Section III. E.2.b.iii.a. MCH Epidemiology Workforce

The Health Statistics and Performance Section (HSP) (formerly known as the Office of the State Epidemiologist) serves as the data and epidemiology hub for non-infectious disease data, some infectious disease analytics and surveillance, quality improvement and performance management for the North Dakota Department of Health. Within this section are 21 full-time equivalents (FTE), five full-time non-permanent employees, 2 part time non-permanent positions, 2 contract positions 1 Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Fellow and 2 graduate assistants. The four divisions within the OSE include:  Surveillance and Data Management (SDM) and Special Projects and Health Analytics (SPHA). The SDM division is tasked with the acquisition and management of data and hosts data sources such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), State System Development Initiative (SSDI), Adult Tobacco Survey (ATS), and others. The SPHA serves as the analytical arm of the NDDoH, providing statistical support and policy analysis to programs and department leadership. The Systems and Performance Division is charged with managing the Primary Care Office and supporting the Quality Improvement and Performance Management tasks of the NDDoH. Finally, the NDDoH Division of Vital Records serves as the federally and state mandated centralized registry for all North Dakota vital statistics, such as birth, deaths and marriages.

The combined efforts of these four Divisions provide the MCH epidemiology capacity of North Dakota’s Title V program, with the SSDI Coordinator and the SPHA Director serving on the maternal and child health (MCH) leadership team. Approximately two FTEs are dedicated to MCH efforts split across staff within the HSP.