About the Department of Human Services

Mission

To provide quality, efficient, and effective human services, which improve the lives of people.

Department's Role

• Provides services that help vulnerable North Dakotans of all ages to maintain or enhance their quality of life, which may be threatened by lack of financial resources, emotional crises, disabling conditions, or an inability to protect themselves.
• Supports the provision of services and care as close to home as possible to maximize each person's independence while preserving the dignity of all individuals and respecting their constitutional and civil rights.

Departmental Structure

The department is an umbrella agency headed by Executive Director Christopher Jones who was appointed by Gov. Doug Burgum on Feb. 3, 2017.

• Department of Human Services Organizational Chart
• SLIDE PRESENTATION: Department of Human Service Overview: DHS 101 (January 2021)
• List of Services provided by the Department
• Careers at DHS - The department employs over 2,200 people across the state. Announcements of job openings are available at Job Service North Dakota offices, college and university job placement centers, and on the state's Human Resource Management Services website.
• News - Department news releases are listed by date issued.

Quick Facts

• The Department of Human Services' 2019-2021 budget totals $4.2 billion and includes 2,230 authorized full-time equivalents (full and part-time positions); 140 are related to county social service redesign.
• About 78 percent of the department's employees work at the regional human service centers, the human service zone offices (formerly known as county social service offices), the North Dakota State Hospital, and the Life Skills and Transition Center (formerly known as the Developmental Center).

Budget Information

• 2021-2023 Budget Documents
  • Proposed Executive Budget Materials
  • DHS Optional Adjustment Requests
  • DHS 15% Savings Plan - 2021/2023 Proposal for Executive Budget - Summary
  • Coming Soon: DHS 15% Savings Plan - 2021/2023 Proposal for Executive Budget - Detail
• 2019-2021 Budget Documents
  • List of Optional Adjustment Requests (OARs) - highlights those in the Governor's Executive Budget and Engrossed Senate Bill 2012 (Revised March 13, 2019)
  • Narrative Description of OARs
  • Budget Request Summary
• 2017-2019 Budget Documents
  • CHART: 2017-2019 Legislatively Approved Budget for DHS: Where Does the Money Go? (Includes HB 1012 and other 2017 session bills that passed with DHS appropriation)
  • CHART: 2017-2019 Legislatively Approved Budget: Medical Assistance Grants (Includes HB 1012 and other 2017 bills with DHS appropriation)
  • 2017 Enrolled House Bill 1012 - Department of Human Services Appropriation Bill
  • List of Optional Adjustment Requests (OARs) - highlights those in Governor's Executive Budget (Posted Dec. 16, 2016)
  • Narrative description of OARs
• 2016 Budget and Allotment
  • Department of Human Services 2015-2017 General Fund Appropriation Allotment Summary
  • CHART: General Fund Distribution in the Department's 2015-2017 Budget: Where Does the Money Go? (Includes Allotment)
  • CHART: General Fund Distribution in the Department's 2015-2017 Budget: Where Does the Money Go? (Prior to the Allotment)
  • Department of Human Services 2015-2017 Budget Allotment Summary - general and other funds

Historical Budget Information

• 2015-2017 Budget Documents
  • Enrolled 2015 Senate Bill 2012 - Department
  • List of Optional Adjustment Requests (OARs) - highlihts those in the Governor's Executive Budget
  • Narrative description of OARs
  • CHART: 2015-2017 Legislatively Approved Senate Bill 2012: Where Does the Money Go? (June 2, 2015)
  • CHART: 2015-2017 Legislatively Approved Senate Bill 2012: Medical Assistance Grants (June 2, 2015)
  • Other 2015 Session Appropriation-Related Bills Affecting DHS (fiscal impact) (April 28, 2015)
• 2013-2015 Legislatively Approved Department Budget: Where Does the Money Go? (29kb pdf)
• 2013-2015 Legislatively Approved Budget for Long-Term Care Continuum: Where Does the Money Go? (26kb pdf)
• 2011-2013 Legislatively Approved Department Budget: Where Does the Money Go? (172kb pdf)
• 2011-2013 Legislatively Approved Budget for Long-Term Care Continuum: Where Does the Money Go? (159kb pdf)
• 2009-2011 Legislatively Approved Department Budget: Where Does the Money Go? (147kb pdf)
• 2009-2011 Legislatively Approved Budget for Long-Term Care Continuum: Where Does The Money Go? (26kb pdf)
• 2007-2009 Legislatively Approved Department Budget: Where Does the Money Go? (154kb pdf)
• 2007-2009 Legislatively Approved Budget for Long-Term Care Continuum: Where Does the Money Go? (145kb pdf)

Caseload and Expenditure Data on Select Human Services Programs:

• REPORT: Quarterly Budget Insight Report

Senate Bill 2206 - Study of Human Services

• REPORT: SB 2206 Report to Legislative Management (Oct. 31, 2018)
• PRESENTATION: 2017 Session SB 2206 Update: North Dakota Social Services Redesign (Feb. 28, 2018)

Other Publications

• NEW 2019-2021 Biennial Report (11.16 MB pdf)
• 2017-2019 Biennial Report (3.6 MB pdf)
• 2015-2017 Biennial Report (1.62 MB pdf)
• 2013-2015 Biennial Report (2.54 MB pdf)
• 2011-2013 Biennial Report (4.66 MB pdf)
• 2013 Public Stakeholder Meetings Executive Summary (489kb pdf)
• Division-specific Publications section

Other Information

Human Services Directories

The directories are not all inclusive, but may be useful to locate social service agencies and other resources.

Public Notices

Department public notices are listed by date of notification.

Contact Information

North Dakota Department of Human Services
600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept 325
Bismarck N.D. 58505-0250
Phone: (701) 328-2310
Toll Free: (800) 472-2622
ND Relay TTY: 711 (TTY or (800) 366-6888
Fax: (701) 328-2359
dhseo@nd.gov

 

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