October 2025 Center for Rural Health Update

FOCUS on Rural Health

Helping the Helpers
The North Dakota Qualified Service Provider (QSP) Hub provides needed support and resources to those helping people age in place.

News

Seven North Dakota Hospitals Named Among Top 20 in Nation
Seven Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) received awards in September.

Critical Access Hospital Cost Reporting Program Completed
Four North Dakota CAHs took part in a cost report strategy/compliance review activity.

CRH Welcomes New Employee
Whitney Miller joins the Center for Rural Health (CRH) as a project coordinator.

Funding & Other Opportunities

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation Rural Health Grants Program Now Open
Applications are now being accepted for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Caring Foundation Rural Health Grants Program to address social determinants of health in communities. View the grant proposal guidance.
Deadline: November 14

Recruiting for Retention Webinar Series
3RNET is hosting a six-part webinar series. The second in the series occurs on October 21. The series will focus on the recruiting process, and will cover effective recruitment plans, tools, and best practices specific to rural locations. Registration fees are sponsored by CRH for healthcare employers in rural or urban underserved communities in North Dakota who would like to attend.
Deadline: December 15

CRH Events

October 22	TeleECHO: The Power of Parent Engagement School professionals are invited to attend this new School-Based Pediatric Mental Health teleECHO series to help improve overall mental health among students.
October 27‑31	Primary Care Week National Primary Care Week is an annual event held to highlight the importance of primary care and bring healthcare professionals together. Events during the week will be held at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Grand Forks and virtually via Zoom.
October 29	Webinar: Executive Functioning Deconstructed, Part 2 – Organization This prerecorded event features a session hosted by the North Dakota Brain Injury Network (NDBIN) on executive functioning.
November 5	TeleECHO: Connections Matter This Pediatric Mental Health teleECHO will be presented by Lindsey Burkhardt, director of the North Dakota Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force.
November 12	Webinar: Executive Functioning Deconstructed, Part 3 – Initiation Tune in to this prerecorded presentation on executive functioning, presented by Heidi Fiskness, Nan Kennelly, and Megan Dooley. Hosted by NDBIN.
November 13	New QSP: Next Steps Monthly Meeting This monthly meeting will provide recently approved QSPs an introduction to the QSP handbook as well as resources, links, and advice to support them as a QSP.
November 17	QSP Quarterly Update Meeting QSPs are invited to learn about recent updates in this quarterly meeting.

Publications & Resources

"You Can't Do Anything by Yourself": Recruiting and Retaining Mental Health Professionals in Rural America
In Rural Health Information Hub's latest Rural Monitor article, they spoke with state and national experts about the challenges and opportunities in recruiting and retaining mental health professionals in rural areas.

Native Aging Visions Fall 2025
The Native Aging Visions Fall 2025 issue is now available. Read about the career of a Title VI director, learn about the annual Stand Down for Veterans event, and find out how the needs assessment survey helps tribes.