The second annual North Dakota Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services Conference is taking place in Fargo this week.
Laura Anderson is assistant director of the behavioral health division at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. She says over 800 individuals are registered for the conference.
Anderson says the conference is an opportunity for professionals in the fields of behavioral health and child welfare to get together and learn from speakers and to network with each other.
She says the speakers are discussing a wide variety of topics.
"Anything from adolescent substance use to primary care and behavioral health integration, to impact of poverty, to learning more about the new 988 suicide and crisis lifeline which is the change that happened nationally. So there's a lot of different options over the next three days."
Anderson says participants will also discuss challenges facing the state, such as the current work force shortage.
The conference runs through Thursday.