Child Care Assistance/Early Childhood Program

Child Care Licensing - Child Care Assistance/Subsidy Program - Outreach Services Early Childhood Community Initiatives - Early Childhood Education Enhancement - Quality Improvement/Technical Assistance - Child Care Learning Centers

Our program manages four licensed childcare learning centers that strive to offer quality care to the children they serve. Our Centers provides age-appropriate activities. The staff are positive role models for all center children. Our focus is on building self-esteem and enhancing social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of all children. This is accomplished through a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and through positive interactions and communication between center children, parents, and staff.

The activities at our Centers are designed to enhance a child’s creative learning and critical thinking skills. These activities include both teacher directed and child-initiated activities.

Additional information including forms are provided in the links below:

• Center Child Care Handbook
• Center Waitlist Application
• Center Child Care Application
  
  
  Center Coordinator
  Allison Bellanger
  Allison.Bellanger@whiteearth-nsn.gov
  (218) 935-3870

White Earth Infant and Toddler Center
35609 Eagle View Road
PO Box 418
White Earth, MN 56591
Phone: 218-935-6278
Fax: 833-859-0959

White Earth Child Care & Learning Center
35609 Eagle View Road
PO Box 418
White Earth, MN 56591
Phone: 218-935-6277
Fax: 833-859-0959

Nay-Tah-Waush Child Care & Learning Center
3076 Workforce Center Rd.
Mahnomen, MN 56557
Phone: 218-936-2221
Fax: 833-859-0959

Mahnomen Child Care & Learning Center
2254 College Rd.
Mahnomen, MN 56557
Phone: 218-935-0314
Fax: 833-859-0959

White Earth Child Care licenses Child Care Providers on or near the White Earth Reservation. The goal of the licensing program is to improve the quality and availability of child care throughout our service areas (Becker, Mahnomen, and a portion of Clearwater County). There are many advantages to becoming a licensed child care provider that are listed in our Provider Information Packets. Assistance in the start-up of a child care program is available. Please contact our office for more information on services.
The child care licensing process includes the following:

• Clearance of background screenings that are completed for each household member 13 yrs and older; this includes National and State background checks, fingerprinted, Abuse/ Neglect registry and Child Welfare. (Compliance checks completed are at no cost to applicant)
• Character references from three non-related individuals. Questionnaires will be mailed to the character references along with a return envelope.
• Health and Safety inspections of home/facility proposed for child care used by Child Care Licenser and/or IHS Environmental Health and Safety Officer. An inspection appointment is made when applicant chooses for site visit.
• Licensing application is processed after clearance of the above is completed.
• Registration of required safety trainings to start providing care to children are the following: Pediatric CPR/1st Aid, Sudden Unexpected Infant Dearn/Abusive and Abusive Head Trauma (SUID/AHT) ongoing trainings require Health and Safety 1 & 2, Supervising for Safety, and ongoing child development and Developmentally Appropriate Behavioral and Guidance.

Parent Aware
Parent Aware (PA) is Minnesota's Quality Rating System for child care professionals. White Earth Nation encourages and supports all tribally licensed child care providers to become parent aware rated. More information on PA can be found on: childcareawaremn.org/providers/parent-aware

Parent Aware helps programs find opportunities to improve their quality, supports them with the tools and resources they need to succeed, and celebrates the work they are doing to create better lives for children in Minnesota. childcareaware.org/state/minnesota-7

Additional Information for licensing is provided in the links below:

• White Earth Child Care Licensing Standards for FCC and Centers
• Licensing Application
  
  
  Licensing Compliance Specialist
  Kim Lage
  Kim.Lage@whiteearth-nsn.gov
  Phone: 218-935-6272

The Early Childhood Training/Education initiative offers quality improvement and early childhood development classes to licensed and unlicensed providers, parents, families, staff, and community members. A variety of topics and curriculums are used to offer early childhoods information through these classes.

