Caring for children with special needs and disabilities can be at times overwhelming, exhausting and complex. Often families and caregivers struggle to find the resources and services their child and family may need.  Family Voices of North Dakota is there to help families because we are too are parents who have children/youth and young adults with chronic health, physical, developmental and mental health challenges.

Family Voices of North Dakota (FVND) is a statewide health information and education center for families who have children with a special health need or disability from birth to age 26 and for the professionals that serve them. A special health care need is a broad definition and includes: disability, chronic illness and physical or mental health condition. We are a free service to families which operates on grants, fundraising and private donations. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

When families are faced with a prenatal, at birth or later diagnosis, FVND assures that families receive informational and emotional support in caring for their child with a chronic illness or disability. Nearly 20,000 children in our state have some kind of health care need and over 40 percent of these children have a health condition that limits their play and school activities. That means 1 in 5 families within our area have children living with physical, mental or emotional disabilities; others live with a chronic illness and many present a brief, but life-threatening medical problem.

Family Voices of North Dakota is available in all (8) regions across the state and the communities we serve help families become better parents, advocates, professionals and educators. When we all work together we can make an impact in the lives of families and their children. Parents become leaders, communities become inclusive and our children are embraced.

• Share