Resources

Below is a list of sites that provide a wealth of information on Head Start programs in North Dakota and other states, child development and early childhood education, teaching, parenting, child care, and other topics of interest to parents, teachers, and families.

Child Development and Early Childhood Education

Department of Human Services in North Dakota – Early Childhood Services – This site provides standards and training to providers of early care and education for children containing information for both parents and child care providers.
Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC) – ECLKC is a division of the Office of Head Start (Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families) which provides valuable information and management services to Head Start programs.
Early Childhood Research and Practice (ECRP) – ECRP is the first scholarly, peer-reviewed, bilingual open-access electronic journal in the field of early care and education. They publish research reports, literature reviews, essays, interviews, reflections, and commentary on emerging trends and issues by scholars and practitioners from around the world.
Future of Children – This site provides information on critical issues related to children’s well-being with an emphasis on providing objective analysis and evaluation, translating existing knowledge into effective programs and policies, and encouraging constructive change in institutions.
Let’s Move Childcare – This website provides child care and early education providers the tools to help children develop healthy habits for life.
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, Early Childhood Special Education – This site provides policy, transition information, early childhood outcomes process, and more.
Waterford UPSTART is an in-home kindergarten readiness program that will give your child a successful start in reading or math and science in just 15-20 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The UPSTART program is now accepting 1,000 learners for the 2022-2023 school year to participate in the program at no charge.
Cerebral Palsy Guide provides free educational materials, financial resources, and support options for families affected by cerebral palsy and other birth injuries

Training and technical Assistance Centers

ND Headstart Association Priorities
The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care are collaborating to more effectively provide training and technical assistance (T/TA) across early care and education programs. This joint T/TA system supports Early Childhood Education programs and educators in delivering quality services to children and their families across the country.

In 2015, six national centers were launched to promote excellence through high-quality, practical resources and approaches that build program capacity for early childhood education programs. The Centers also support consistent practices across communities, states, tribes and territories. Currently, the Office of Head Start offers T/TA program staff support in their delivery of quality services to low- income children and families. The Office’s T/TA consists of three components: direct funding to grantees; state T/TA network, including Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start; and the national centers.

Associations

Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) – CCSSO brings together dedicated leaders and exceptional ideas to achieve measurable progress for every student.
National American Indian & Alaska Native Head Start Collaboration Office (NAIANHSCO) – NAIANHSCO is committed to assisting Head Start grantees in developing collaborative partnerships that will help improve the quality of life for AIAN children and families.
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) – This organization works to prioritize the role of family child care and promote access, affordability, and quality of early care and education.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – NAEYC works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.
National Child Care Association (NCCA) – The mission of NCCA is to promote the growth and safeguard the interest of quality early childhood care and education focusing on licensed, private providers of these services.
National Head Start Association (NHSA) – The mission of NHSA is to coalesce, inspire, and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education.
North Dakota Head Start Association (NDHSA) – NDHSA is a private not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families across the state of North Dakota.

Child Care

Child Care Aware of North Dakota – This site is a training and information hub for child care providers and offers parents customized referrals to licensed child care options as well as ensures that children have the opportunity to play and learn in a safe and healthy environment.
Office of Child Care (OCC) – This office supports low-income working families through child care financial assistance and promotes children’s learning by improving the quality of early care and education and after-school programs.
Soho Center – An organization that works to improve child care for children in communities across America by piloting innovative, cost-effective outreach, networking, and training strategies. They also develop materials that directly enhance children’s literacy and school success with a primary focus on parents and child care providers.

Child Health and Health Care

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – The AAP is a national organization of pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.