News

International Overdose Awareness Day is observed on Aug. 31. As North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) continues its effort to enhance services and supports it will commemorate this day by remembering those lost due to drug overdoses and recognizes the grief of their family members and friends. HHS is dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of drug overdoses and the available prevention resources that can help save lives in North Dakota.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is pleased to announce the continuation of the Behavioral Health School Grant program for the 2024 -2025 school year. This program is funded through an appropriation of $9.5 million from the 2023 legislative session. Applications for this school year can be submitted now through March 31, 2025, with funds expiring June 30, 2025. 

The transition from summer vacation to getting back into a routine and returning to school can be challenging for some children and families. It’s a mixture of emotions, new schedules, transitions and a lot of unknowns.

Employers in North Dakota know the challenges their workforce faces regarding access to quality, affordable child care. The North Dakota Employer Toolkit for Supporting Working Parents is now available as a quick, easy guide focused on resources and programs employers can support to help working parents.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends some back-to-school health and well-being practices to support strong, stable families and vibrant communities. 

More than a dozen agencies across North Dakota received grant funding in January, totaling over $7 million from the North Dakota Opioid Settlement Fund (OSF) Grant. These funds have been instrumental in supporting implementation of prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery initiatives, as well as enhancing the state's behavioral health workforce. Over the past six months, nearly 900 North Dakotans have benefited from programs and services funded by these grants.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is partnering with Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to provide training in the newly updated American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria to North Dakota behavioral health professionals. The ASAM Criteria are the most widely used clinical standards for identifying the treatment needs of patient with addiction and co-occurring conditions in the nation. The HHS training initiative, which began in July, aims to enhance the knowledge and expertise of professionals treating substance use disorder and mental health conditions across the state. It has been met with overwhelming demand, prompting the addition of several new training sessions through August.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS), together with North Dakota’s Gateway to Science, Bismarck State College and other community partners have organized two family-friendly, health promotion events that are occurring in the Bismarck area this weekend. The Step into Health Walk is Aug. 9, and the second annual Gateway to Health event is Aug. 10 in Bismarck.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Money Follows the Person program stakeholders are meeting Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 1 - 4 p.m. CT at the North Central Human Service Center in Minot, 1015 S. Broadway, Suite 18, to review and discuss ongoing efforts to serve North Dakotans with disabilities closer to home and outside of institutional settings.

The North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Behavioral Health Division invites the public to its booth at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, July 19-27, to learn about Parents Lead, an evidence-based prevention program that provides parents and other adults and caregivers with tools and resources to help support the behavioral health of children. As the number one influence, parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults play a critical role in supporting the behavioral health of children.