Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation, a non-profit agency, exists to promote, develop and deliver service projects and programs to individuals with serious mental illness and other persons who need support to maintain an independent lifestyle. The Foundation also exists to advocate, educate and promote a greater understanding of human needs and to seek funding sources to sponsor our programs.

Description:
Supported Residential Program

Community-based services offered to adults with serious mental illness include the following:

Daily Living Activities

Under the guidance of Direct Care Workers, clients learn skills that lead to independent living, including housekeeping, laundry, hygiene, grooming, grocery shopping, meal planning, nutrition and budgeting.

Financial Management

Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation upon approval from the Social Security Administration provides comprehensive fiscal management to individuals who have difficult time managing money.

Housing and Subsidies

Direct Care Workers provide assistance to clients in locating independent housing and applying for Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Income, Medical Assistance, Food Stamps and Fuel Assistance. In addition, we assist clients through subsidizing their rental and security deposits until housing assistance is received. Subsidies are also available for utility deposits and installations, as well as grocery allotments. Through our Home Place Thrift Store, clients receive basic household items to furnish their apartments.

Medication Management

Many of our clients are dependent on medication to stabilize and manage their illnesses. We offer two medication monitoring programs: (1) Under the self-administered medication program, a nurse either fills clients' pill boxes or supervises our clients who prefer to fill their own. (2) For those needing closer supervision, Direct Care Workers go to clients' homes up to twice daily and observe that their medications are taken properly. Essential to the success of the medications program is the education our nurse provides to clients to ensure they understand the purpose and effects of the medications they are prescribed. This program greatly increases medication compliance, which is vital to our clients' stability and recovery.

Medical

Our nurse assists clients with any medical concerns they have, notifies the appropriate medical staff, schedules appointments and arranges for annual physical, dental and vision exams, compiles medical histories for clients and maintains emergency data forms.

Loan Fund

Clients are eligible to obtain interest-free loans to obtain items such as medications, furniture, telephones, DVDs and televisions. Clients make regular payments based on their incomes.

Socialization Activities

Socialization is encouraged through a variety of activities designed for our clients. At our monthly birthday club, clients are presented with cards and gift certificates to the Home Place Thrift Store. A local bowling alley provides a number of free bowling games each week, and the Y Family Center offers reduced annual fees. Our staff informs clients of community events that may interest them and coordinates and provides transportation to Peace of Mind, a six-step support group for individuals with mental illness.

Occupational Therapy

Prairie Harvest hosts the Monday Club, which is a weekly meeting of clients, occupational therapists, UND students and other community members that provides clients an opportunity to enhance daily living skills. Topics include how to use the bus, cooking, hygiene, telephone etiquette, safety and relaxation techniques.

Harvest Homes

A 12-plex permanent Living facility, which one is an accessible dwelling unit, Harvest Homes has had a client waiting list since its completion in February 1997. Tenants are individuals with serious mental illness who have tested the limits of existing programs and services and have demonstrated a need for 24 -hour supportive services. Prairie Harvest Foundation collaborates with the Grand Forks

Housing Authority to provide facility management and maintenance services. In partnership with Northeast Human Service Center, Prairie Harvest provides daily living supportive services such as housekeeping, laundry, meal planning, financial management. Clients live in one-bedroom units and have the choice of sharing evening meals with other tenants in the commons area.

Personal Residence

This home is designed for one to two people, providing another choice for individuals with serious mental illness. All of our supportive services are available to tenants in this home, as well.

Lodge Program

Based on the Fairweather Lodge Concept used by Tasks Unlimited in Minneapolis, this program offers a peer supported living and employment environment for individuals with serious mental illness. The Lodge Program provides both a job and a place to live. Living in a lodge is like living in an extended family-six people sharing expenses, meals, responsibilities, fun, and making decisions as a group. They form a major support resource for one another.

Prairie Harvest Foundation has opened a food cart, ‘The 4th Street Eatery’, in the Grand Forks County Building. The 4th Street Eatery helps clients develop: interpersonal skills, communication, increased responsibility and problem solving.

Extended Services Program

Prairie Harvest Foundation provides job coaching and long-term support for individuals with serious mental illness. An Employment Training Specialist provides specialized training to the new employee at the job site and follow-up services are available for as long as the worker is employed

Job Development

Job Development services provide the community and clients various supportive services related to successful employment. This range of services includes: service coordination, consumer assessment, service monitoring and employment education to consumers, businesses and the general public.
The Job Developer will work on expanding job opportunities in the community as well as providing participants with skill building activities so they can return to work.

Life Skills

Prairie Harvest Foundation clients are eligible for Life Skills Therapy. Once they are referred the Therapist will determine what assessments need to take place. Based upon those assessments, the Therapist will plan a program with the help of the client. Services will include skill building in daily living areas such as laundry, budgeting and social skills.

Just Friends Program

The Just Friends Program a community volunteer program for individuals with serious mental illness. Community members volunteer time spent in activities such as going to movies, plays and other events that promote inclusion.

Work Opportunities – The Home Place Corporation

Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation and The Home Place Corporation believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to work in competitive employment and to be paid fair wages. The following programs have various positions created for people with severe mental illness and other disabilities.

Home Place Thrift Store

Developed to provide employment and pre-employment opportunities for people with disabilities, our thrift store has become an integral part of Prairie Harvest Foundation. Clients receive valuable experience in what is expected of them in an employment setting and build self-confidence and skills to assist them in entering the job market. The store exists to provide customers with affordable goods and clothing and to provide resources to Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation.

4th Street Eatery

Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation is operating a food cart at the Grand Forks County Building on the 6th floor. The Eatery hires both Lodge Members as well as community clients.

The 4th Street Eatery will provide greatly needed training and job opportunities to individuals with serious mental illness. Professional staff will provide guidance, direct supervision and food preparation safety.

Community Support

Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation provides one-on-one support to individuals with serious mental illness to help them succeed in the competitive employment field. Services are individualized and focus on the skills areas needed to strengthen work related activities.

History:
Corporations:
Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation
Home Place Corporation
Harvest Homes Corporation
Harvest Lodge Corporation

Prairie Harvest Human Services Foundation was created in 1991 in response to an increasing need for special services to assist individuals suffering from serious mental illness. As more and more individuals were moving out of institutional settings and into independent living arrangements, a major need developed for programs to assist these individuals in making the transition and sustaining a more independent way of life.

A nonprofit organization established with the support of Northeast Human Service Center, Prairie Harvest Foundation has grown to meet the needs of the community and offers a variety of programs that promote empowerment and independence for its clients.

1991 – 1994 Prairie Harvest Foundation was located in the Hemp Center. Prairie Harvest Foundation moved to 930 North 3rd Street in 1995. This site was a bulk oil storage building and was converted into a office building.

Contact people:

Linda Bedard, Office Assistant, (701) 795-9143, (email) Eric Scheffer, Business Manager, (701) 795-9143, (email)

Office fax number: (701) 772-5560

Address:

930 North 3rd Street (Main Office) Grand Forks, ND 58203 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.prairieharvest.net

Directions:

Go east on DeMers Avenue (to downtown Grand Forks) to 3rd Street N. Take 3rd Street North to 930 N 3rd Street. Brick building on the east side with sign on the berm. (Located 1 block north of Simonson. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Red 2, 2 blocks minute walk