§ 50-06-01.4 — Structure of the department

North Dakota § 50-06-01.4

• Jurisdiction: North Dakota
• Title 50: Public Welfare
• Ch. 50-06: Department of Health and Human Services

Text

1. The department includes the state hospital, the state-operated behavioral health
clinics, a vocational rehabilitation unit, public health division, and other units or offices
and administrative and fiscal support services as the commissioner of the department
determines necessary. The department must be structured to promote efficient and
effective operations and, consistent with fulfilling its prescribed statutory duties, shall
act as the official agency of the state in the discharge of the following functions not
otherwise by law made the responsibility of another state agency:
a. (1) Administration of programs for children and families, including adoption
services and the licensure of child-placing agencies, foster care services
and the licensure of foster care arrangements, certification of shelter care
services, child protection services, children's trust fund, licensure of early
childhood programs, refugee services, in-home community-based services,
quality control, administration of the interstate compacts on the placement of
children and juveniles, and the early childhood services advisory board.
(2) Administration of programs to identify all available options for effectively
maximizing the provision of early childhood services within the state and
address the coordinated utilization of facilities and personnel for the
provision of early childhood services within the state.
b. Administration of programs for individuals with developmental disabilities,
including licensure of facilities and services, the establishment funding for family
members and corporate guardianships, and the design and implementation of a
community-based service system for persons in need of habilitation.
c. Administration of aging service programs, including nutrition, transportation,
advocacy, social, ombudsman, recreation, and related services funded under the
Older Americans Act of 1965 [42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.], home and
community-based services, licensure of adult foster care homes, and the
committee on aging.
d. Administration of behavioral health programs, including reviewing and identifying
service needs and activities in the state's behavioral health system in an effort to
ensure health and safety, access to services, and quality of services; establishing
quality assurance standards for the licensure of substance use disorder program
services and facilities; providing policy leadership in partnership with public and
private entities; and providing chronic disease management, regional intervention
services, and twenty-four-hour crisis services for individuals with behavioral
health disorders.
e. Administration of economic assistance programs, including temporary assistance
for needy families, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, home energy
assistance, child care assistance, refugee assistance, work experience, work
incentive, and quality control.
f. Administration of medical service programs, including medical assistance for
children's health insurance program, Medicaid waivers, early and periodic
screening, diagnosis and treatment, utilization control, autism services, and
claims processing.
g. Administration of general assistance.
h. Administration of child support.

i. Administration of program, services, and licensing outlined in title 23 and other
previous duties of the state department of health and state health council.
j. Administration of a program to improve the quality of life for an individual with
brain injury and the individual's family through brain injury awareness, prevention,
research, education, collaboration, support services, and advocacy.
2. The commissioner of the department or commissioner's designee shall consult with
and maintain a close working relationship with the department of corrections and
rehabilitation and the superintendents of the school for the deaf and the North Dakota
vision services - school for the blind to develop programs for individuals with
developmental disabilities; and with the superintendent of public instruction to
maximize the use of resource persons in state-operated behavioral health clinics in the
provision of special education services. The commissioner of the department or
commissioner's designee shall also maintain a close liaison with human service zones.
3. The department shall establish a template for the development of human service zone
plans, including process and content requirements, access point expectations, client
grievances procedures, human resources, and locally funded programs or services
and how those services will be addressed.
4. The department shall develop, with assistance from the North Dakota association of
counties, a process for consultation and technical assistance for human service zone
working groups.