News

Human Service Center offices in Williston, Watford City, Devils Lake, Rolla and Minot will have a delayed opening Tuesday, Nov. 20 until 10 a.m. due to reduced travel visibility from wind and falling snow. Affected offices include two of the agency’s regional human service centers and their satellite and outreach offices, child support offices and vocational rehabilitation offices. Details appear below.  

North Dakota Health and Human Services is seeking public comment on a Medicaid Traditional Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (IID/DD) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) amendment application to the current Traditional IID/DD waiver dated April 1, 2024. The current waiver includes an array of home and community-based services in the least restrictive environment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has been awarded the Partnership for Success grant, providing $1.25 million annually for up to five years from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant is grounded in the Strategic Prevention Framework designed to engage communities in public health principles through data-driven, evidence-based programs. The grant aims to strengthen the capacity of local substance use prevention providers to implement underage drinking prevention efforts targeting underserved populations across North Dakota.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is excited to announce that court staff, child welfare professionals and families are coming together in three North Dakota communities to finalize the adoptions of over 30 children in celebration of National Adoption Day on Nov. 23.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) launched two new tools this month to support North Dakotans in achieving their health and well-being goals: the Immunization Locator and the Respiratory Illness Dashboards.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has been awarded $4 million annually for the next three years through the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funding will support opioid use disorder treatment and overdose prevention across the state through Sept. 29, 2027.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and educating communities on preventing bullying. Parents Lead, a North Dakota program administered by Health and Human Services (HHS), offers help to parents, caregivers and professionals recognize and address bullying effectively.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is raising awareness about lead during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week from Oct. 20 to26. This year’s theme is “Bright futures begin lead-free.”  

Lead poisoning is preventable, and prevention starts with screening.

As of Oct. 23, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has reported 73 cases of pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) so far in 2024, compared to 17 cases in all of 2023. Cases have occurred in 11 counties, compared to two counties last year. Cases range from infants to adults, and four infants have been hospitalized. HHS has issued a health advisory on pertussis to North Dakota health care providers.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that state residents who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and lost food due to the recent power outages caused by the wildfires and windstorms may qualify for SNAP replacement benefits.  

SNAP households that lost power for more than four hours and are located in Williams or McKenzie counties have 10 days from the day they lost food to request replacement benefits.