Nonprofit Cuts Services for Children with Behavioral Challenges

FARGO — A nonprofit organization in the Red River Valley is set to reduce vital services for children with severe behavioral and mental health challenges due to changes in federal funding. Starting on January 1, 2026, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services will impose a cap on service hours, limiting children to 42 hours annually. This decision has raised concerns among families and advocates who fear it will significantly impact the well-being of affected children.

One such child is Asher Link, a nine-year-old who faces multiple diagnoses, including PTSD, ADHD, dyslexia, and autism. His mother, Gabbie Link, describes the challenges Asher has faced in various settings, particularly in school. “His behaviors looked like completely trashing classrooms, attacking staff members in the school, like teachers, anyone that would come in and try to de-escalate him to the point of causing them to bleed,” she said.

Thanks to support from Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting children like Asher, he has made significant strides over the past ten months. Previously unable to attend school without serious incidents, he now participates in a program that allows him to attend classes from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Gabbie Link notes a dramatic change in her son’s behavior: “It’s a night and day difference, but he still needs a lot more hours and a lot more support.”

The program, according to Joel Bakken, executive director of Solutions, plays a crucial role in preventing violent behaviors from escalating. The newly implemented service cap is part of an initiative to standardize billing and service limits across the state for Medicaid-covered programs. Bakken emphasizes that the 42-hour limit will likely prove inadequate for children at high risk of hospitalization. “It would be difficult at best to pull off,” he stated.

Without adequate support, many children could face dire consequences, including placement in mental health facilities or even incarceration. Bakken expressed concern over the growing population of children requiring such services, indicating a pressing need for continued intervention. “We hope we can continue to address that area,” he said.

Gabbie Link fears that limiting services will hinder Asher’s ability to socialize and integrate into society. “Removing the ability to learn how to commingle with everyone else will drastically affect his future and the fact that he’s not going to learn how to be part of society,” she warned.

Despite Solutions passing several state audits in 2025 and attempts to extend their program through service agreements, those efforts were denied due to insufficient documentation. The North Dakota Department of Human Services has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the situation.

As stakeholders grapple with these changes, the future remains uncertain for children like Asher who depend on vital services for their mental health and behavioral needs.