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What is the Child Care and Development Fund

The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act is the law that created the Child Care and Development Fund. States, territories, and tribes administer the program.

In North Dakota, the Child Care and Development Fund helps families pay for child care through the Child Care Assistance Program. It supports more than 4,100 children from 2,600 families who qualify based on their income. This makes child care more affordable for families as they work toward financial stability.

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The Child Care and Development Fund supports better child care for families across North Dakota. Whether your child goes to a child care center, a home-based provider, or an afterschool program, this program works behind the scenes to make sure care is safe and high-quality.

How It Helps Your Family

  • Keeps kids safe and healthy while in child care
  • Helps families who qualify get help paying for child care
  • Supports programs that help your child learn and grow
  • Trained teachers and caregivers to better support your child’s learning
  • Helping child care programs meet higher standards for safety, learning, and quality
  • Giving parents helpful tools and information to choose the best care for their family

When your child is in care, their safety is our top priority. That’s why all licensed and self-declared child care providers must follow health and safety standards set by the Child Care and Development Fund.

Health and Safety
Child care providers must follow rules to keep children safe and healthy. These rules cover 11 important areas, including:

  • Stopping the spread of illness
  • Safe sleep practices
  • Giving medicine safely
  • Knowing what to do for food allergies
  • Keeping buildings and playgrounds safe
  • Preventing child abuse and shaken baby syndrome
  • Having emergency plans
  • Storing harmful materials safely
  • Keeping kids safe during transportation
  • Getting trained in CPR and first aid for children
  • Learning how to spot and report child abuse or neglect

Background Checks for All Providers
To ensure a safe, trusted environment, all staff must pass a full background check before working with children.

Checking In to Keep Kids Safe
Licensing Specialists visit child care providers throughout the year to make sure they are following health and safety rules.

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State Plan

Every three years, states that receive Child Care and Development Fund money must submit a State Plan. The plan is an application that explains how we will use the funds to support child care.

The State Plan also gives us a chance to show what we are doing to support low-income families and children, including the services and activities that make child care more affordable, safe, and effective for everyone.

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The plan is organized into 10 sections:
1. Program Administration
2. Child and Family Eligibility and Enrollment and Continuity of Care
3. Child Care Affordability
4. Parental Choice, Equal Access, Payment Rates, and Payment Practices
5. Health and Safety of Child Care Settings
6. Support for a Skilled, Qualified, and Compensated Child Care Workforce
7. Quality Improvement Activities
8. Lead Agency Coordination and Partnerships to Support Service Delivery
9. Family Outreach and Consumer Education
10. Program Integrity and Accountability

How the State Plan Is Created
Every three years, the Early Childhood and Economic Assistance sections develop the triennial state plan in consultation with key partners. 

Public Input Matters
Before the plan is submitted, a public meeting is held. This gives families, providers, and community members a chance to share comments.

Review and Approval
Once the plan is submitted, it is reviewed by:

  • The Regional Office
  • The Office of Child Care

If they find any areas that don’t meet federal rules, we work with them to make the needed changes. This may involve updating laws, rules, policies, or procedures to meet requirements.

Who Can See the Plan?
After approval, the plan is made public by the Administration for Children and Families. It is shared with:

  • Members of Congress
  • State and local child care leaders
  • Advocacy groups and researchers
  • The general public, including parents like you

Want to learn more about how North Dakota’s child care system is doing?

Visit our Data and Reporting page to see important reports. These include:

  • Statewide data on serious injuries, deaths, and confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect in child care
  • Quality Progress Reports that show the progress on how quality funds were spent
  • Spending Reports that explain how the funds are used

These reports help keep the system transparent and accountable, so families like yours can stay informed.

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Reports

Want to learn more about how North Dakota’s child care system is doing?

Visit our Data and Reporting page to see important reports. These include:

  • Statewide data on serious injuries, deaths, and confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect in child care
  • Quality Progress Reports that show the progress on how quality funds were spent
  • Spending Reports that explain how the funds are used

These reports help keep the system transparent and accountable, so families like yours can stay informed.

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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