Advisory Council on Drugs, Alcohol to meet Nov. 7
BISMARCK The Governor's Prevention Advisory Council on Drugs and Alcohol will meet in Bismarck on Wednesday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Sakakawea Room in the State Capitol.
Agenda items include updates on the Strategic Prevention Framework State Initiative grant. Parents LEAD, and the State Epidemiology Outcome Work Group. Members will also hear a status report on community-based prevention projects funded by the council, and will discuss website utilization information and prevention efforts between partnering agencies. A complete agenda is online at (www.nd.gov).
Individuals who need accommodations to participate in the meeting can contact Gail Allensworth at 328-8920, gallensworth@nd.gov or ND Relay TTY 1-800-366-6888.
The Governor's Prevention Advisory Council on Drugs and Alcohol leads a multi-system prevention effort that draws upon resources and talents at the community, state and federal levels. The council works to advance and coordinate knowledge, resulting in the adoption of policy-based prevention strategies and innovations, and to share knowledge of healthful behaviors and decisions that reduce, postpone or eliminate problems resulting from destructive decisions.
The council consists of 14 members appointed by the governor who represents his office, state agencies involved in substance abuse prevention, the N.D. Legislative Assembly, advocacy groups, law enforcement, and the addiction counseling profession. North Dakota's First Lady Betsy Dalrymple is also a council member. JoAnne Hoesel, director of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division of the N.D. Department of Human Services, chairs the council.
Jill Hambek
Agency names human service center director
BISMARCK The N.D. Department of Human Services announced Nov. 1 the appointment of Jeff Stenseth as regional director of Southeast Human Service Center in Fargo and South Central Human Service Center in Jamestown. Stenseth has served as the associate director of the Fargo human service center since 2007. His appointment follows the retirement of Candace Fuglesten.
"Jeff brings compassion for people and a significant amount of experience in clinical leadership to his new role," said Alex Schweitzer, director of Field Services for the department. "He will be a great leader and will work hard on the continuation of quality services to the state's most vulnerable people."
Stenseth has over 20 years of experience in the mental health and addiction treatment fields. He has held various positions at the Fargo human service center and has been instrumental in preparing for the statewide implementation of the Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment (IDDT) program at the department's human service centers. The IDDT program treats people who have both chronic addictions and serious mental health issues.
The N.D. Department of Human Services operates eight regional human service centers that provide counseling and mental health services, substance abuse treatment, disability services, and other human services. The centers are a safety net providing services directly or through partnerships with county social services and other providers.
Jill Hambek