manager.
The LSTC has always actively supported people moving to the community. This process has become more structured as the intense needs and acuity of people have prompted this. In the past, LSTC may have supported someone who transitioned to the community for two or three days. Now, it is likely five to seven days minimum with some people receiving transition support for two to four weeks.
Statewide Supports and Services
Adaptive Equipment Center (AEC) provides quality, custom-fabricated adaptive equipment to North Dakotans. In addition to its on-site location at LSTC, the AEC mobile services team travels throughout the state to provide customized adaptive equipment and modifications to privately-owned equipment, designed for individual abilities for use in a variety of settings. The AEC is also a participating member of the ND AT4ALL used-equipment loan program, providing gently-used equipment at no cost.
Clinical Assistance, Respite, and Evaluation Services (CARES) is a consultative service. Team members work with providers to prevent crisis situations that could cause people with developmental disabilities to lose their jobs, homes, friends and family contacts. Experts are available to families and providers through Applied Behavior Analysts, CARES staff, and CARES Crisis Coordinators, along with a wider range of other professionals. Services include interdisciplinary consultations, staff training, program development and staff coaching. Specialty programs for people with developmental disabilities who have complex health care, behavioral health, or socially offending behaviors (sexual or physical assaults, or other criminal acts) are also available.
CARES Clinic is an on-site, outpatient therapy clinic that helps eligible people receive development disability services or other related services so they can remain living in their home and community settings.
The CARES Clinic also provides physical, occupational and speech therapies; adaptive equipment seating assessments and dietitian services. The clinic is located in the Therapy Services Building on campus and also provides services within homes and facilities throughout the state.
Forensic Evaluation Team provides evaluations for courts on issues of guardianship, fitness to proceed (adjudicative capacity), and culpability and criminal responsibility. Evaluation is conducted only with court orders and generally is completed by telehealth, in the defendant’s community, appointment at the campus offices, or maybe in residence (admission for a brief stay). All forensic evaluations are submitted to the Superintendent’s Office at the North Dakota State Hospital, for which those referencing people receiving developmental disabilities services should be clearly identified including the name and contact information of the developmental disability program manager.
Area Coordination
Positive Behavior Support Committee - Peer Technical Review provides peer technical review of positive behavior support plans for people receiving services at the LSTC; REM-ND, Inc.; Friendship, Inc; and Support Systems Inc.
Human Rights Committee provides a due process review for people receiving services at the LSTC, REM-ND, Inc. and from other service providers.