Early Childhood Services In North Dakota

Quality Initiatives

The Early Childhood Services program of the N.D. Department of Human Services receives several federal and private foundation grants that fund the following quality early care and education projects:

Accreditation Scholarship Program

The Accreditation Scholarship Program provides funding for child care programs including family providers (NAFDC), centers (NAEYC) and school age programs (NSACA) for the accreditation process. In addition, facilities completing the process can receive up to $500 in grant funds.

Apprenticeship Project

Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, this project provides intensive training and mentorship opportunities for early childhood professionals, which leads to national certification. Seven apprenticeship sponsor sites were created and participants include 30 registered apprentices and 23 qualified journey teachers.

CareCheck Registry

CareCheck, a voluntary child care provider background registry, includes about 1200 providers. In 1991, during the 52nd Legislative Assembly, CareCheck legislation was introduced, passed, and became part of the Early Childhood Services Chapter 50-11.1 under NDCC Section 50-11.1-06.2.

Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R)

CCR&R began in 1989 by serving the Grand Forks and Fargo communities. Today, CCR&R serves the entire state. Authorized in Century Code, the program refers parents to licensed providers, develops and conducts provider training, and provides resources and assistance to help providers meet their business needs.

Child Development Associate (CDA) Scholarship Program

The CDA Scholarship Program provides funding for individuals who have achieved their Child Development Associate certificate. Applicants can receive up to $500 towards costs incurred in obtaining their certificate.

Growing Futures Plan

• Contains goals and objectives for North Dakota and lays a foundation for a comprehensive professional development plan that is voluntary.
• Was developed by early care and education stakeholders. Caregivers, educators, Child Care Resource & Referral, and Head Start professionals drafted it based upon comments and issues identified at public stakeholder meetings attended by providers and others interested in early childhood issues.
• Includes the concept of a quality rating system, which has yet to be developed. NOTE: The Department of Human Services has no plans to link child care subsidies to the quality rating system.
• (A State Plan) must accompany the state's 2007 Child Care Development Fund Grant Application and is also required for North Dakota to receive federal funding for child care assistance and early childhood services.
• Has helped North Dakota acquire and may continue to help the state obtain private funding for early childhood professional training and development.
• Growing Futures: North Dakota Early Childhood Professional Development State Plan (117kb pdf) (Created July 2006)
• Slides: Overview of Growing Futures: ND Early Childhood Professional Development Plan (53kb pdf) (November 2006)

First Children's Finance Of North Dakota

Launched in 2004 in partnership with the Minnesota nonprofit, The Development Corporation for Children, this program provides low-interest loans to family child care providers, child care centers and early education program. For more information contact Child Care Resource and Referral.

Infant Toddler Enrichment Program

Launched in 1993, with funding from the Bush Foundation of St. Paul, Minn., this initiative has enabled North Dakota to use the WestEd Curriculum to provide ongoing training to providers caring for infants and toddlers.

Regional Early Childhood Services Supervisor

Regional Early Childhood Services Supervisor positions were established in 1998 to improve communication and consistency within the Early Childhood Services licensing system. The State Administrator of Early Childhood Services convenes the meetings with the Early Childhood Services Supervisors.

State Early Childhood Services Team

State Early Childhood Services Team consisting of the Regional Early Childhood Supervisors, Child Care Resource and Referral Directors, County Licensers (four elected by their peers), County Directors (four appointed by the County Directors Association) and the State Administrator of Early Childhood Services, was established in October of 1999 to 1) improve communication within the Early Childhood Services delivery system; 2) identify challenges and issues related to Early Childhood Services and to 3) enhance the Early Childhood Services delivery system. The State Administrator of Early Childhood Services convenes the meetings in Bismarck..

 

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