Child Care and Development Fund

CCDF dollars enhance the quality of child care for all children by:

• Protecting the health and safety of children in child care,
• Promoting continuity of access to subsidy for income-eligible families,
• Informing parents and the general public about child care choices available to them,
• Improving the overall quality of early learning and afterschool programs.

Additionally, North Dakota uses CCDF to invest in quality by:

• Building the skills and qualifications of the teacher workforce
• Supporting child care programs to achieve higher standards
• Providing consumer education to help parents select child care that meets their families’ needs

To receive CCDF funds, states must establish requirements for health and safety standards in 11 areas. All licensed and self-declared providers in North Dakota are eligible to receive CCDF funding and must follow these standards:

1. Prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immunization)
2. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleep practices
3. Administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental consent
4. Prevention and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions
5. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic
6. Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment
7. Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a man-caused event
   • The planning at the child care provider level must include procedures for evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place and lockdown, as well as training and drills for staff and volunteers, communications and reunification with families, continuity of operations, and accommodations for infants and toddlers, children with disabilities and children with chronic medical conditions.
8. Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio-contaminants
9. Appropriate precautions in transporting children (if applicable)
10. Pediatric first-aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
11. Recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect

To assure health and safety standards are being met by child care providers, Licensing Specialists will conduct both announced and unannounced monitoring visits annually.

Comprehensive background checks are also required as a basic safeguard to protect the safety of children in child care and minimize children’s risk of abuse and neglect.

Information on how to access resources regarding provider health and safety information, help in finding available early childhood programs and more.

• Child Care Development Fund Fact Sheet (Revised September 2021)

The CCDF State Plan allows states and territories to describe their implementation of the CCDF program. It is organized into the following sections: 

1. Define CCDF Leadership and Coordination with Relevant Systems and Funding Sources 
2. Promote Family Engagement through Outreach and Consumer Education 
3. Provide Stable Child Care Financial Assistance to Families 
4. Ensure Equal Access to Child Care for Low-Income Children 
5. Establish Standards and Monitoring Processes to Ensure the Health and Safety of Child Care Settings, including comprehensive background checks
6. Recruit and Retain a Qualified and Effective Child Care Workforce 
7. Support Continuous Quality Improvement 
8. Ensure Grantee Program Integrity and Accountability 

Every three years, North Dakota’s HHS Early Childhood Section develops the triennial state plan in consultation with key partners. 

Prior to being submitted at the end of June every third year, North Dakota holds an open meeting to gather public comment.    

After the plan is submitted, it is reviewed by the regional office and the Office of Child Care (OCC).   

If any areas of non-compliance (deficiencies) are found, the state works with the regional team to make the necessary corrections to ensure all CCDF requirements are being met.  To be compliant, changes may need to be made to law, rule, policy, or procedures. 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) makes approved plans publicly available to many users including members of Congress, Congressional committees, state and local child care administrators, advocacy groups, researchers, and the general public.

Current Plan

Amendment 3 - October 2023

• 2022-2024 ND Child Care and Development Fund State Plan
• Amendment 3 Approval Letter

Previous Versions

Amendment 2 - January 2023

• 2022-2024 ND Child Care and Development Fund State Plan
• Amendment 2 Approval Letter

Amendment 1 - August 2022

• 2022-2024 ND Child Care and Development Fund State Plan
• Amendment 1 Approval Letter

Conditional Approval - December 2021

•  2022-2024 ND Child Care and Development Fund State Plan
• Conditional Approval Letter 

Public Comment - June 2021

• 2022-2024 CCDF State Plan Public Comments and Responses

Included in the report is the annual number of serious injuries and deaths that occurred in CCDF eligible licensed and licensed-exempt programs over a 3-year period. A serious injury is defined as any accident or injury which occurs in the early childhood setting or as a result of care provided in the early childhood setting and results in medical treatment. Medical treatment is considered any treatment beyond basic First Aid.

The annual total instances of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect that occurred in CCDF eligible licensed and license-exempt programs over a 3-year period is also reported.

Licensed Child Care Providers

• Licensed Family Child Care: Family providers may care for up to 7 children, of which no more than 3 children are under the age of 24 months, plus two additional school-age children.
• Licensed Group Child Care: Group child care programs may be licensed in a home or a facility. Groups may be licensed for up to 30 children, with the actual license capacity determined by available space, staff to child ratios, and sometimes local ordinances.
• Licensed Child Care Center: Child care centers are licensed for at least 19 children in a facility, with the actual license capacity determined by available space, staff to child ratios, and sometimes local ordinances.
• Licensed Preschool Programs: Preschools provide educational and socialization experiences for children age 2 years to kindergarten and may operate sessions for no more than 3 hours per day.
• Licensed School-Age Programs: School-age programs are licensed for at least 19 children in a facility, with the actual license capacity determined by available space, staff to child ratios, and sometimes local ordinances. School-age programs offer services before and after school, and sometimes on school holidays and through the summer months
• Multiple License Facility: This type of program has more than one type of license, such as a center and preschool.

License-Exempt Child Care Providers

• Self-Declared Providers: Care is provided in a private residence for 5 or fewer children, of which no more than 3 children are under the age of 24 months. These providers must meet some minimal standards, including a background check and basic health and safety training, are inspected prior to annual approval, and receive one additional monitoring visit per year. Self-declared providers are eligible to participate in the Child Care Assistance Program and the USDA Food program.