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For Teens & Young Adults

You might be curious about alcohol or drugs, feel pressure to try something, or be concerned about your own choices or someone else's. These resources offer facts, answers, and ways to get support without judgement.

SAMHSA: Support for Teens & Young Adults: Learn about alcohol, drugs, mental health, stress, and ways to get help. Find ideas for handling tough situations and talking with someone you trust.

SAMHSA's HELP4U Text Service: Text your five-digit ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U) to find substance use treatment resources near you. This free, confidential service is available 24/7. 

Crisis Text Line: Feeling overwhelmed or need someone to talk to during a difficult moment? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 if you're experiencing a mental health crisis or need immediate emotional support. You can also reach out to a trusted adult, school counselor, school nurse, healthcare provider, or another person who makes you feel safe.

For Parents & Caregivers

Talking with your child about alcohol and other drugs can feel uncomfortable, but small conversations can make a big difference. You don't need one perfect talk. Start by listening, asking questions, and keeping the door open for future conversations. These resources offer great ways to get the conversation started!

CDC: Free Mind Resources for Parents & Caregivers: Find information and practical tools to help protect your teen's mental health and reduce the risks associated with substance use.

Parents LEAD: Your guidance, support, and presence are key in keeping your child safe and setting them up for a healthy future.

SAMHSA: Talk. They Hear You. Parent Resources: Get conversation starters, tips, and resources to help you talk with your child about alcohol and other drugs before problems arise.

Opioids, Fentanyl & Teens: What Parents Need to Know: Here's why it is important for families to have access to the care they need, including help with drug addiction.

Immunization Coordinator - Registered Nurse

Job Summary

Professional nursing and coordination in public health programs.

Salary Range 

Starting at $30/hr

Essential Duties

  • Assist with/or provide health maintenance clinics, immunization clinics school screenings, school health education, blood pressure testing, rapid strep testing, tuberculosis screening, and medication management.
  • Provide home visits as assigned and nursing care to meet physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and cultural needs of the patient by means of teaching and referral.
  • Utilize the nursing process to identify individual client problems and to develop, implement, and evaluate client care.     
  • Document observations, nursing interventions, therapeutic measures administered and status of coordinated activities between nursing and other professional disciplines utilizing the problem oriented record system.
  • Provide and promote community health services.
  • Serve on community health related coalitions and taskforces
  • Use data and research to guide provision of program services. 
  • Coordinate programs as assigned, attend program meetings and act as a liaison for Western Plains Public Health.
  • Mentor other staff.
  • Attend staff and/or branch office meetings as scheduled and continuing education opportunities as approved. 
  • Follow current HIPAA guidelines to ensure client confidentiality. 
  • Other duties may be assigned.

Specialty Duties & Responsibilities

Immunization Coordinator

  • Coordinate the immunization program at Western Plains Public Health.
  • Provides immunization education to the nursing staff.
  • Conducts the immunization competencies for nursing staff and student nurses. 
  • Orders all vaccine for Western Plains Public Health.
  • Inventories the vaccine for Mandan office and monitors the inventory in Mercer and Grant Counties.
  • Administers the immunization grants, ensuring compliance with all grant requirements, deliverables, reporting deadlines, and performance measures
  • Sends reminder/ recalls for immunizations.
  • Assists the Office Manager and Administrative Support Staff with immunization billing.
  • Assist the Director of Nursing with immunization scheduling.
  • Submits the immunization progress report on a quarterly basis to the Director of Nursing.
  • Attends meetings and conference calls that are pertinent to immunizations.     
  • Acts as a resource to other nursing staff regarding immunizations.

HIV/Hepatitis C/STI Nurse

  • Completion of ND Department of Health & Human Services HIV/STD Counseling, Testing, and Referral (CTR) training within six months of hire and maintenance of all required annual continuing education and competency requirements thereafter.

  • Provides Counseling, Testing and Referral (CTR) services in accordance with NDHHS requirements, including maintaining required annual training and continuing education.

  • Provides sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention education and outreach to community organizations, schools and other community partners.

  • Assist with STI testing, follow-up activities, referrals, and prevention initiatives as assigned.

  • Provides treatment of STI’s with the Health Officer’s standing orders.

  • Provides HIV and Hepatitis C documentation to the NDHHS using designated electronic record program.

  • Conduct the Hepatitis C/HIV/STI testing for high-risk individuals in local jails/correctional facilities and community organizations as requested.

  • Maintain HIV and Hepatitis C supplies and refrigerator temperature logs. 

  • Follow grant guidelines and deliverables.

