ND Rolls Out Child-Care Cost-Sharing Program

By Mike Moen, Prairie News Service

As policymakers consider solutions to North Dakota’s child care crisis, a state agency is moving forward with incentives they hope will compel more workplaces to help staff with care costs.

The Health and Human Services department is asking employers to participate in a pilot program. It offers matching funds when a business provides at least $300 in monthly benefits to an employee who has a child between zero and three years old and signed up for care at a licensed fa- cility.

Kay Larson, early childhood section director for the department, said they hope removing the cost burden will prevent parents from taking long pauses in their careers.

“Families with young children often face the greatest economic pressure, and they’re making critical decisions about how and if they can reenter the workforce,” Larson observed. “And then they’re considering that cost of tuition. “

According to Kids Count researchers, North Dakota families each year are paying between nearly

$8,000 and nearly $10,000 on average for child care. The pilot program is being funded with federal pandemic relief aid. State lawmakers are considering a similar long-term initiative as they debate a range of child care proposals this session.

As for the current funding, Larson noted they anticipate it will last for at least the next couple of years.

“North Dakota set aside just over $9 million for this,” Larson pointed out. “We’re anticipating we can help over 1,000 infants and toddlers in this process.”

In getting payments from both the state and their employer, she emphasized it could make a big dent in monthly child care costs for families. There are eligibility requirements for workers to receive cost-share subsi- dies. While employers can go as high as they want in offering monthly child care benefits, North Dakota’s limit for matching funds is $300.

By Heidi Whitney

Your

Taste of Westby” is March 25

Who: Come one and all!

What: Chili and Soup Cook Off

When: March 25 at 5:30 pm (Mountain)

Where: Westby Community Center

Why: To have a blast and raise funds for the annual Westby Parade of Lights and Festival of Trees, How: Drop by to sample and vote for your favorite.

Cost is a FREE WILL DONATION

To enter as a contestant contact Brenda Ryals at 406-385-7973. There is no cost to enter. Prizes awarded.

A blizzard was predicted for the Westby area on Friday March 10.

Mother nature delivered. Send your snow drift pictures to heidilynnwittmayer@gmail.com for an upcoming report.

Shown here is a picture submitted by Stephanie Paine of Westby taken on March 12. Paine reported, “Underneath the drift is the big hay feeder and the Ritchie waterer.”