Childcare Workforce Challenges Persist
By: Michael Standaert, North Dakota News Cooperative May 2, 2024 Celeste Thingvold, superintendent of Bowbells K-12 school system in the northwest corner of North Dakota, faces potential blowback once the main child care facility in town closes in a few weeks. The only other day care provider in Bowbells is expecting a baby later this […]
Make Economic Security for all Families a National Priority
March 11, 2022 | Amy Jacobson, Executive Director, Prairie Action ND Families are the basis of a thriving country and economy. When we address the economic insecurity that many families face and ensure that everyone with young children can afford the basic necessities of food, healthcare, housing, child care and transportation, we are creating conditions […]
“Low Interest Loans to Pay for Child Care” are Not the Answer
January 9, 2022 | By Melissa Gjellstad, Grand Forks, ND The Grand Forks Herald Editorial board is right, we need to figure out a way to make child care more affordable for North Dakota’s working families. It’s really expensive, even with just one kid. One year of child care is equivalent to a year’s tuition […]
Working Families Relying on Congress to Fix Child Care Crisis and Pass Build Back Better
By Landis Larson, president North Dakota AFL-CIO | Nov. 21, 2021 This special session was a missed opportunity to focus on what North Dakota working families need, with attention instead being spent on divisive social issues that have little to do with North Dakota. During the special session the North Dakota AFL-CIO was part of […]
Investments in Child Care in Build Back Better a Giant Leap Forward for North Dakota’s Working Families
For Immediate Release: Oct. 29, 2021 FARGO, ND – Yesterday the Biden Administration released the Build Back Better framework to grow the U.S. economy and to spur recovery for both American families and businesses. The historic $1.75 trillion plan includes investments in affordable child care, health care, housing, and workforce development. Statement from Amy Jacobson, […]
Lack of Child Care in Rural Communities is Hurting Children in Need of Foster Homes
By: Lindsey WilkinsonOctober 16, 2021 I am a mom and a union steelworker building Bobcats in southeast North Dakota, where my husband, Will, also works and we are both active in our union and community. In addition to raising our own kids, last year we opened our home to fostering kids. This has been a […]
ND Organizations Urge Gov. Burgum to Invest in Child Care in Open Letter
An Open Letter to Governor Burgum Add your name here. Dear Governor Burgum, Child care is a critical component of a thriving economy. Access to affordable child care is essential for parents to stay in the workforce. Many communities across North Dakota lack accessible and affordable child care to meet the demand for our state’s […]
ND KidsCount Release 2021 Report on Childcare: Access, Quality, and Affordability in ND
Child care is a critical component of a modern and thriving economy. High-quality and affordable care is essential for parents to stay in the workforce. Businesses across all sectors need workers who have a safe and reliable place for their children during the day. The coronavirus pandemic highlighted how important child care is and the […]