North Dakota Working Parents Child Care Relief Program

Overview 

The North Dakota Working Parents Child Care Relief Program (WPCCR) is a pilot initiative that matches up to $300 monthly in employer contributions to their employees' childcare expenses. Launched in 2023 as part of a broader childcare initiative, the program helps families with incomes from 75% to 150% of state median income access high-quality childcare. The program targets working families who earn too much for traditional assistance but still struggle with childcare costs, complementing the state's Child Care Assistance Program. 

Why It Matters 

Many parents with young children — especially those with infants and toddlers — struggle to work because they earn too much for traditional childcare assistance but can't afford the full cost of quality licensed care. 

The WPCCR program addresses this challenge by creating a three-way partnership: employers contribute either $150 or $300 monthly working parent, the state matches that amount dollar-for-dollar, and parents apply these combined funds toward licensed childcare. This approach helps employers attract and retain workers while enabling more parents to join or remain in the workforce. 

By targeting support to families with children under age five, the program focuses resources on the period when childcare is most expensive and when young families typically have lower incomes relative to their childcare expenses. 

Quick Facts

• Core Model: Cost-sharing pilot between employers and state government with dollar-for-dollar matching up to $300 monthly 

• Notable Feature: Bridges the gap for families who earn too much for traditional assistance but still struggle with childcare costs 

• Launch Date: March 2023 

• Eligibility: Families with children under age five, income from 75%–150% of state median income, employed by participating businesses 

• Current Funding: Part of a $66 million state appropriation for childcare programs approved by the Legislative Assembly in 2023 

• Program Coverage: Available statewide across North Dakota 

Background

The WPCCR program emerged from a successful employer-partnership program in Hamilton County, Iowa. North Dakota adapted this concept as part of a comprehensive approach to childcare support. 

In 2023, the North Dakota Legislative Assembly passed legislation allocating $66 million to address childcare challenges across the state. This investment funded both the WPCCR pilot and significant enhancements to the Child Care Assistance Program, creating a coordinated system to serve families at different income levels. 

The pilot's initial outreach to employers began in March 2023, with enrollment and access for parents continuing throughout 2023 and 2024. The program is scheduled to run through September 2026 or until funding is exhausted. 

How it Works

The program operates through a straightforward cost-sharing model: 

• Employers provide a monthly childcare benefit of either $150 or $300 per eligible child 

• The state matches the employer contribution dollar-for-dollar 

• Parents apply these combined funds (up to $600 monthly per child) toward their licensed childcare provider's fees 

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility and processes employer payments, which go directly to families to apply toward their childcare costs. 

Key Features

• Employer Engagement: Creates direct business involvement in addressing childcare shortages through financial participation 

• Flexible Benefit Levels: Employers can choose to participate at either $150 or $300 monthly contribution levels, with the state matching equally 

• Focus on Young Children: Targets families with children from birth to age five, when childcare costs are highest 

• Middle-Income Support: Helps families in the "gap" who earn too much for traditional assistance but too little to comfortably afford quality care 

Policy Levers

• Public-Private Partnership: Combines employer and state resources to create a sustainable funding approach to childcare assistance 

• Eligibility Parameters: Income limits target middle-income families 

• Complementary Programming: Designed to work alongside the Child Care Assistance Program, creating a comprehensive system that serves families across income levels 

• Time-Limited Pilot: Program established with a September 2026 end date or until funding is exhausted, so the program can be evaluated before potentially continuing it 

Results

As a relatively new program, comprehensive data on WPCCR outcomes is still emerging. Early reports from participating employers show promising signs: 

• Workforce Retention: Employers report improved employee retention, particularly among healthcare workers balancing shift work with childcare needs 

• Expanded Employer Participation: By June 2024, 41 North Dakota employers had opted to participate, offering childcare benefits to their employees 

• Family Savings: For participating families, the program can reduce childcare expenses by up to $3,600 annually per child, making quality care more affordable 

Learn More

• Program Website: Working Parents Child Care Relief Program

• Parent Resources: Information for Parents

• Employer Resources: Information for Employers

• Contact Information: Email:  NDwpccr.info@nd.gov; Phone: 701-328-2115

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