News

Today, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health Division responded to the final report of an audit of the Department of Health conducted by the Office of the State Auditor that covered the biennium ending June 2021.

“The auditor’s office spent over one year completing their inquiry. During this time, they reviewed testing of compliance and financial records, contact tracing, COVID-19 deaths, COVID-19 vaccine storage, handling and distribution, COVID-19 testing and reporting, and COVID-19 dashboards and information systems and had no findings for these areas,” said HHS Public Health Division Executive Director Dirk Wilke.

Governor Doug Burgum has proclaimed October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Month and October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. In North Dakota, approximately 59 pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth each year (after 20 weeks of pregnancy).

Health and human service professionals and service providers are invited to attend the North Dakota Symposium on Adults, Aging and Disabilities, Oct. 26-27, at the Radisson Hotel in Bismarck.   

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended expanded use of the newly-available bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as a single-dose booster for children ages 5 to 11 who previously completed the primary series at least two months prior.

As grocery prices continue to rise in the U.S. due to inflation, North Dakota WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is partnering with the other WIC agencies across the country to remind families of the services it provides during WIC National Enrollment Week from Monday, Oct. 10 through Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

Over 800 behavioral health and child welfare professionals are registered to participate in the North Dakota Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services conference, Oct. 11-13 at the Fargo Holiday Inn or virtually via an online livestream platform.

Parents Lead, a North Dakota program administered by the state’s Health and Human Services agency’s Behavioral Health Division, has created new information to help parents, caregivers, professionals who work with children and other trusted adults understand bullying and how they can help children and youth who may be affected by it.

Gov. Burgum proclaimed the month of October as Influenza Prevention Month and the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is reminding everyone to get vaccinated against influenza (flu) this fall.

Today, North Dakota’s Health and Human Services agency’s Behavioral Health Division launched a mental health program directory to better help North Dakotans locate and access mental health services in the state. This is the latest development in the state’s efforts to enhance and streamline access to vital mental health services.

The state’s Health and Human Services agency is reminding North Dakotans who may need help paying their winter heating bills that they can now apply for the state’s home energy assistance program. Applications for the upcoming 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now through May 31, 2023.