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Dakota Download Governor Burgum's Weekly Update - September 7, 2018

Governor, First Lady host second Recovery Reinvented

Gov. Doug Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum on Wednesday hosted the second Recovery Reinvented, a daylong event at the Fargo Civic Center focused on ways to reinvent recovery through eliminating the stigma of addiction, educating on the brain science of addiction and empowering recovery support in communities.

They were joined by national and state addiction recovery experts and more than 1,200 people attending in person or online from throughout the state, including people in recovery and their families, health care providers and administrators, business and community leaders, faith-based organizations, Native American community leaders and educators.

“North Dakota is a small state full of committed, caring people, and we can be a national leader in terms of how we reinvent recovery," Gov. Burgum said. "Our focus today is turning dialogue into action. We’re building on the foundation from last year’s Recovery Reinvented, providing the knowledge, skills and tools for everyone to be partners in accelerating the recovery movement in communities across North Dakota.”

In an effort to promote grassroots advocacy across the state, the Washington, D.C.-based Addiction Policy Forum announced a new state chapter to be launched in North Dakota. The chapter will focus on the implementation of the Addiction Policy Forum’s eight strategic focus areas to ensure long-term progress against substance use at the national, state and local levels. Jessica Hulsey Nickel, President & CEO of the Addiction Policy Forum, shared that Paul Stroklund of Minot will serve as the state chairman for the chapter. Stroklund, who serves on the Minot Mayor’s Committee on Addiction and the North Dakota Behavioral Health Planning Council, is a recovery advocate and parent of a child impacted by the disease of addiction.

Governor, First Lady join Dr. Drew on panel at Behavioral Health Conference

Gov. Burgum and First Lady Helgaas Burgum participated in a panel discussion on Thursday at the North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division's Behavioral Health Conference in Fargo. Celebrity physician and media personality Dr. Drew Pinsky also joined the panel, which centered around eliminating the shame and stigma of addition.

The conference aims to support individuals and professionals in developing, supporting and providing a well-functioning behavioral health system. Behavioral health is one of the administration's five strategic initiatives for North Dakota.

Other programming during the conference focused on topics including harm reduction, marijuana, community recovery support services, substance abuse prevention, effective peer support, pain management without medication, LGBTQ+ people and more.

Lt. Gov. attends grand opening of Good Road Recovery Center

Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford on Wednesday attended the grand opening of the Good Road Recovery Center in Bismarck, a 16-bed inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center that will serve enrolled members of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

The MHA Nation, which has nearly 1,500 members in the Bismarck-Mandan area, was solely responsible for funding the $24.8 million, 20,114-square-foot facility, MHA Nation Chairman Mark Fox said. The facility has five buildings, including separate male and female residential units and an administration center with group therapy rooms, as well as outdoor features including an amphitheater.

Sanford congratulated the Three Affiliated Tribes on the completed project, saying it will make a difference by breaking the cycle of addiction, bringing families together and letting communities grow closer and stronger.

Sanford honors Native American Hall of Honor inductees

Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford on Thursday delivered remarks at the 2018 induction ceremony for the North Dakota Native American Hall of Honor at the Heritage Center in Bismarck, highlighting the inductees' positive impact on their communities.

The Hall of Honor, a partnership between the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, State Historical Society of North Dakota and State Historical Society Foundation, recognizes Native Americans who have gone above and beyond in representing their tribe and culture. The program recognizes traditional and contemporary achievements in four categories: arts and culture, athletics, leadership and veterans.

This year's inductees were the 1941-42 Elbowood Warriors Basketball Team from MHA Nation for athletics; Betty L. Gress from MHA Nation for leadership; and Patrick Moses Gourneau of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, also for leadership. Learn more about the inductees here.

First Lady, Governor speak to tribal leaders and youth at summit

Gov. Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum addressed United Tribes Technical College’s Tribal Leaders Summit & Trade Show on Thursday at the Bismarck Event Center, meeting with tribal leaders and young people participating in the event.

The theme of this year’s summit was “Leadership Educating the Next Generation.” Gov. Burgum spoke about a number of efforts to strengthen state-tribal partnerships – one of the administration’s five strategic initiatives – while Helgaas Burgum delivered the day’s keynote address, sharing the story of her own struggle with alcohol addiction and 16 years of recovery and how important it is to eliminate the stigma of the disease of addiction and engage young people as the leaders of today.

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