Who We Are:

Arc Northland is a non-profit membership-based organization serving children and adults with disabilities and their families.

Did you know... that approximately one in every 10 people in Minnesota has a family member with a disability?

Arc Northland exists to aid families through the many supportive services we offer. For over 50 years, we have been helping people with disabilities and their families overcome challenges and thrive in community life.

We serve individuals in Southern St. Louis, Carlton, Cook, and Lake Counties.

Our core services:

• Family services meet specific family’s needs though support groups, training and education, PCA and Respite services, and much more. This program offers staff support in person or over the phone. Advice may be given regarding parenting strategies, problem-solving techniques, connections for other services, etc. In addition, staff may attend Individual Education Plan (IEP) staffing in the schools, meet with county case managers and parents, etc. A variety of workshops are offered to increase a family’s ability to advocate for their own needs. -Parent Support Groups are available to provide education and promote parents to get together to share ideas and to support one another. Groups meet monthly during the school year. *For those families moving towards transition into adulthood, Arc Northland is able to help with the Guardianship process.


• Extreme Parenting and Children’s Mental Health Services: Arc provides whole family support and education groups, as well as individual advocacy, support and education for families of children with mental health, emotional or behavioral concerns. We are involved in early childhood mental health and encourage community support and education of mental health concerns. There are four Extreme groups and one parent education series held per month.


• Advocacy services for adults with disabilities including; individual and group advocacy. The goal of this service is to help adults with disabilities have a voice in the community, promote self worth and commonality, and to empower both men and women with disabilities by providing opportunities for learning, volunteering, and participating in the community. Some of the groups that Arc Northland provides for adults with disabilities are; People First, Women’s Group, Men’s Group, and Couple’s Club.


• Health education and Prevention Programs have been a priority for Arc Northland since 1992. We are one of Minnesota’s leaders in the fight against Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Programs and services available include: Middle/High school FASD curriculum, professional/provider training, resources and referrals, and consultation and advocacy.