Overview
Pathfinder Services of ND (PSND) is a statewide non-profit organization, with its main office located in Minot, ND. PSND was founded in November 1987, by a small group of parents who had a strong desire to help other families understand the special education laws and systems.
Over the years PSND has become a leading source of information and support in North Dakota for families and their children, youth, and young adults who have special needs and professionals who support them.
We look forward to continuing our success with creating pathways for fellow North Dakotans.
Mission
Helping families, youth & young adults, and professionals through engagement, education, and empowerment.
Vision
Provide educational resources and navigational supports through statewide services to parents, youth, and the community through 1-to-1 support, trainings, and outreach.
Promote efforts to welcome and include learners with unique needs at home, in school and in the community.
Offer high quality resources to help build collaborative relationships and to create connections and partnerships.
Continue to develop enhanced resources to meet the needs of our stakeholders.
Grants
All grants focus on educational resource delivery (with an incorporated focus on learning differences or challenges) integrating all of ouor grants with our foundational grant, the Parent Training and Infomration Center. PSND delivers resources and information through 4 scopes of service:
- Direct Support (1 to 1)
- Resources and Information
- Training
- Outreach and Leadership
PSND:
- Helps families and youth build partnerships with those who provide services to their children or themselves.
- Connects families to community and statewide resources.
- Educates families and youth on their rights and how to use those rights to become involved in the child or youth's education.
- Empowers families and young adults so they may communicate effectively to ensure their own needs.
- Provides information and resources to educators and other professionals who support families, youth, and young adults.
History
Pathfinder Services of North Dakota was founded by Kathryn Erickson of Mohall, ND, in 1987. Kathryn and a small group of parents received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to become ND's statewide Parent Training and Information center (PTI). Shortly after Pathfinder was founded, Dr. Wayne Sanstead, then State Superintendent of the ND Department of Public Instruction, publicly introduced Kathryn as "a pathfinder for parents". Thus, our name was born.
We have been a part of a national alliance of parent centers for over three decades. Through the alliance we have access to many unique resources and services that strengthen our ability to serve families, youth, and statewide agencies. If we don't have what you need, we can often find what is available through other states. Our staff consists of professionals with a wide variety of expertise in providing support for parents, youth, and professionals. Many have lived experiences within the focus areas of our grant programs.
We are governed by a Board of Directors composed of parents and professionals, with a majority of the members being parents who have children with special needs or other learning differences and challenges. Professional representatives come from leading state agencies and have lived experience with grant programs.