News

Child welfare and behavioral health professionals, educators and others who work with children and families to promote strong, stable families will benefit from attending the 2024 North Dakota Family Based Services Conference, April 9-12, at the Holiday Inn of Fargo.

March 17-23, is nationally recognized as Poison Prevention Week. Whether it’s a question or an emergency, Poison Help can provide life-saving information when people need it most. North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is raising awareness about the risks posed by poisonous substances and precautions people can take to keep themselves and their families safe.

HHS wants North Dakotans to know that every story matters during Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Gov. Doug Burgum has proclaimed March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the impact of gambling-related issues and the availability of support services. North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Behavioral Health Division offers free services to those experiencing gambling challenges and their families.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Emergency Preparedness Unit and partners are conducting a full-scale exercise on Thursday, Feb. 29, at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. The exercise will provide training for a public health and medical response event involving HHS, N.D. Department of Emergency Services, N.D. Bureau of Criminal Investigation, N.D. Parks and Recreation Department, Morton County Sheriff’s Office, Morton County Emergency Management and other public health partners and aims to demonstrate the ability to conduct large-scale response and recovery operations.  

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has received final approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand access and add services to the state’s Medicaid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) waiver. The waiver provides services to eligible children and supports parents in their efforts to maximize their child’s development, while also preventing out-of-home placements.  

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Behavioral Health Division announced that Children’s Behavioral Health Service Grants are available through the System of Care initiative. The funding opportunity aims to support the development and implementation of community-based, youth and family driven, and culturally responsive services and supports for children, adolescents, and young adults with behavioral health conditions and their families. The System of Care grant initiative is prioritizing the implementation of intensive home and community-based services, including, intensive day treatment, care coordination, crisis services, and peer support. 

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Children and Family Services initiated an adoption streamlining effort this month to ensure a more timely and safe adoption process for children in foster care who have a permanency goal that includes adoption.

There has been one confirmed case of Hepatitis A in a food worker, possibly exposed following out-of-state travel. No additional cases have been identified at this time.  North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has determined that people who ate at the University of North Dakota (UND) Memorial Union Chick-fil-A, 3625 Campus Rd., Grand Forks, ND, on the following dates and times, may have been exposed to Hepatitis A, which is a contagious liver infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in four babies born with a heart defect has a critical congenital heart defect. Critical congenital heart disease is a group of serious heart conditions present at birth. These conditions may affect the heart’s shape, how it works or both. Birthing facilities in North Dakota are required to screen babies for critical congenital heart disease when they are born. North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) supports these screening efforts to ensure all babies are screened for certain rare, but serious health conditions at birth.