North Dakota Domestic Violence Coordination Framework

DV response coordination model for agencies and advocacy groups operating in North Dakota.

North Dakota Regional Coordination Overview

Context: North Dakota Service Environment

North Dakota’s domestic violence service environment is characterized by large rural and frontier areas, regional service hubs, and multi-county coverage zones. Effective coordination typically depends on structured regional partnerships, clear integration steps among agencies, and alignment with statewide coalitions and networks.

This page outlines operational models and options for rural and regional support systems, practical steps for integrating agencies into coordinated responses, and collaboration opportunities that can strengthen service continuity across the state.

Rural and Regional Support Systems

Given dispersed populations and limited on-site resources in many counties, agencies in North Dakota frequently rely on regional service configurations. These rely on shared protocols, predictable points of contact, and agreed escalation pathways between local and regional partners.

Regional Service Hub Models

Regional hub models in North Dakota often revolve around a larger community or multi-service organization that anchors coordination for surrounding counties. The hub maintains core functions while outlying partners contribute local access and context.

• Lead Agency Hub – One agency serves as the primary regional coordinator, managing intake routing, case assignment, data coordination, and interagency convenings.
• Shared-Function Hub – Multiple agencies divide hub responsibilities (e.g., one manages housing navigation, another oversees legal referrals, another handles data reporting).
• Issue-Specific Hub – A regional program is designated as the coordination point for a specific domain, such as legal services, child welfare intersection, or culturally specific services.

Multi-County Coverage Arrangements

Multi-county coverage arrangements support rural communities that cannot sustain individual stand-alone programs. Arrangements are more effective when documented in written agreements and accompanied by clear communication pathways.

• Primary Coverage Counties – Counties in which a regional agency provides full service coverage (advocacy, coordination, and systems navigation), often with regular in-person presence.
• Satellite Coverage Counties – Counties receiving periodic in-person services, supplemented with remote support and local partner touchpoints (e.g., human services zones, health centers, faith-based partners).
• Border and Cross-State Areas – Locations near other states or tribal jurisdictions, where coordination with out-of-state or cross-jurisdictional partners may be required.

Rural Access and Connectivity Considerations

The effectiveness of rural and regional support systems is influenced by transportation, technology, and communications infrastructure. Agencies often adopt flexible, layered approaches to increase reach.

• Rotating Presence – Scheduled days in specific communities (courthouses, human service zone offices, community centers) to ensure predictable access to services and coordination.
• Local Intermediaries – Designated contacts in rural communities (e.g., public health nurses, social workers, tribal programs, law enforcement liaisons) who understand referral protocols and regional points of contact.
• Low-Bandwidth Communication Options – Phone-based coordination protocols and documented alternative channels for areas where broadband connectivity is limited or disrupted.

Agency Integration Steps

Agencies entering or restructuring within North Dakota’s coordinated response systems benefit from an intentional integration process. The following step-neutral sequence can be used to plan participation in regional networks, coalitions, and cross-agency protocols.

1. Baseline Mapping and Role Definition

Initial integration work focuses on clarifying agency roles, geographic scope, and existing relationship points with other systems.

• Service Footprint Mapping – Document which counties, tribal areas, and communities an agency serves, noting types of services and any limits (e.g., hours, eligibility, language capacity).
• Existing Partnership Inventory – Identify current collaborations with shelters, legal aid, human service zones, tribal governments, health systems, and law enforcement.
• Intersection Mapping – Outline how the agency intersects with courts, child welfare, housing authorities, and behavioral health providers, including any existing protocols or referral forms.

2. Participation in Regional and Statewide Structures

Agencies integrating into the North Dakota ecosystem typically align with existing coalition and network structures rather than building parallel systems.

• Coalition Engagement – Connect with applicable coalitions and workgroups focused on domestic violence, sexual violence, and related issues to align priorities and participate in shared planning.
• Regional Coordination Meetings – Join or help convene recurring multi-agency meetings at the regional level with clear agendas, decision-tracking, and follow-up mechanisms.
• Cross-Jurisdictional Liaison Roles – Designate an internal coordinator tasked with maintaining regular communication with specific partners (e.g., tribal programs, rural hospitals, neighboring state agencies).

3. Development of Integration Documents

Integration is strengthened by written materials that clarify expectations, workflows, and responsibilities across organizations.

• Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) – Define scope of cooperation, referral pathways, data-sharing parameters, and conflict-resolution processes between agencies.
• Referral and Triage Protocols – Establish standardized intake questions, decision trees, and routing procedures for cases involving multiple systems or jurisdictions.
• Role and Escalation Charts – Visual tools that show contact points, coverage by county or region, and the sequence for escalating complex or multi-system cases.

4. Data and Information Coordination

Integration steps should include alignment on what information is shared, how it is transmitted, and what coordination data agencies collect for planning and reporting.

• Minimum Data Elements – Agree on basic non-identifying data needed for regional coordination (e.g., service utilization, referral volumes, waitlist metrics, geographic patterns).
• Secure Communication Channels – Use agreed-upon channels for exchanging coordination information (e.g., secure email, encrypted case coordination tools) that fit agency capacity.
• Aggregate Reporting Practices – Align on periodic aggregate reports for funders, boards, and coalitions to inform regional resource planning and gap identification.

5. Internal Alignment and Training

Internal processes need to support external integration efforts for consistency and sustainability.

• Staff Orientation to Regional Protocols – Incorporate regional coordination procedures, contact lists, and MOUs into onboarding and regular training.
• Documentation Standards – Establish how coordination activities (case conferences, cross-agency referrals, warm handoffs) are recorded in internal systems.
• Feedback and Adjustment Loops – Set up internal mechanisms to collect staff observations about coordination challenges and feed these into regional meetings for adjustment.

Collaboration Opportunities in North Dakota

Collaboration opportunities in North Dakota often emerge at the intersections of housing, health, legal systems, and tribal and non-tribal jurisdictions. Agencies can use structured collaboration models to expand capacity and reduce duplication in rural and regional contexts.

Cross-Sector Collaboration Models

Cross-sector partnerships are central to maintaining coverage in sparsely populated areas and ensuring continuity of support in regional hubs.

• Justice System Collaboration – Coordination with law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts focusing on protocols for information flow, remote options for participation, and predictable contact points.
• Health and Behavioral Health Collaboration – Agreements with hospitals, clinics, and mental health or substance use providers detailing referral processes, warm handoff practices, and shared training.
• Housing and Homelessness Collaboration – Partnerships with housing authorities, shelter providers, and homelessness response systems to align eligibility criteria, waitlist management, and prioritization criteria.

Tribal and Non-Tribal Collaboration

North Dakota includes multiple tribal nations whose programs may operate under different structures and authorities. Effective collaboration requires consistent engagement, mutual recognition of roles, and clear channels for case coordination.

• Designated Tribal Liaisons – Identify specific individuals within non-tribal agencies to serve as ongoing points of contact for each tribal partner, and vice versa.
• Joint Planning Sessions – Periodic meetings between tribal and non-tribal partners to review coordination processes, referral patterns, and shared training priorities.
• Cross-Jurisdictional Protocols – Written guidelines for handling situations that involve overlapping jurisdictions, including coordination with federal partners when relevant.

Regional Training and Capacity-Building

Joint training and capacity-building activities support consistent practices across large rural areas and can be designed to minimize travel burdens.

• Regional Training Calendars – Shared calendars for in-person and virtual sessions to help agencies coordinate attendance and avoid scheduling conflicts.
• Shared Curriculum Development – Collaborative development of training modules relevant to North Dakota’s rural and regional context (e.g., distance coordination, cross-county referrals).
• Peer Learning Groups – Structured peer groups for coordinators or advocates across multiple agencies to exchange practice insights and refine protocols.

Funding and Resource Collaboration

Pooling resources and aligning funding proposals can help sustain coverage for low-population areas and specialized services.

• Consortia for Grant Applications – Multi-agency proposals that document regional coverage, shared governance, and complementary services rather than overlapping ones.
• Shared Staff Positions – Jointly funded positions (e.g., regional coordinator, data specialist, outreach worker) with clear hosting and supervision arrangements.
• Resource-Sharing Agreements – Agreements allowing agencies to share training funds, transportation support, or technology tools that improve regional communication.

Operational Communication Practices

Consistent, predictable communication practices underpin all collaboration efforts and are particularly important across long distances and in frontier regions.

• Standardized Contact Directories – Regularly updated lists that include primary and backup contacts for each partnering agency, organized by county or region.
• Structured Meeting Agendas – Recurring agenda items such as regional coverage updates, referral trends, and system-level barriers, with action items tracked over time.
• Incident-Driven Coordination – Pre-defined processes for convening ad hoc coordination meetings when significant system challenges are identified, such as major service disruptions or policy shifts.