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Statewide Health Strategies in Action
Written by: Hayden Kemp, Community Engagement Coordinator
The North Dakota Statewide Health Strategies Grant (SHSG) served as a catalyst for individuals and entities in North Dakota aiming to enhance the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) through strategic community health initiatives. Funded by the North Dakota State Legislature, the SHSG represented a collective commitment to improving health outcomes across the state, empowering communities to identify and address local health priorities.
The application period opened in Spring 2024, with grantees selected and awarded during the Summer of 2024. The grant required a 1:1 match, with a maximum funding limit of $200,000 from HHS. In total, this initiative resulted in an investment of $3 million into communities, factoring in matching dollars. Twenty-three projects received funding, and below are updates from three of those initiatives.
1) Community Action Partnership of North Dakota (CAPND)
Project Title: Whole Family Approach to Cultivating Wellness in North Dakota
Project Summary: The network of Community Action Agencies throughout North Dakota is cultivating wellness through the Whole Family Approach. CAPND supports North Dakotans experiencing poverty by providing holistic, family-centered coaching and support, empowering families to achieve economic stability and improved health outcomes.
Total Award: $400,000 ($200,000 from the State with a $200,000 match from CAPND)
Area Served: Statewide
Population(s) Served: North Dakota families who are experiencing poverty.
One’s ability to achieve overall wellness is a collection of many factors. These range from the ease of access to resources and services like healthcare, affordable childcare, reliable transportation, nutritious foods, regular income and stable housing. The loss of access to any one of these can lead to a deterioration of wellness. CAPND recognized an opportunity to support their neighbors, and with funding from the SHSG, they have embraced their whole family approach to cultivating wellness throughout North Dakota.
CAPND’s approach focuses on providing funding to encourage long-term economic advancement and foster self-sufficiency. Since August 1, 2024, 85 people in 36 households have been served by the program. Financial counseling was provided to 23 households, eviction counseling was provided to eight households and resource navigation and coordination was provided to four households. As a result of the services and temporary financial assistance provided during this timeframe, 10 households were able to obtain safe and affordable housing, five were able to avoid eviction and six were able to maintain safe and affordable housing for 90 days.
One household was facing an immediate eviction notice and significant challenges due to multiple burdens from a lengthy commute. CAPND was able to provide essential support, including gas vouchers and groceries, which allowed the household to maintain their current living situation. But CAPND did not stop there; in line with their commitment to foster self-sufficiency, the program also covered necessary vehicle repairs. This support provided the household with reliable transportation to maintain their income and alleviated any immediate financial pressures. As a result, they were able to pursue housing options near their employment and other resources, lessening the burden of the lengthy commute.
Another household of a single parent with two children was able to remain in their home after the parent experienced an unexpected income loss due to health and transportation issues. The ability to remain in their home allowed the parent to address their health and return to full-time employment. The parent is now pursuing further education to increase their income and build long-term economic stability.
CAPND recognizes the challenges faced by communities and takes pride in its commitment to providing support, as demonstrated by its actions of helping households regain stability and take proactive steps toward a more secure and resilient future.
2) Altru Health Foundation
Project Title: Remote Patient Monitoring--Program Expansion
Project Summary: Founded in 2013, Altru's Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Program aims to ensure patients have enhanced access to vital prevention and follow-up care, primarily by enabling them to self-monitor their blood pressure at home. This funding allows for the expansion of the program, enhancing Altru's ability to offer comprehensive and continuous follow-up care for chronic disease management and prevention, especially for patients who reside in rural areas.
Total Award: $50,000 ($25,000 from the State with a $25,000 match from Altru Health Foundation)
Area Served: Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Steele, Towner, Traill and Walsh Counties.
Population(s) Served: The RPM program covers a range of diagnoses, including chronic heart failure (CHF), pneumonia, sepsis, high-risk obstetrics (OB), post-cardiac surgery, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In 2024, the program has expanded further to include home health patients, and with this funding, additional growth is anticipated with the possible addition of diabetes management and wound care. Patients enrolled in RPM receive education on self-measuring blood pressure and instructions on using their equipment, with the service duration customized to each patient's medical needs.
As the world continues to make technological advancements like Artificial Intelligence (AI), industries across the board are innovating and evolving, and healthcare is no exception. For those who face barriers to access, these innovations are beneficial. One of the barriers that affects almost the entire state is distance. Being the 17th largest state by geographic size, but the fifth least populated state, finding ways to bring healthcare to people instead of continuing to expect them to travel for care disregards individual and community challenges.
Since 2013, Altru Health System in Grand Forks has worked to address these challenges through its Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) program, and as described above, identified an opportunity to expand its success utilizing funding through the SHSG. To date, an additional 50 RPM kits have been purchased and distributed to North Dakota residents, with plans to purchase more using the remaining grant funds. In November 2024, 66 monitors were in use, with an average of eight new monitors set up each week. The readmission rate of these patients was only 1.3%. The ability of the kits to serve patients with an array of diagnoses, wherever they live, speaks to the exact solutions needed to address barriers to accessing healthcare.
3) Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency (SENDCAA)
Project Title: Career Coach Program
Project Summary: The SENDCAA Career Coach Program aims to connect low-income, unemployed and underemployed individuals with in-demand careers, with the goal of securing living-wage employment.
Total Award: $150,000 ($75,000 from the State with a $75,000 match from SENDCAA)
Area Served: Cass, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill Counties
Population(s) Served: Ages 18-60, individuals who are income eligible.
Every aspect of our day is impacted by a qualified and ready workforce. The need for an increase in workforce can be felt in virtually all industries. One way to address this shortage is to look at the individuals already in our communities. The SENDCAA Career Coach Program is one way community partners are working to connect low-income, unemployed and underemployed individuals with in-demand careers and living wage employment. This is a perfect example of how addressing one concern can lead to solutions for others. By connecting these individuals with careers that provide dependable income, pressures on other social services and supports are lessened, all while building stronger and more resilient communities.
Since September 2024, SENDCAA has assisted 49 households with career coaching. Of those 49 households, 34 obtained employment through training and supportive services. These are real families in North Dakota experiencing life-changing improvements in their well-being while contributing positively to their communities.
One family's story illustrates the profound impact of the program. New to North Dakota and seeking a fresh start, this family faced multiple barriers, including both parents being unemployed, a lack of access to reliable transportation and other necessary daily needs. Despite these challenges, they remained grateful for the opportunity to build a better life. Both parents have completed the North Dakota State College of Science training to enter the workforce as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).
One of the SENDCAA career coaches worked diligently to break down the barriers this family faced. She provided transportation so they could get to class on time, provided school supplies for the first day of school, connected them with winter coats from Salvation Army Coats for Kids, referred them to a successful Fix-it-Forward car donation, and provided support and encouragement throughout the family’s journey.
On the day one of the parents received an offer of employment as a CNA, they received a donated SUV from Fix It Forward! Shortly after, they drove to SENDCAA to proudly show the vehicle to their Career Coach, hugged the team, thanked them for everything, and shared their excitement for the next chapter of their lives filled with stability, opportunity and hope!
The SENDCAA Career Coach Program demonstrates how addressing workforce shortages through community-driven initiatives can create a ripple effect of positive change. By empowering individuals and families, the program not only improves lives but also builds stronger, more vibrant communities across North Dakota.
Interested in these topics, find more information here:
North Dakota Statewide Health Strategies Grant
Community Action Partnership of North Dakota | Poverty, Low-Income Help
Community Action of Southeastern North Dakota | Programs & Services for Low Income Families
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHAMPIONS
Megan Langley
Written by: Hayden Kemp, Community Engagement Coordinator
Of the 53 counties in North Dakota, 45 are considered rural. The vast expanse of these communities underscores the importance of fostering connection and support within them. Despite being grouped into one geographical categorization, each community is as unique as the individuals who call it home, a vital consideration when developing strategies to strengthen these rich and diverse areas. An individual championing work to empower rural North Dakota is Megan Langley, the founder and executive director of Strengthen ND and Vice-Chair of the Multi-Partner Health Collaborative (MPHC). Empowerment is the cornerstone of Megan’s work.
When Megan founded Strengthen ND, she recognized the need for an organization dedicated to advancing economic development, public health and environmental sustainability to build resilient and thriving communities. “This work represents my opportunity to give back to the state and the culture that shaped me,” Megan shares. Her approach emphasizes highlighting and amplifying the remarkable work already happening in rural areas. By doing so, Megan demonstrates the value these communities bring not only to their residents but the entire state.
Strong rural communities foster a sense of belonging, allow individuals to age in place and sustain vital industries. For Megan, strengthening these communities is about creating opportunities for residents to flourish.
Megan takes immense pride in the small-scale agriculture initiatives led by Strengthen ND. Programs such as the Strong Farm Incubator, which supports new farmers, and Dakota Double Up, which increases access to fresh, local foods for SNAP recipients, are exemplary models of tackling food insecurity while simultaneously boosting rural economies. Other innovative projects, including a regional food processing facility and mobile market trucks, further demonstrate Megan’s commitment to cross-sectoral solutions that address public health, economic development and environmental sustainability.
However, this work is not without challenges. One of the greatest hurdles lies in ensuring the unique dynamics and value of rural North Dakota are fully understood and appreciated. Megan explains, “It’s about redefining what return on investment looks like in rural spaces and countering stereotypes that depict these areas as stagnant or outdated. Changing perceptions can be a persistent struggle.”
Despite these challenges, Megan remains steadfast in her belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. She draws inspiration from the passion, creativity and dedication of the people she works with daily. “Seeing the tangible impact of our efforts and witnessing communities transform keeps me motivated to continue advocating for rural North Dakota,” she explains.
While anyone can make a positive impact in their community, it takes a visionary leader with drive and passion to create lasting change in communities across an entire state. Megan Langley embodies this spirit of leadership and advocacy.
As Megan puts it, “I am passionate about ensuring that rural North Dakota has a seat at the table when discussing public health, economic development and environmental stewardship. This work is about more than immediate outcomes—it’s about ensuring a sustainable, vibrant future for the communities that define our state.”