Good Neighbor Project Nurse 

  • Conducts harm reduction education and opioid prevention efforts in accordance with the North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services Program guidelines.

Morton County Nurse

  • Offer Public Health nursing services to Mandan, rural Morton County, Sioux County and the Standing Rock Reservation as assigned. Office is located in Mandan ND.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Graduation from an accredited school of nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

  • Current and unencumbered Registered Nurse license issued by the North Dakota Board of Nursing.

  • Basic Life Support certification within four months of employment.

  • National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Incident Command System (ICS) 100, 200, 700, and 800 certifications within first year of employment.

  • Valid North Dakota driver’s license and access to reliable transportation to all assigned work locations.

  • Ability to work predetermined nights and weekends in support of community events.

Please submit your resume to jbarker@westernplainsph.org. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
 

Accessibility

Western Plains Public Health’s Commitment to Accessibility

Western Plains Public Health is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equitable access to our information and services, as mandated by Century Code, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and Title II. This includes all digital content—such as webpages, documents, forms, and multimedia—available via our public platforms.

We strive to meet accessibility standards, including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, as well as Web Accessibility Initiative – Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA). Our agency continuously evaluates digital content in an effort to maintain ADA compliance, following industry best practices that help ensure content is:

  • Perceivable: Content must be easy for people to see, hear, or otherwise sense.
  • Operable: People must be able to use websites and tools in different ways, such as by keyboard or assistive technology.
  • Understandable: Information and instructions should be clear and easy for everyone to follow.
  • Robust: Content should work well with modern technology and continue to work with future tools and assistive devices.

By adhering to these standards, we affirm our commitment to creating an inclusive digital environment, one in which every citizen can independently access, understand, and benefit from the information and services our state provides.

We Appreciate Your Feedback

If you encounter any barriers while using this website, we want to hear from you. Please report any accessibility issues by calling 701-667-3370 or submitting a Contact Form.

Narcan Training

 

Naloxone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
                     FREE NARCAN TRAINING
       Presented by Western Plains Public Health

*Must be 18 years or older

*Training is approximately 45 minutes

*Available for individuals & group settings

*To schedule your free training, submit your request form today!


   For more information on opioid Safety, Overdose & Addiction, visit:
                                  hhs.nd.gov/opioids

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Parent Resources

Parent Resources
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YOUTH QUITTING PROGRAMS

  • My Life My Quit – Assists people under the age of 18 who are addicted to nicotine through cigarettes, chew, or e-cigarettes/vaping devices through a free and confidential program.  Call 1.855.891.9989, text "Start my quit" to 36072 for real-time coaching or visit 
    nd.mylifemyquit.org/en-us
     
     

RESOURCES

Careers

Current Opening: Immunization Coordinator - Registered Nurse

Western Plains Public Health has a wide range of benefits and perks such as:

  • NDPERS retirement plan
  • 100% paid health insurance plan (single and family)
  • Dental and Vision insurance
  • Flexible work schedule
  • Family friendly

We would love to have you as part of our team!

If you have any questions regarding our open positions or future positions, please contact our administrator, Erin Ourada, at 701.667.3370 or eourada@westernplainsph.org.

Environmental Complaint

Western Plains Public Health environmental health practitioners will inspect public health nuisances under the authority granted through North Dakota Century Code 23-35-09. A public health nuisance can be defined as a condition, activity, or situation that interferes with the use or enjoyment of property and is injurious to health. The nuisance is a public issue when it unreasonably interferes with a right common to the general public. Examples may include breeding areas for flies, collection of sewage, water serving as a mosquito breeding area, rat harborages, bed bugs and other mediums of disease transmission.

If you are aware of a public health nuisance, source of filth, and/or cause of sickness, please call our office at 701-667-3370 or complete the webform.

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Winter Preparedness

Each year, winter weather affects North Dakotans on a broad scale, ranging from travel inconvenience to death. However, you can benefit from preparation and making sure you are ready for the wintry season the region is notorious for. Winter storms can give advanced warning or occur suddenly, and a proactive approach, versus a reactive one, can help ensure your safety.

