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
Compensation
Board members can get reimbursed for travel and other meeting expenses. If a member has to hire a substitute child care provider to attend a meeting, they can also be reimbursed up to $100 per day for that cost.
Advisory Board Members
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
- Kathaleen Busche – Hazen
- Term: 6/1/2022 – 7/31/2025
Now accepting applications for term 8/1/25-7/31/29. To be considered, complete the ECS Advisory Board application and submit it to dhsec@nd.gov no later than Friday, June 6, 2025.
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
Meeting Resources
December 18, 2024
June 28, 2023
June 23, 2022
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