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Each month, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) spotlights a 1915(i) provider to celebrate their contributions and innovative approaches to person-centered care. By sharing their stories, we aim to inspire collaboration, foster continuous improvement and strengthen our community's commitment to delivering high-quality services.
This month, we highlight Kara Nelson, care coordinator with All of Us in Recovery (A.I.R.)
I was born and raised in northern Minnesota eventually finding my way to Bismarck, ND, where I’ve built my home, my career and a community I deeply care about. North Dakota has given me so much, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to support individuals and families here.
In my free time, I love being with my family and finding peaceful moments outdoors, whether I’m spending time in nature, out on the lake or spending time in the woods. I also enjoy reading, both for relaxation and personal growth in the behavioral health field. I dig some investigative journalism and hockey has a special place in my heart!
- How long have you been a care coordinator (or doing this kind of work)?
I stepped into the behavioral health and human services field right out of high school and over time it evolved from work into passion. I’ve supported individuals with complex dual-diagnosis needs, behavior modification and “Wise Minds” plans, assessments, emergency psychiatric services, outreach and other clinical roles. Each experience strengthened my understanding of people and their resilience, and it continues to guide the way I show up as a care coordinator today.
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Could you share what inspired you to become a 1915(i) provider?
My inspiration came from my years of experience in behavioral health and human services. I saw how important it is for people to receive support that respects their rights, their voice and their choices. I strongly believe individuals should be able to access behavioral health services while living independently in their homes and communities and that honoring this right helps reduce stigma.
Becoming a 1915(i) provider allows me to meet people where they are, reduce barriers and support the whole person in the way and at the frequency that feels right for them. Sometimes people need to shift their focus or change direction, and we can easily adjust to serve them better. Want your parole officer included in meetings for positive progress updates? Done! This flexible, person-centered approach is the type of support I want to contribute to.
- How do you tailor your services to meet the unique needs of each member?
I tailor my services by taking time to understand each person, their strengths, their story and how their diagnosis shapes their daily life. I approach every member with humility, knowing they are the expert in their own experience.
Honoring each person’s rights, choices and preferences is central to my work. Together, we create a plan - like a map with multiple routes that feels realistic, meaningful and easy to follow with the support of their team. I support each member at their own pace, whether that involves skill building, navigating resources or simply holding space.
In part, my role is to help individuals reconnect with their strengths, regain missed opportunities and work toward their goals in a way that feels respectful and empowering. When helpful, we use templates or visual tools to make their goals clearer, more concrete and easier to achieve.
Therap is hosting a series of trainings on the upcoming billing process.
This webinar series will focus on billing training for the 1915(i) workflow.
All webinars in this series are at 10 a.m. (CT) on the dates listed below. This series will cover:
Week 1 (November 25) - Billing Introduction: An overview of billing, workflow, provider expectations and system requirements.
Week 2 (December 2) - Billing Set up Preparation: Training on billing outlines, timelines, basic workflow, user roles and privileges, program enrollment and EDI enrollment.
Week 3 (December 9) - Acknowledging Authorizations and Documenting: Details on funding sources, service vs. billing authorizations, authorization management and case notes.
Week 4 (December 16) - Generate Billing Data & Claims Management: Focuses on data collection, generating billing data and claims, sending claims, replacement/void claims and reports.
Week 5 (December 30) - Billing Workflow Recap, Reporting & Questions: A summary of the billing workflow, reporting and a Q&A session.
Week 6 (January 6, 2026) - Provider Q&A: A session dedicated to answering provider questions.
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On the 1915(i) Provider Guidance and Policies webpage, the Therap guides have been updated to reflect the changes to the Therap homepage. There have also been guides added for Sites & Programs and the Change Form. |
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