ND Health and Human Services

Congratulations to Mercedes Drechsel from our Fargo Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Claude Robinson from our Jamestown VR office for receiving the Career Achievement – 100 Club Award. Each counselor has placed over 100 people with disabilities into employment opportunities over the course of their career. Learn more about VR services for both businesses and people with disabilities at hhs.nd.gov/vr.

We are so very grateful for the dedicated public health professionals who work to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities across our great state. Thank you for helping people enjoy better health. Happy Public Health Thank You Day! #PHTYD #PublicHealthHeroes

We recognize Rebecca Martin and Jacque Harder from our Fargo Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) office, Sofia Ortiz from our Dickinson VR office and Kevin Matze from our Grand Forks VR office for their Award for Counselor Achievement, which recognizes the top 10% of counselors who helped the most individuals become employed. Congratulations! Learn more about Vocational Rehabilitation services for both businesses and people with disabilities at hhs.nd.gov/vr.

We invite emerging public health leaders in ND to apply to participate in the ND Public Health Leadership Academy, which will run January-May 2025.?It is available, cost-free to up to 40 public health professionals working in ND, whether at local, state or tribal or academic levels or at federally qualified health centers, and similar health care settings. Apply by Dec. 6, 2024. Details at https://lnkd.in/gFeGk8Dr.

Time is running out, and we want to hear from you. Take this short, anonymous survey?bit.ly/45anN6o by Nov. 22. Answers will help guide how public health shares information supporting individual and community health and well-being. With your help, we can make North Dakota the healthiest state in nation.

We are excited to share information about a $25,000 grant funding opportunity for one community-based organization to help us strengthen engagement with our ND Medicaid members. Our partner, the Center for Health Care Strategies, will select the organization that will work hand-in-hand with us to connect with Medicaid members, facilitate listening sessions, capture member input and more. Apply by Friday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. CT. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gJzw7kaA

We are recognizing our Vocational Rehabilitation team for their work in helping North Dakotans with disabilities reach their employment goals! ? Cindi McGovern from our Jamestown office was honored with the Director’s Award for Excellence by her peers for her program knowledge, involvement in numerous Vocational Rehabilitation projects and top-notch customer service to clients and businesses. Congratulations, Cindi!??

Congratulations ND State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi for being named Secretary-Treasurer of ASTHO! We appreciate your leadership in public health.

ND employers can find ways to meet their workforce needs by supporting working parents. Visit hhs.nd.gov/toolkit for a variety of information and resources most relevant to retaining and recruiting staff.

Our Early Childhood Director, Kay Larson, and Best in Class coaches Shannon Brown and Tasha Lind recently visited with North Dakota Best in Class programs at the Mayville State University Child Development Programs, Maple Valley School in Tower City, Fargo Public Schools, Central Cass Public School in Casselton and Richland School District in Abercrombie. Early childhood programs that participate in the North Dakota Best in Class program receive funds and support to provide the highest-quality learning experience for children the year before kindergarten. Today, 57 programs across North Dakota are participating in the Best in Class program. Learn more about North Dakota Best in Class at hhs.nd.gov/best-in-class