NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled its first business plan since it unified two years ago, and it’s a big one.

HHS announced its 2024-25 Business Plan to make the Peace Garden State the healthiest in the nation. The plan highlights 74 projects supporting the department’s vision.

The plan is aligned with HHS’s strategic priorities, which include supporting strong, healthy families, increasing access to high-quality services, optimizing disaster and epidemic response and recovery, and delivering best-in-class customer experiences.

“This Business Plan displays the hard-working, citizen-focused efforts of the largest agency at the State of North Dakota,” said Gov. Doug Burgum. “These important supports and services for North Dakotans most in need advance our state’s mission to empower people, improve lives, and inspire success.”

HHS has over 2,800 full-time members at 59 locations across the state, and they provide more than 50 programs and services.

The latest World Population Review ranking had North Dakota around the middle when listing states from healthiest to unhealthiest.

North Dakota is in the middle for just about every category in the World Population Review, avoiding the bottom 10 in every category but excessive drinking. 22% of North Dakotans drink excessively, which puts the state fourth on the list.

While the climb for North Dakota to be the healthiest state might not be as steep as it would be for other states, the road to fulfilling HHS’s goal will probably be a long one.

To see the full Business Plan, go to the HHS website .

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Today's Top Stories

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KX NEWS.