This State Plan attempts to be a problem-oriented and needs-identification guide for addressing current and future challenges that will likely affect the provision of genetic services in North Dakota . Recommendations are presented as starting points for the development of future solutions. The plan should be viewed as a "work in progress" which will be modified periodically over the coming years to reflect new findings and priorities.

Needs Assessment Process

The State Genetics Plan for North Dakota is based upon a needs assessment and planning process conducted over a 21 month period from October, 2005 to July, 2007. The goal of the needs assessment was to identify and define genetic health service priorities for North Dakota . The needs assessment process collected both qualitative and quantitative data using a variety of formats. The process included: reviews of relevant literature, including "Guidelines for Clinical genetic services for the Public's Health (CORN); reviews of other State Genetics Plans; informant interviews of key personnel within the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and non-profit advocacy organizations, as well as practitioners and parents; results of surveys from focus groups of social workers, teachers, and fetal alcohol syndrome task force members from 2001; the results of a survey developed and disseminated to health and human service professionals in North Dakota in 2005-2006 which examined their perceptions of clinical genetic services; and results of patient evaluations of clinical genetic services collected over the course of one year in 2005. An attempt was made to survey community members on the four federally recognized Indian reservations in North Dakota for their perception of clinical genetic services. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the survey was developed, but not implemented. All of this data was shared with the Genetic Advisory Committee, as well as the State Genetics Plan Committee, to formulate goals and objectives for developing the State Genetics Plan.

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