Beatrice State Developmental Center

Disabilities Assistance

Developmental Disabilities

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NESTATE/subscriber/new?topic_id=NESTATE_776

What would you like to do?

What you need to know

The Beatrice State Developmental Center (BSDC) is a 24-hour state and federally funded residential treatment facility dedicated to the provision of specialized psychological, medical and developmental supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. BSDC is a campus-like setting with 188 acres.

Located south of Lincoln, in the community of Beatrice, BSDC is home to several nationally-accredited Intermediate Care Facilities for individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD). Services are provided to about 90 adults who require comprehensive, specialized support. Supports are provided in residential, vocational, and other community-based settings.

Residential Services

Residential treatment provides support to participants with mild, moderate, severe, or profound intellectual disabilities.

BSDC has 10 cottages where people live. Each participant has a say in who they live with. Groups living together can pick decorating themes for the shared areas. Most participants have their own private bedroom. Whether a participant has a private bedroom or a large shared bedroom, participants personalize their own space.

Day Services

BSDC has a variety of day options for participants, who chose what they do during the day, whether on or off campus.

Day programs for participant groups with dedicated rooms to learn skills or participate in volunteer activities.
Volunteer opportunities in the community include Meals on Wheels and the Beatrice Public Library.
BSDC offers jobs on campus, creating art for Bear Creek Gifts and assembling bolt bags for Sheridan Industries.
Many participants have jobs in the community, including at the Chamber of Commerce, NDOR, the Gage County Extension Office, a batting facility in Hannibal, the Wymore Library, and Heinen Brothers.

Recreational Services

BSDC has an activity center for retired participants to explore their interests.

The activity center focuses mainly on volunteer projects, including making scarves, bags, rugs, and stuffed animals for the center.
A goal of the activity center is to help participants keep their skills and interests.
The activity center encourages daily exercise to keep a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
Participants have music therapy weekly, and music daily.
Other activities include body movement, mixed media art, board and card games, puzzles, and horticulture.

The Carstens Center offers a gym, workout room, social center, and an accessible and therapeutic-temperature pool.
The all-faiths chapel was created with donations from local Kiwanis members. It is a great place for participants to have activities and worship.

Crisis Program

The BSDC Crisis Stabilization and Community Reintegration Program began in May 2017, to address a critical gap in serving the population participating in home and community-based services (HCBS) DD waiver programs. The Crisis Program is a specialized unit.

Placement at the specialized unit was designed to be a temporary stay between 30 and 180 days.
Participants have an individual plan of care.
The Crisis Program provides a period of intense treatment and habilitation.
The participant's team from the Crisis Program continues transition supports for a period of time after they integrate back into the community with an DD risk provider.

Participants in the Crisis Program have come from diverse settings across the state, which includes Medicaid HCBS DD agency providers, the State Behavioral Health Regional Centers, psychiatric hospital units, and court orders.

Bear Creek Gifts

BSDC participants use artistic skills to produce quality, marketable products. Participants are paid an hourly wage to work on or create projects. Bear Creek Gifts artisans learn new techniques and offer a variety of merchandise.

Bear Creek Gifts is named for the creek running along the east side of the BSDC campus. Bear Creek Gifts is a member of the Beatrice Chamber of Commerce as part of BSDC's membership.