Boards, Councils and Committees

Early Childhood Services Advisory Board

What the board does:

  • Gives advice when we review early childhood licensing rules.
  • Reviews our proposed changes and shares recommendations.
  • Suggests ways to improve or simplify rules while still keeping children safe.
  • The board’s goal is to support safe, high-quality 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.

Center childcare provider – eastern ND

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

Center childcare provider – western ND

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

Family childcare provider/group in a home provider – statewide

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

Group childcare provider – eastern ND

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

Group childcare 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

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