Boards, Councils and Committees

Medium
Medium

Early Childhood Services Advisory Board

What the Board Does

  • Gives advice when we review child care rules
  • Reviews our proposed changes and shares recommendations
  • Suggests ways to improve or simplify child care rules while still keeping children safe
  • The board’s goal is to support safe, high-quality child care and remove unnecessary barriers for providers

Membership

  • 7 appointed members
  • Members usually serve for 4 years
  • No more than two members finish their terms in the same year
Medium

Center child care provider – eastern ND

  • Rhoda Elmi – Jasmin Child Care and Preschool, Fargo
  • Term: 8/1/2024 – 7/31/2027

Center child care provider – western ND

  • Kirsten Hopp – Bottineau Children's Academy, Bottineau
  • Term: 3/21/2025 – 7/31/2029

Family child care provider/group in a home provider – statewide

  • Linda Schroeder – West Fargo
  • Term: 8/1/2024 – 7/31/2028

Group child care provider – eastern ND

  • Shelby Short – Dunseith
  • Term: 8/1/2024 – 7/31/2028

Group child care provider – western ND

  • Ashlynn Gafford - Pirates Den Daycare LLC, Tioga
  • Term: 9/29/2025 – 7/31/2028

Preschool provider – statewide

  • Catherine Heyd – Lamoure Church of the Nazarene Preschool, LaMoure
  • Term: 6/1/2022 – 7/31/2026

School age provider – statewide

  • Tania Zerr – YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties School Age Learning Centers, Fargo
  • Term: 6/1/2022 – 7/31/2026

November 20, 2025

December 18, 2024 

June 28, 2023

Medium

Child Care Services Advisory Committee

Section 3 of House Bill No. 1119 (2025) established the Child Care Services Advisory Committee.

What the Committee Does

  • Reviews and provides input on the laws, administrative rules and the Department of Health and Human Services policies relating to child care licensing
  • Provides periodic status updates in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services on proposed licensing rules
  • Will provide a final report to the legislative management by June 30, 2026
    • The Committee will dissolve after providing the final report to the legislative management
Medium

Legislative Members

  • Representative Macy Bolinske
  • Representative Brandy Pyle
  • Senator Todd Beard
  • Senator Kyle Davison

Citizen Members

  • Ms. Debra Beard - Group Child Care Provider, Williston
  • Ms. Kenzi Brown - Coyote Pups Learning Den, Williston
  • Ms. Keely Ihry - Child Care Aware of North Dakota
  • Ms. Verla Jung - Child Care Aware of North Dakota
  • Ms. Kari Kapp - Group Child Care Provider, Jamestown
  • Ms. Lorrie Thoemke -YMCA of the Northern Sky, Fargo
  • Ms. Kaila Wentz - Multiple Licensed Provider, Bismarck

November 20, 2025

Medium

Questions? Contact Us

Early Childhood
North Dakota Health and Human Services
600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 325
Bismarck, ND 58505-0250

Phone: (701) 328-2115
Toll-Free: (800) 997-8516
Relay ND TTY: 711
Email: dhsec@nd.gov