News

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.  

More than 500 North Dakotans are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. In recognition of breast cancer awareness month, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) reminds women that early detection and screening saves lives, and Women’s Way may provide a way to pay for breast cancer screenings for eligible North Dakotans.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has a new quality care initiative aimed at improving overall experiences and outcomes for North Dakotans who are residents of the state’s nursing facilities.  

The Nursing Facility Incentive Program, developed in partnership with the North Dakota Long Term Care Association and nursing facility providers, is an incentive-based quality improvement program. It provides an annual payment to facilities based on their performance in four Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services resident care and facility process measures: urinary tract infections, antipsychotic drugs, pressure ulcers and hospitalizations.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will now provide more assistance to qualifying households.

HHS will begin accepting LIHEAP applications on Oct. 1. If approved, program applicants can receive heating assistance from October-May.

In the last year, LIHEAP assisted 14,405 qualifying North Dakota households, providing $11.2 million in support of their home energy costs.