Terminology

  • Blizzard Warning – Issued when an expected blizzard event with sustained winds or frequent gusts greater than 35 mph will accompany blowing snow for three or more hours.
  • Blizzard Watch – Issued when conditions are favorable for severe winter weather.
  • Freezing Rain – Precipitation that creates a coating of ice on roads and walkways.
  • Frost/Freeze Warning – Issued when below freezing temperatures are expected.
  • Hypothermia – A health hazard when your body temperature sinks below 96 degrees Fahrenheit.  
  • Sleet – Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground.
  • Wind Chill – The perceived temperature due to weather conditions.
  • Winter Weather Advisory – Issued when snow, blowing snow, ice, sleet or a combination of wintry elements are expected but conditions should not be hazardous enough to meet warning criteria. Use cation when driving.
  • Winter Storm Watches – Issued when conditions are favorable for a significant winter storm event. Heavy sleet, heavy snow, ice storms, blowing snow or a combination of wintry elements are possible.
  • Winter Storm Warning – Issued for significant winter weather events including snow, ice, sleet, blowing snow or a combination of wintry elements. Travel will become difficult or impossible in some situations. Delay travel plans until conditions improve.

Communication Plan

  • List contact numbers such as hospitals/clinics, doctors, schools or service providers, as well as family members and neighbors.
  • Make sure everyone in your family has a copy of the plan and there is a copy in your home
  • Create a list of responsibilities for each person in your family
  • Review and practice the plan

Evacuation

  • Identify a place you can safely warm up should you lose heat in your home
  • Check on friends, neighbors, and relatives, particularly if they are elderly or live alone
  • Have a destination in mind before leaving
  • Dress appropriately for weather conditions

Shelter in Place

  • Choose to stay a room with as few windows as possible
  • Close off unused rooms and stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
  • Cover windows at night
  • Wear enough clothing to remain warm, but avoid sweating
  • Listen to a local radio or television station for updated emergency information
  • Eat and drink water regularly

Vehicle Winter Emergency Kit Suggestions

  • Blankets or sleeping bags
  • Rain gear
  • Extra sets of dry clothing
  • Hats and mittens/gloves
  • High-energy snacks
  • Phone charger
  • Batteries
  • Shovel
  • Sand or kitty litter
  • Windshield scraper
  • Flashlight
  • Chains or rope
  • Tire chains
  • Jumper cables
  • Emergency flares
  • Water
  • First aid kit
  • Spare tire(s)
  • Money

 

When Traveling

  • Listen to weather reports for your area and areas you’ll be traveling through.
  • Let someone know the route you will be taking, your destination and expected arrival time.
  • Look for sleet, freezing rain or drizzle which can create icy conditions.
  • Accelerate slowly and give yourself room to stop.
  • Do not use cruise control in wintry conditions.
  • Don’t crowd snow plows.
  • Consider alternate traveling plans or cancelling your trip.

If Stranded

  • Do not leave your vehicle unless help is visible.
  • Display a trouble sign or indication you require help.
  • Run the vehicle and use the heater occasionally, 10 minutes each hour. Also, turn on vehicle’s lights while the vehicle is running to create more visibility.
  • Keep your vehicle’s exhaust pipe clear.
  • Lightly exercise and try to keep from remaining motionless.
  • If there is more than one person in the vehicle, take turns sleeping.
  • If there is more than one person in the vehicle, huddle together for warmth.
  • Keep hydrated.
  • Avoid overexertion.

Winterize Your Home

  • Insulate pipes, walls, attics
  • Caulking and weather-stripping doors and inserting storm windows or covering windows with plastic
  • Know where your water valves are in the event of a burst pipe
  • Hire a contractor to check ability of your roof to sustain weight from snow/ice
  • Clear rain gutters
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually
  • Install carbon monoxide detectors in central location of every floor of your house, as well as near sleeping areas

Pets

  • Have someone check on your animals if you are unable to be at home for an extended time. 
  • Have registration/adoption papers and vaccinations handy
  • Consider microchipping your pet and enrolling him or her in a recovery database
  • Keep at least 3 days of pet-specific food and water per pet
  • Some melting salts can be harmful to your pet's feet or if it is ingested

Heating Safety

  • Make sure your space heater has an automatic shut-off. If it tips over, it shuts off.
  • Keep wood stove doors closed except for when adding wood/pellets or stoking the fire.
  • Keep snow and ice 3 feet away from fire hydrants.

Frostbite

  • Symptoms include numbness and white or gray-yellow skin that may feel firm or waxy
  • Do not rub the damaged area
  • Remove rings, watches or jewelry, etc.
  • Cover exposed skin
  • Rewarm frostbitten areas with warm, not hot, water
  • Seek medical attention as soon as possible
  • Once inside, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes as this can cause more damage

Hypothermia

  • Symptoms include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness
  • Warm the body from the center
  • Remove wet clothes
  • Wrap the individual in blankets or put on dry clothing

Additional Resources

NOAA Weather Prediction Center

Snowstorms and Extreme Cold 

Winter Storm Safety

Preparing for Winter Weather

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