Child Care

Currently, over 76% of children in North Dakota under the age of 6 have both parents in the work force. The National Average is 58%. Healthy Child Care America Campaign implemented by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 1995 is based on the principle that families, child care providers, and health care providers in partnership can promote the healthy development of young children in child care and increase access to preventive health services and safe physical environments for children. Linking health care providers, child care providers, and families makes good sense-for maximizing resources, for developing comprehensive and coordinated services, and most important, for nurturing children.

There are no quick and easy solutions to the challenges that families, child care providers, and health care providers face today in providing for and ensuring the healthy development of children. It is important that these three groups work together to expand and create partnerships.
While 85% of a child's core brain structure is formed bye age 3, less than 4% of public investments on education and development have occurred by that time. Quality child care produces good results. We have to remind politicians of this. Access to adjunctive services is vital to this campaign.

2002 Total Population:	634,110
2002 Children 0-5 years old:	44,243
2002 Children 6-12 years old:	56,801
2002 Children 13-17 years old:	46,803
2002 Total Children Under 17:	147,927
Children under 5 as percent of population:	6.98%
Children under 17 as percent of population:	23.33%
*Source 2004 North Dakota Kids Count Facts*

State Median Income:	$51,002
State Median Income Estimates for Four-Person Families (for Federal Fiscal Year 2002) Source: Federal Register: March 22, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 56, pp. 16060-16061)

Median Income of Families with Children Ages 0-17	Year 2000: $44,640
Children Ages 0-17 Living in Poverty	Year 2000: 22,163

Licensed Child Care Providers:	1,626
Source: 2004 North Dakota Kids Count

1997 Estimated Poverty Rate (all ages):	12.5%
Children Under 5 in Poverty 1997:	7,479
Children Under 5 Poverty Rate 1997:	18.3%
Source: 1997 State Poverty Estimates Released November 2000 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates Program, U.S. Census Bureau

Licensed/Regulated Family Child Care - Total:	2,325
Licensed/Regulated Family Child Care - Small:	1,457
Licensed/Regulated Family Child Care - Group:	868
Source:2000 Family Child Care Licensing Study The Children's Foundation

Percent of Children under 6 with working parents:	76.0%
Percent of Children ages 6-12 living with working parents:	62.0%
Source: 2004 Kids Count Data Book Te Annie E. Casey Foundation

Number of children participating in Head Start, FY2000:	2,042
For additional statistical information on indicators of child well-being in the state, visit the Annie E. Casey "Kids Count" Web site at http://www.kidscount.org/

Linkages between the involved groups must remain active ongoing and committed. This web site is designed to help all those evolved in this process. It will have a practicing office based pediatrician slant or flavor. Please send any comments or information to

Bernard J. Hoggarth MD FAAP
Altru Pediatrics
1000 S. Columbia Rd
Grand Forks, ND 58201
Email: bhoggarth@altru.org phone: 701-780-6191

State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact

800-424-2246

Lutheran Social Service of North Dakota
615 S. Broadway, Suite L3
Minot, ND 58701-4473
Phone: 701-838-7800
Alt. Phone: 800-450-7801
Web site: http://www.lssnd.org/program08.html