NFI Advisory Board

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NFI Advisory Board Mission

North Dakota Health and Human Services (NDHHS) NFI Advisory Board's mission is to create a transparent and consistent platform for the NFI population to make a difference in the health of North Dakotans.

The Board serves to elevate the suggestions, needs and ideas and provide ongoing recommendations to the NDHHS and other state and local agencies from the communities represented and inform the development and improvement of programming for the NFI community.

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The Board promotes and educates their communities on important initiatives and issues that will improve the health of North Dakota's NFI population and assist the NDHHS in forming community partnerships.

If you have questions, please contact Luisa Hoyos at 701.328.3830.

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NFI Advisory Board Information

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NFI Advisory Board Information

Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

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Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Communication Task Force Meeting Minutes

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Communication Task Force Meeting Minutes

August 22, 2020 - September 24, 2020 - October 29, 2020

NFI Advisory Board Charter

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NFI Advisory Board Charter

New American/Foreign Born/Immigrant (NFI) Advisory Board Charter
Effective October 2023

New American/Foreign Born/Immigrant (NFI) Advisory Board provides recommendations regarding NFI health issues and topics to North Dakota Health and Human Services (NDHHS). Board members assist NDHHS in ensuring NFI perspectives are incorporated in planning and decision-making for the state and forming community partnerships. The NFI board maintains the seven core components listed below:

Led by representation of the NFI community
Maintain consistent, structured meetings
Foster community building
Offer a space for NFI to share their opinions on health-related matters
Describes the unique needs of the NFI community
Analyzes workplace, community and healthcare settings that prevent bias and discrimination
Places an emphasis on planning, executing and focusing on meaningful projects and topics to help improve the well-being of and eliminate health inequalities faced by the NFI community

Mission

The NDHHS NFI Advisory Board's mission is to create a transparent and consistent platform for the NFI population to make a difference in the health of North Dakotans. The Board will serve to elevate the suggestions, needs and ideas and provide ongoing recommendations to the NDHHS and other state and local agencies from the communities represented. The board will also inform the development and improvement of programming for the NFI community.

The Board will promote and educate their communities on important initiatives and issues that will improve the health of North Dakota's NFI population and assist the NDHHS in forming community partnerships.

Advisory Board members

The Board consists of up to 20 members, 18 years of age and older, who represent the NFI community and reside in North Dakota. The Board comprises a diverse group representing various backgrounds, including ethnicity, race, age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, ability and places of origin. Members are asked to commit to at least two years of service to cultivate their personal and professional growth.

Members will

Increase their knowledge of public health policies and concepts
Represent issues affecting local communities
Receive a professionally written recommendation upon two-year completion of service
Develop leadership skills and advocacy experience
Produce work that has a positive impact on communities

Requirements

Applicants must be current North Dakota residents
Commit to attending and participating actively in all meetings in the calendar year, with a maximum of two excused absences. Excused absences are defined as a notice to the NDHHS co-chairperson
Seek out and listen to a wide range of opinions and experiences within the communities they represent to ensure a balanced representation of their community's suggestions, needs and ideas
Update the NDHHS on activities and opportunities to engage with the NFI community and serve as a liaison to these events
Practice active listening of other board members to increase unification and collaboration of NFI communities across the state
Volunteer for at least one task force per service year for the entirety of the task force's existence
Members must demonstrate active participation in one or more NFI communities in North Dakota and understand the issues affecting those communities
Members will commit to a two-year term of service. After two years of service, members can re-apply to be considered for additional terms. NDHHS will select members through an application process

Volunteering includes:

Attending all meetings and providing a 24-hour notice if attendance is not possible
Completing tasks assigned during task force meetings
Working on targeted project work with a task force responsible for reporting to the Board.
Attending additional meetings outside of regularly scheduled board meetings (frequency will be determined by task force chair and NDHHS co-chair).

Officers and Duties

NFI Chair

The chair will oversee the Board in collaboration with NDHHS and will assist in leading bimonthly meetings. This position will be for a two-year term by a majority vote from the board. This position will facilitate effective board meetings, including receiving feedback from all members, the chair will meet monthly with the NDHHS co-chair, communicate with the board in collaboration with the NDHHS and is committed to attending all board meetings as the same attendance policies apply to the chair.

NFI Co-Chair

The co-chair will do the following:

Develop and distribute the agenda, with the input of the chair
Ensure meeting minutes are made available to board members
Schedule meetings and provide reminder emails to board members
Ensure board member recruitment based on current membership, attendance and board parameters
Maintain an active list of board members and communicate with board members regarding upcoming meetings, attendance policy adherence and invitations to join or terminations of membership. This could occur with the collaboration of the chair.

NFI Board Meetings

NFI Board meetings are held bimonthly (six times per year), approximately one hour in duration. These meetings will be held to ensure the support, participation and engagement of the Advisory Board members. Productive and effective meetings are essential to the success of the NFI. Meetings will house discussions and deliberations covering important topics that may be converted into decisions and recommendations to the NDHHS agency. The board implemented Guiding Principles after its establishment, and guidance is sought continuously. If necessary, this can be done by e-mail. Meeting locations have been decided with input from board members. Remote technology, including telephone and virtual alternatives, allows members who cannot attend in-person meetings to participate.

Voting

For a vote to occur, at least 2/3 of the current members must be present to meet the quorum. If a vote is taken at a meeting, all board members shall be informed at least two weeks before the meeting. Voting will be allowed in person and by virtual alternatives. In case of exceptional situations when the quorum cannot be met due to low attendance, voting could be done through email communication.