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Each November, we recognize Diabetes Awareness Month as a time to focus on the growing impact of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in our communities. Across North and South Dakota, thousands of individuals and families are affected by this chronic condition, and health centers play a critical role in prevention, screening, and ongoing care.
In North Dakota, approximately 9.6% of adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, and in South Dakota, the rate is even higher at 10.5%. While these numbers reflect mostly adults with Type 2 diabetes, the burden of the disease is reaching younger populations as well. In North Dakota, about 4 in every 1,000 children under 18 are living with Type 1 diabetes. South Dakota’s data mirror national trends showing an increase in youth diagnosed with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, highlighting the urgent need for early detection and education among families.
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Support Patients Impacted by Pause in SNAP Benefits
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits lapsed last weekend for the first time in history, amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The program supports about 75,000 South Dakotans and 57,000 North Dakotans with EBT cards to buy food each month. In North Dakota, cards are loaded with funds on the 1st day of each month, while in South Dakota, cards are loaded on the 10th day of each month. WIC programs in each state have verified they will continue to offer
benefits in November.
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong has directed emergency funds to Great Plains Food Bank, which distributes to over 200 pantries statewide, to help address the increased need for food. He also urges the public to donate and volunteer at their local food pantries. South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has said he does not plan to direct any state funding to address increased food needs. State updates can be found at these sites:
After two federal court rulings, the federal administration stated it would cover 50 percent of eligible households’ November benefit amounts using contingency funds. However, some states have expressed concerns that it could take weeks to update systems to pay partial benefits, and another federal court hearing will be held on Thursday afternoon.
Health centers can take several actions to help patients through this difficult time:
- Ask patients if they have been affected by the SNAP pause, and if it will be difficult to afford food this month;
- Share emergency food resources with patients (Great Plains Food Bank pantry list in ND, and Feeding SD pantry list in SD, and 2-1-1 in both states);
- Support your local food pantries by donating or volunteering.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation Rural Health Grants Program Now Open
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Applications are now being accepted for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation Rural Health Grants Program. View the grant proposal guidance.
Deadline: November 14.
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Region 8 Public Health Leadership
Institute for Systems Change
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The Region 8 Public Health Leadership Institute for Systems Change is an opportunity for public health professionals to grow their knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to excel in public health leadership roles.
This six-month program offers a dynamic learning experience, combining facilitated and interactive live sessions with subject matter experts, small group coaching with a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, self-paced learning, and the opportunity to apply systems thinking skills to a challenge facing your community.
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Fall Advocacy Campaign Results & Prize Winner
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In September, CHAD asked health center advocates to contact members of Congress in North Dakota and South Dakota to pass long-term funding for health centers. We had 117 total emails sent to members of Congress during September. Anyone who sent emails to their members using the NACHC action alert was entered in a drawing for a gift certificate to the CHAD store for the value of a free t-shirt (including shipping).
The winner of the drawing is Michelle McCamy, LMSW, Community Outreach Coordinator for Northland Health Centers. Congratulations, Michelle! Thank you to everyone who participated and made your
voices heard! We continue to ask members of Congress to support health center funding as part of the budget process.
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CHAMPS Health Care for the Homeless Collaborative
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This free, four-part virtual series is designed for Region VIII health center staff who serve people experiencing homelessness. Participants will hear from experts in the field, discuss challenges, share promising practices, and help identify future training needs.
The series will take place once a month from November 2025 through February 2026, with sessions held online from 12:00-1:00 PM MT / 1:00-2:00 PM CT on the following Wednesdays. Each session will focus on a specific topic:
- November 19, 2025 – Innovative Behavioral Health
Services for the Unhoused Community
Presented by: Meghan Fry, CMHC, Behavioral Health Director, and Louie Krolak, MA, Behavioral Health Clinical Coordinator from Fourth Street Clinic
- December 17, 2025 – Incorporating Health Management Strategies
- January 21, 2026 – More details coming soon.
