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State begins statewide review of childcare licensing; providers asked for feedback
Summary
DHHS convened the childcare services advisory committee to align licensing with federal CCDBG rules, ask providers about rule simplification, and gather statewide input; the Office of Childcare will present compiled provider feedback at a follow-up meeting.
BISMARCK — North Dakota—s Department of Health and Human Services reported Feb. 19 that a newly convened Childcare Services Advisory Committee has begun soliciting statewide input to modernize and streamline childcare licensing rules in line with federal Child Care and Development Block Grant requirements.
Kaye Larson, DHHS director for early childhood, said the committee met beginning Nov. 20 and has reviewed federal CCDBG guidance, the updated Caring for Our Children national health and safety standards, and state licensing types. North Dakota currently has seven rule books and nine provider types (family/group homes, centers, preschools, school-age programs and self-declared in-home providers) and DHHS conducts an annual inspection and a separate unannounced visit for licensed programs.
To capture provider experience, DHHS and the contracted technical-assistance provider hosted two virtual sessions and multiple in-person meetings, and ran a monthlong survey that closed Feb. 13. Larson said the department will present the compiled provider feedback to the committee on Feb. 19 and that recommendations for rule changes or clarifications could be presented for consideration in upcoming rule-making or legislative proposals.
The committee also heard that required training is specified in federal/state guidance: new staff must complete pediatric first-aid/CPR and other mandated health-and-safety topics in a preservice period, with additional annual training and core-competency options after required hours are met.
Legislative Council staff also confirmed a parallel program evaluation is underway to provide data-driven analysis of licensing outcomes; that evaluation is expected to report to the committee by Aug. 1.
Why it matters: Licensing rules affect provider capacity and the supply of child care across counties. Committee members asked for the raw provider feedback as well as the department—s triennial monitoring findings to inform possible policy changes before the next legislative session.
