Day Services

HIT's Day Services provides clients with a personalized program of achievement based on the client’s goals and objectives.

The services are divided into six areas:

Senior Program
Sunset Pre-Vocational
Creative Learning
Rec/Leisure
18th Street Vocational - Small Environment
Employment Services - Individual Employment
ASPIRE Program

HIT's Day Services are designed to help the people we support connect with their community through employment, work opportunities, volunteer activities, activities of daily living and recreational and leisure activities.

The Day Services program operates from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. While most of our activities take place throughout the communities of Bismarck and Mandan, we have two Mandan sites at 2640 Sunset Drive and 1007-18th Street NW, Mandan.

The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requires that anyone under the age of 25 be referred to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for assessment and determination of eligibility before he or she can be accepted into our Day Services program and participate in vocational, prevocational, small group or independent employment activities.

For more information on our programs please contact:

Vice President of Day & Employment Services: Denita (Dee) Grosz
Phone: 701-667-8626
E-Mail: deeg@hitinc.org

Or

Assistant Director of Day & Employment Services: Josh Villbrandt
Phone: 701-667-7832
E-Mail: jvillbrandt@hitinc.org

The 18th Street Program offers a smaller, quieter environment. It is often the choice for people who are bothered by too much activity around them and/or people with a diagnosis of Autism.

This program focuses on developing structured routines and the instructional plan incorporates strategies that address sensory issues, teach social skills, prepare for planned changes, expand on interests, and teach self-regulation.
People in this program can also incorporate opportunities for building prevocational skills, including working on collating/ mailing contracts, light janitorial and deliveries.

Admission to this program is intentionally limited to maintain a quieter environment.

Manager: Pam Smith
Phone: 701-667-8647
E-mail: psmith@hitinc.org

HIT Inc's Creative Learning Program is perfect for people who wish to participate in volunteer and recreational activities in the Bismarck and Mandan communities. Examples include, but are not limited to, going swimming at the BSC Aquatic Center, volunteering at variety of businesses and programs within our community, going out for coffee or treats, exploring different historic, entertainment, and educational tours, playing games, and doing art projects, just to name a few of the many activities that take place in the program.
This program is also home to a special group of young adults whose abilities allow them to participate in public speaking opportunities, educational opportunities, and community discussions.
Many participants have physical therapy or mobility exercises specific to their needs which help to keep themselves limber and to improve their physical skills. This program also provides “the MOVE” (Mobility Opportunities Via Education/Experience), which uses specialized equipment to assist people who use wheelchairs to walk as well as do other physical activities.
Some participants choose to increase their prevocational skills through activities that increase their focus, offer direction, build stamina, and provide other work readiness skills.

Creative Learning
Manager: Savanna Taylor
Phone: 701-667-8621
E-mail: staylor@hitinc.org

HIT's Rec/Leisure program is designed for people who have medical or health issues that prevent them from working or who do not have vocational goals.

This program offers a variety of recreational and volunteer activities in our building at 2640 Sunset Drive NW in Mandan and in the communities of Bismarck and Mandan.

This program is also the home base for the MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education/Experience), which uses specialized equipment that assists people who use wheelchairs to walk as well as do other physical activities.

The Rec/Leisure program often volunteers and enjoys leisure activities like shopping, going out for coffee, going swimming, enjoying the sights and smells in the sensory room.

The goal of this program is to make sure everyone is participating in fulfilling activities in Bismarck and Mandan as well as completing all of his/her necessary activities of daily living, including physical therapies and personal care.

Manager: Caitlin Voegele
Phone: 701-667-8649
E-mail: cvoegele@hitinc.org

HIT's Senior Program keeps active and engaged with volunteer and rec/leisure activities every day.

This program stays busy volunteering at the Baptist Home, Dakota Zoo and for Community Action, attending social and exercise events at the Mandan Senior Center, going out for coffee at local coffee shops, maintaining a small garden every summer, entertaining our pet guinea pig, working on crafts, enjoying a monthly potluck meal and many other activities. Of course, playing bingo and watching old television shows are also part of the mix.

Manager: Laura Evenrud
Phone: 701-667-8632
E-mail: levenrud@hitinc.org

Our goal in HIT's Sunset Pre-Vocational Program is to provide opportunities to work and earn a paycheck.

HIT has contracts with several entities throughout Bismarck/Mandan and also runs several of its own small businesses that provide work opportunities.

We offer:

West River Produce -- West River Produce is a licensed commercial kitchen, renowned for its fruit pizzas, fresh fruit trays, and fresh veggie trays.
West River Lawn Service -- West River Lawn Service has contracts to do mowing and other yard work for 25 residential and commercial properties in Bismarck and Mandan from April through October. Outside of this timeframe, they assist with Production.
Production -- Production does laundry for a commercial cleaning business in Bismarck, janitorial crews and assembly and packaging tasks and contracts.
Vocational -- Vocational is for people who have competitive employment with local businesses.

Manager: Michele Ehlis
Phone: 701-667-8655
E-mail: mehlis@hitinc.org

HIT’s newest program “ASPIRE” is designed to provide the safety and security of a day program for people who are competitively employed in the community and looking for a social and recreational program in their free time.
This program is a choice-based program that includes volunteer, educational, social, and recreational opportunities with a focus on inclusion within our community.

The goal of this program is to provide opportunities of developing meaningful relationships within the Bismarck/ Mandan community by providing Activities that include Social Programming which Include Recreational and Experiences.

Manager: Mirranda Gross
Phone: 701-667-8672
E-Mail: mgross@hitinc.org

HIT’s Employment Services Program provides youth and adults with developmental disabilities job development and job coaching support in the communities of Bismarck, Mandan, and Dickinson. Individuals who participate in the Employment Services program are referred to HIT for employment support through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The ages of people who HIT’s employment specialist’s support include individuals who are in their final two years of high school to 50+ years old.

Individuals are assigned to an employment specialist who assists them with all facets of joining the competitive work force: Creating a resume, filling out applications, interviewing preparation, employer/individual skill matching, and on-the-job coaching.

HIT’s Employment Services Program also offers the following services to individuals who are looking for employment:

Customized Employment through the Discovery Process
Short and long term job coaching
Situational Assessments
Job Development
Work Experience for transition age youth

All services are individual directed and person centered.

Contact for the Employment Services Program is:

Ryan Fugere
Phone: 701-667-8625
rfugere@hitinc.org