History of Healthy North Dakota
2002
January 2002
Governor John Hoeven announces Healthy North Dakota:
“Today, I am announcing a new public health initiative for our state, Healthy North Dakota …and I am challenging each school child, each businessperson, each senior citizen to take control of his or her life – to exercise more, to eat a healthy diet, to examine their use of tobacco and alcohol … These must be individual choices, but we can provide the support structure, education and encouragement to each North Dakotan who wants to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Knowing North Dakotans, I have no doubt that they will meet the challenge.”
- Gov. John Hoeven, State-of-the-State Address, January 2002
February - April 2002
Healthy North Dakota Advisory Committee formed; meetings held to discuss possible initiatives.
May 2002
Healthy North Dakota Advisory Committee begins working on plans for summit.
July 2002
Press conference announcing summit held at the University of North Dakota; Governor Hoeven invites North Dakotans to “Walk for Health”.
August 22-23, 2002
Healthy North Dakota Summit held in Bismarck
- More than 130 people from more than 75 agencies/organizations met to define wellness and identify priorities for North Dakota.
- The input received serves as the framework for a statewide, comprehensive wellness plan implemented at the local level by public- and private-sector partners
- Watch a video archive of the summit proceedings
- Healthy North Dakota priority areas were identified based on input from summit participants and other interested individuals. These priorities, developed as a grassroots effort, can change based on interest of other stakeholders and as new priorities develop.
- Tobacco use
- Substance abuse/ Mental health
- Healthy weight - nutrition
- Healthy weight - physical activity
- Health disparities
- Worksite wellness
- Community engagement
- Third-party payers/insurance
September 2002
Healthy North Dakota priority areas aligned with national Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives.
October 2002
North Dakota Department of Health organizational structure aligned to support Healthy North Dakota; liaisons identified for HND committees.
November 2002
Committees formed to address priority areas; committee chairs identified.
2003
2004
February 2004
Mission and Vision Statements finalized.
Vision: Healthy North Dakota – Healthy People, Healthy Communities.
Mission: Inspire and support North Dakotans to improve physical, mental and emotional health for all by building innovative statewide partnerships.
March – October 2004
Additional focus areas join Healthy North Dakota: Immunizations, Aging, Injury, Cancer, Cardiovascular Health, School Health, Early Childhood, Oral Health and Diabetes. Additional appointments made to the HND Advisory Committee.
April 2004 – June 2005 HND coordinates development and implementation of worksite wellness nutrition education and incentive program with ND PERS.
May 2004 – April 2005
HND Committees and members identify policy priorities and provide testimony during 59th Legislative Assembly.
July 2004
Key collaborative link piece developed to ensure efficiency and improve collaboration across Healthy North Dakota.
September 2004
HND Director assists South Dakota in developing their Healthy South Dakota initiative.
October 2004 – June 2005
Provided worksite wellness training and ongoing technical assistance to worksite wellness specialists.
November 2004 – June 2005
Engaged in 5th Annual Legislators’ Forum process with representatives from Minnesota, Manitoba and South Dakota.
December 2004
At the request of the Indian Affairs Commission, established the Tribal/Health State Task Force to examine health issues affecting North Dakota’s Tribal Nations and Trenton Indian Service Area.
2005
April 2005
First Lady Mikey Hoeven accepted role as spokesperson for Healthy North Dakota.
April 2005
HND’s Community Engagement Committee’s proposal approved for funding from Dakota Medical Foundation; matching fund application submitted to Robert Wood Johnson in June 2005.
2006
June 2006
The HND Early Childhood Alliance brings together over 50 agency representatives to develop a comprehensive plan for early childhood in the state of North Dakota.
July 2006
Cancer Coalition rolls out Comprehensive Cancer State Plan for the state of North Dakota.
Ongoing
Focus areas developing logic models and/or strategic plans.
Establishing communication system among focus areas.
