VALLEY CITY, N.D. (BCBSND) – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation has awarded Beyond Boundaries Occupational Therapy, Inc. a grant to continue providing therapy services to children and families in rural communities. The first of its kind in the state, the Beyond Boundaries Mobile Therapy Unit, which is a fully renovated school bus, is the home of a state-of-the-art sensory motor gym.

Beyond Boundaries received a grant last year to start the mobile therapy program and provided both occupational and physical therapy to those in Lisbon and Milnor. This year, grant funding will allow the addition of speech therapy as a service, as well as expand their mobile unit stops to Tower City and Valley City.

Beyond Boundaries Therapy President & CEO LaDonna Bannach says, “We are so honored to have been chosen for this BCBSND Caring Foundation grant. Based on the needs we have known for many years, the therapy on-the-go services are allowing us to remove significant barriers and circumstances in rural communities as we now travel to the clients. We found that there was a big need for physical, occupational and speech therapy in rural areas. Children were missing school and caregivers were unable to miss work on a continual basis to drive an hour each way weekly.”

Grant writer and physical therapist Brittany Anderson shared, “Our therapists have been so excited to work with the children in our mobile therapy unit. Partnering with schools, day cares and parents to ensure everyone in the community is aware of this service when we come to their area has been such a great collaboration, and why this medically-based model has been so successful.”

Pam Gulleson, BCBSND Caring Foundation executive director explains, “BCBSND Caring Foundation is pleased to support the Beyond Boundaries Mobile Therapy Unit for a second year. This approach to providing therapy to children in rural communities is a creative approach and crucial to ensuring families are receiving the care and health care access and services they deserve. We are thrilled that they continue to expand their services across the state so more individuals can benefit.”