North Dakota HIV Advisory
Board (NDHAB)
Mission
The mission of the North Dakota HIV Advisory Board (NDHAB) is to ensure that community voices help guide HIV programs, services, and planning led by North Dakota Health and Human Services (NDHHS).
NDHAB brings together people from across North Dakota who are impacted by HIV, including individuals of different ages, gender identities, races and ethnicities, sexual orientations, HIV statuses, and lived or professional experiences. This diverse representation helps ensure that statewide decisions reflect the real needs, strengths, and experiences of communities affected by HIV.
The advisory board works to:
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Advise NDHHS on planning and delivering HIV services and prevention efforts that reach all communities.
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Provide a strong, consistent community voice in decisions about current and future HIV programs.
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Offer feedback on how effectively NDHHS partners with communities and responds to local needs.
About
NDHAB meets quarterly for two hours, either virtually via Zoom or in person. Meetings include program updates, shared learning opportunities, review of materials, and discussion of ideas and plans from NDHHS staff. Members are encouraged to ask questions, share feedback, and suggest improvements.
Board members also help shape the work of NDHAB by bringing forward new topics, participating in committees, and supporting ongoing improvements to how the board operates. NDHAB is designed to be a meaningful, collaborative space where community members can engage directly with NDHHS and help strengthen North Dakota’s response to HIV.
“Together, Shine Bright & Live and the North Dakota HIV Advisory Board help turn lived experience into statewide action, ensuring HIV policies and programs truly reflect the people they are meant to serve.”
Why this partnership is important
Shine Bright & Live’s partnership with the North Dakota HIV Advisory Board reflects a shared commitment to community-led solutions and lived experience in North Dakota’s HIV response. Through this partnership, Shine Bright & Live helps elevate the voices of people most impacted by HIV, especially those in rural, underserved, and often overlooked communities, into statewide planning and decision-making.
By connecting community insight with state systems, this collaboration strengthens trust, improves communication, and supports HIV services and prevention efforts that are responsive and grounded in real experiences. Together, Shine Bright & Live and NDHAB work to ensure that policies and programs are not only effective on paper, but meaningful and accessible in everyday life across North Dakota.
