North Dakota Models and Innovations
These stories feature model programs and successful rural projects that can serve as a source of ideas. Some of the projects or programs may no longer be active. Read about the criteria and evidence-base for programs included.
Other Project Examples
Targeted Rural Health Education Project
Updated/reviewed April 2026
- Need: Increase health profession students' awareness of how plain language and health literacy principles can improve their written and spoken health messaging.
- Intervention: Using a writing project that leverages plain language in health messaging, health profession learners participating in rural clinical rotations write health information articles for publication in rural community newspapers.
- Results: Since the North Dakota program's start in 2017, nearly 100 students have successfully published articles in about 25 rural newspapers in 3 states. In recent years, increased program visibility has led to reprint and additional articles requests from a variety of state news publications, advocacy organizations, professional societies, and recent model replication in New York.
North Dakota Association for the Disabled (NDAD)
Added March 2026
- Need: To help North Dakotans with health challenges bridge financial gaps to promote independence and improve quality of life.
- Intervention: North Dakota Association for the Disabled (NDAD) offers direct financial assistance, prescription medications, home modification, vehicle accessibility, and other resources to reduce out-of-pocket costs for essential medical needs.
- Results: In 2025, NDAD loaned 6,005 pieces of healthcare equipment to 3,141 people for a savings of $576,634 and awarded $250,742 in funding to 30 organizations to assist individuals with disabilities or at-risk individuals.
Rural Aging Action Network
Updated/reviewed January 2026
- Need: To connect isolated older adults and family caregivers in rural Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota to services and supports so they can age in place.
- Intervention: The Rural Aging Action Network is a national collaborative of organizations that mobilize whole communities to address gaps in care for rural older adults and family caregivers.
- Results: Since 2022, the collaborative has reached over 1,000 older adults and over 200 family caregivers living in rural communities.
Energy Capital Cooperative Child Care (ECCCC)
Updated/reviewed July 2025
- Need: To bring needed child care to rural Mercer County, North Dakota.
- Intervention: A nonprofit cooperative provides part-time and full-time child care.
- Results: ECCCC currently has about 75 children enrolled, but it had 86 children at the height of its enrollment history.
FirstLink Care and Support Program
Updated/reviewed July 2025
- Need: To reduce suicide and substance-related deaths in North Dakota and Minnesota.
- Intervention: The Care and Support program provides support through phone calls, cards, and texting to those who have called suicide helplines or were referred by a healthcare provider.
- Results: In 2024, FirstLink sent 2,870 cards and texts to program participants and made 12,378 total contacts.