In June, North Dakota made progress in establishing the new Community Behavioral Health Program (CBHP) and setting up data collection mechanisms to track outcomes. CSG Justice Center staff conducted two site visits to provide support to the core implementation team planning for CBHP, learn state data systems and data collection capacity, and conduct a needs assessment of a potential CBHP pilot site.
Following several intensive implementation planning sessions, North Dakota made adjustments to the program model as originally envisioned during the justice reinvestment policy analysis phase. First, the state decided to expand the CBHP program population to serve people on pre-trial status in county jails along with people on probation and parole. Secondly, the core implementation team decided to pilot CBHP with a set of “core” services in all locations, rather than graduated “tiers” of services depending on current service capacity in specific locations. Agency staff decided that starting the same levels of services across the state was important so that rural sites didn’t feel like they were receiving less than urban areas. Additionally, the core implementation team narrowed in on four CBHP pilot sites that reflect both rural and urban communities dealing with diverse behavioral health needs. They also made progress finalizing an initial program model for the pilot sites, drafting Request for Proposals (RFP) and contract language, figuring out provider payment rates, determining eligibility critera, and other key aspects of the model.
CSG Justice Center staff traveled to Devils Lake, North Dakota – one of the pilot sites – to conduct a behavioral health needs analysis. The Devils Lake region presents many unique challenges that make it a especially hard to serve location. This rural area has a high rate of poverty and drug-related crime and is home to the Spirit Lake reservation, which has particular issues with transportation (very few people have drivers licenses) and a lack of housing options. CSG Justice Center staff interviewed community leaders, services providers, and key stakeholders on region-specific behavioral health needs and current resources in order to help the state build a pilot model that can be customized to this particular high-needs area.
Additionally, CSG Justice Center staff conducted a series of meetings with agency IT and research staff to help North Dakota think through IT system and data collection capacity for the behavioral health program and general state monitoring activities. North Dakota leaders are narrowing down potential projects to increase their data collection and analysis capacity and strengthen their IT infrastructure.
Please check the box next to the following questions if the answer is 'yes'.
Please enter the applicable Event Date if there is an Event associated with this TTA.
When entering an Event Date, the Time is also required.
If the TTA is targeted to a particular audience or location, please complete the questions below.
Milestones are an element, activity, work product, or key task associated with completing the TTA (e.g. kick-off meeting, collect data from stake holders, deliver initial data analysis).
Please complete the fields below, if applicable, to create a milestone for this TTA.
o Meeting with DHS BH Director to discuss community behavioral health implementation. Meeting with DHS Assistant Director of Behavioral Health to discuss DHS data systems and behavioral health program tracking.
o Meeting with Bureau of Criminal Investigation Administrative Staff Officer II, and Bureau of Criminal Investigation Administrative Staff Officer II to discuss ND’s criminal history and arrest data.
o Meeting with ND data researchers to discuss monthly state monitoring.
o Meeting with Attorney General to provide implementation updates.
o Meeting with DHS BH Director, DHS Assistant Director of Behavioral Health, DOCR JR Coordinator to discuss implementation planning progress.
o Meeting with DOCR JR Coordinator to go over project management and plan for upcoming site visits.
o Meeting with ITD CIO, Governor’s Office General Counsel, DHS Director, and DOCR Director to discuss data tracking and building the capacity of ND data systems.
o Meeting with Governor’s Office General Counsel, and Governor's Office Director of Agency Operations to behavioral health implementation planning progress).
o Meeting with DOCR JR Coordinator, and DOCR Behavioral Health Director to discuss the behavioral health program model.
o Meeting with DHS Behavioral Health Director, DOCR JR Coordinator, and DOCR Behavioral Health Director to discuss implementation planning and pilot sites.
o Meeting with DHS Behavioral Health Director, DOCR JR Coordinator, and DOCR Behavioral Health Director to finalize the community behavioral health program model and reach consensus on key pieces.
o Meeting with DOCR Director, DHS Behavioral Health Director, DOCR JR Coordinator, and DOCR Behavioral Health Director to present the community behavioral health program model and obtain input.
o Meeting with Appropriations Committee Member to discuss implementation planning progress and community needs in rural North Dakota.
o Meeting with Northeast Region Judge, Spirit Lake Tribal Court Chief Justice, Ramsey County Commissioner, and Devils Lake Mayor to discuss regional behavioral health needs.
o Meeting with Lakes Social Service District Director, Lakes Social Service District Case Manager, and Blooming Prairie Assessment and Therapy Center Psychology Resident to discuss regional behavioral health needs.
o Meeting with Bethel Free Church Pastor to discuss regional behavioral health needs.
o Meeting with Devils Lake Human Service Center Clinical Director to discuss regional behavioral health needs.
o Meeting with Law Enforcement Center Director, and DOCR Probation and Parole Officer to discuss regional behavioral health needs.
• 6/1 - Call with DOCR JR Coordinator to plan for the upcoming site visit.
• 6/9 - Call with DOCR Director to discuss behavioral health implementation planning and fall pilot sites.
• 6/12 - Call with DOCR JR Coordinator to discuss behavioral health implementation planning.
• 6/26 - Call with Office of the Governor Legal Counsel, and Governor's Office Director of Agency Operations to debrief about the prior week's site visit.
• 6/29 - Call with DHS Behavioral Health Director to discuss rate development for the community behavioral health program.
Please respond to the Performance Metrics below. The Performance Metrics questions are based on the TTA Type indicated in the General Information section of the TTA.
Please submit a signed letter of support from your agency’s executive or other senior staff member. The letter can be emailed to or uploaded with this request. The letter should be submitted on official letterhead and include the following information:
- General information regarding the request for TTA services, i.e., the who, what, where, when, and why.
- The organizational and/or community needs specific to the request for TTA services.
- The benefits or anticipated outcomes from the receipt of TTA services.
By submitting this application to BJA NTTAC, I understand that upon approval of this application for TTA, the requestor agrees to keep BJA NTTAC informed of any circumstances that may impact the delivery of the TTA, including changes in the date of the event, event cancellation, or difficulties communicating with the assigned TTA provider.
Please call [site:phone] if you need further assistance completing this application.