Specifications include, but are not limited to: The state of North Dakota, acting through its North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (NDDHHS), Community Engagement Unit (CEU), (STATE) is soliciting proposals for a vendor to develop a detailed plan of action (strategic plan) that will encompass goals and objectives for reducing health inequities and disparities in North Dakota. The vendor will create two strategic plans - one to coordinate the work of the CEU and one for the work of the Health Equity Committee, which is managed by the CEU. The CEUs strategic plan must emanate from the strategic plan of the bigger umbrella, NDDHHS (See Attachment 5 – Public Health Division Strategic Plan). This should include goals and objectives for reducing inequities and disparities in areas such as access to care, injury, etc. In addition, the strategic plan should align with the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) standards and domains. Thus, the goals and objectives must include labels corresponding to the PHAB domain being addressed. The strategic plan must be developed on current data as well as input from the community. This is to aid in identifying and addressing populations at a greater risk for poor health outcomes. Additionally, the strategic plan should allow for review and revision annually to assist the CEU in communicating with partners, setting direction, motivating employees, making decisions, determining priorities and budgets, monitoring progress and impact and improving organizational systems and processes. The CEU is focused on populations such as African Americans, American Indian/Alaska Native, Aging or Elderly, Homeless, LGBTQ2S+, New American/Foreign-born/Immigrants (NFI), Persons with Disabilities, Rural, Youth, who are disproportionately affected by socioeconomic issues. To help obtain a better understanding of the needs of these populations, efforts have been invested into establishing advisory boards, including the American/Foreign-born/Immigrants (NFI) Advisory Board, Youth Advisory Board and the BeYou Board, which is focused on the LGBTQ2S+ community. Members of these boards tend to serve as liaisons between the communities they represent and the CEU. Thus, the strategic plans should include strategies to evaluate the operations of these boards as they engage with the NDDHHS, other state agencies, Local Public Health, health care facilities and other community-based organizations. The Health Equity Committee strategic plan should include input from the current committee. The strategic plan should consist of goals and objectives for reducing inequities and disparities in North Dakota, including other agencies to take action. The strategic plan must be built on current data as well as input from the community. This is to aid in identifying and addressing populations that are at greater risk for poor health outcomes. Additionally, the strategic plan should allow for review and revision annually to assist the CEU in communicating with partners, setting direction, motivating employees, making decisions, determining priorities and budgets, monitoring progress and impact and improving organizational systems and processes. This will be the first time a strategic plan is being completed on a statewide level.