- February 18, 2026 – More details coming soon.
Advanced registration is required to attend this free series. Registrants are welcome to join as many sessions as they are able.
To learn more and register, visit the CHAMPS Upcoming Live Distance Learning Events webpage.
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Health Centers in the News
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Dakota News Now reports South Dakota Urban Indian Health Receives IHS Funding.
Minot Daily News shared that Northland Health Centers’ new mental health practitioner joined their Rolette clinic.
City of Sioux Falls hosted Katie Wick and Dr. Jen Tinguely from Falls Community Health to discuss the flu, RSV, Covid, and vaccines.
Oyate Health Center shared that The Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board earned national recognition for its work to raise awareness about colorectal cancer.
KX News reported Get Covered North Dakota’s details about this year’s open enrollment for 2026.
The Rapid City Post announced Get Covered South Dakota’s information on affordable health coverage options available from the Marketplace and help from Navigators.
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External Webinars & Trainings
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Reporting UDS Financial and Operational Tables
Health center staff who prepare UDS report submissions are encouraged to register and attend this technical assistance session.
Thursday, November 13 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm CT / 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm MT
In addition to the upcoming webinars CHAD will host for our members, NACHC has announced additional trainings they are offering about the 340B Rebate Model Pilot and Inflation Reduction Act.
NACHC 340B Office Hours: Updates on HRSA's 340B Rebate Pilot
Through an update on their webpage, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that nine drugs (from eight manufacturers) will be included in the 340B rebate pilot program, which
is set to begin on January 1, 2026. All covered entities, including CHCs, will be included in this program. Join NACHC's 340B office hours to learn more about the plans and next steps.
Thursday, November 13, from 2:00 – 3:00 pm CT / 1:00 – 2:00 pm MT
NACHC's New Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Webpage
Does your pharmacy bill or work with contract pharmacies to dispense Medicare Part D drugs? If so, check out NACHC's new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) webpage for resources to ensure compliance with requirements starting in the new year and to understand how
these new policies will impact your CHC. NACHC will be hosting a webinar on December 10, to share more information about the IRA, which includes Medicare Drug Price Negotiation that will be effective January 1, 2026.
LEARN MORE
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Driving Shared Savings: Enhancing MSSP Performance with Azara Healthcare
Join Azara for a webinar exploring how Azara Healthcare’s population health platforms enable organizations to succeed in the Medicare Shared Savings Program
(MSSP). Discover how Azara’s technology tools help care teams and administrators optimize performance, improve patient outcomes, and streamline reporting for value-based care contracts, with a specific emphasis on MSSP. This session will cover strategies for population health management, actionable data reporting, and practical tips for driving shared savings through smarter care coordination and data-leveraged workflows. Whether you’re new to MSSP or seeking to boost your program results, this webinar provides the knowledge and tools needed to succeed.
Thursday, November 13
1:00 pm CT / 12:00 pm MT
Register here
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Advanced Filtering in DRVS: Turning Data into Actionable Insights
Once you’ve established a baseline understanding of DRVS, there are countless opportunities to take your use of the platform to the next level. One of the most powerful ways to do this is by leveraging advanced filtering to track performance and drive data-informed decisions across your organization.
In this webinar, Azara takes a deeper look at advanced filtering techniques that help you unlock the full potential of DRVS. Discover how to build complex filters that surface meaningful insights, layer multiple criteria to identify priority patient populations, and create saved filters and views that streamline reporting and enhance collaboration across teams. This session is recommended for
team members who manage or maintain the back end of DRVS, including Admin Users, Super Users, and data or quality leads.
Thursday, November 20
1:00 pm CT / 12:00 pm MT
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As the Community
HealthCare Association of the Dakotas, we believe that everyone has a right to high-quality, reliable, affordable health care, regardless of where they live. We work with health centers, community leaders, and partners to increase access and improve health care services in areas of the Dakotas that need it most.
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This account is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an
award totaling $1,423,637.00 with 0 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
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