At our site visits and classes, the Early Childhood Education and Training Coordinator supports children and their families by partnering with the providers to develop and provide culturally appropriate ideas for activities, experiences, and routines. We support and promote providers and parents to use “Ages and Stages” as a screening tool to see where the children are in their development so they can foster children to their next developmental milestone in all areas in their environment. To assess the progress of each child’s development we support having parent/teacher conferences two times a year using the Teaching Strategies Gold. Most of the in-home family child cares and all of the child care centers are star rated through Minnesota’s Quality Rating System called Parent Aware. As a Parent Aware star rated child care they can offer families the opportunity to apply for scholarships to pay for their child care services at their site. Please contact Debbie Villebrun for the availability of classes being offered.


Early Childhood Education and Training Coordinator
Debbie Villebrun
Debbie.Villebrun@whiteearth-nsn.gov
Phone: 218-935-6302

Childcare Assistance
This program helps families who are working or attending school and are having difficulties in paying for their childcare costs. Eligibility is based on the following:

• Household income and family size
• Verification of Native American descent (children, parents or grandparents)
• Verification of work or school (min.20hrs/week)
• Reside in our service area (Becker, Mahnomen and a portion of Clearwater Counties)

It is required to reapply for assistance every 12 months and notify the agency of any changes in household income or residency.

Additional information including applications are provided in the links below:

• Child Care Assistance Application
• Child Care Assistance Renewal Application
• Child Care Assistance Policies
• White Earth Child Care Providers Map

If your child is not enrolled but is a descendant of the White Earth Nation, please fill out this form and bring it to the White Earth Enrollment Office.

• Request for Verification of Descendancy

If your provider is NOT licensed (i.e. Family Member, Friend, Neighbor) please have your provider complete these forms and bring them to your intake:

• Unlicensed Provider Packet

Once you have completed all your application forms you can email them to jessica.harstad@whiteearth-nsn.gov or fax them to 833-859-0959 or mail them to:
White Earth Child Care
Attn: Jessica Harstad
PO Box 418
White Earth, MN 56591
Call for an application, intake review, or with any questions 218-935-6271

Early Learning Scholarship Program
What is an Early Learning Scholarship Program?

Early Learning Scholarships increase access to high-quality early childhood programs for children aged 4 years old with the highest need to support children and families as they transition to school. Scholarships provide funding for children to attend a high-quality early learning program that are participating in Parent Aware, Minnesota's quality rating and improvement system.

To be eligible for a scholarship, children must be age eligible (birth to 4 on September 1 of the current school year), and families must also meet eligibility requirements as outlined in MN Statute 142D.24.

Maximum award amounts are based on the child’s age, program type, county where the program is located, and Parent Aware participation status. View the Early Learning Scholarship Maximum Award Amounts and the Early Learning Scholarships Maximum Registration Fees hereto learn more.

Children are prioritized for a scholarship if the child is:

• Child of a teen parent under the age of 21 pursuing a high school diploma or GED®.
• Currently in foster care;
• In need of child protective services;
• Experienced homelessness in the last 24 months.
• Who have an incarcerated parent;
• Who are in or have a parent in a substance use treatment program;
• Who are in or have Priority for scholarships will be given based on family income, child poverty, one of the special populations as noted previously, and geographic region. Families must meet eligibility requirements as outlined in MN Statute 142D.24.

Pathway I Scholarship
As of July 16, 2024, the Pathway I Early Learning Scholarship application can be completed online! To create an account, visit the Early Learning Scholarships Hub.

By creating an account, parents, legal guardians, and foster care case workers will be able to easily complete the application and upload required documents, receive email updates, check the status of your application, apply for other children in their household, and renew when it’s time. Notices of award, renewal, and status updates will now be managed primarily via email.

While we encourage everyone to use the online portal, it is not a requirement for parents and legal guardians to create an account and paper applications are available through the local Area Administrator serving their county. Either way families choose to apply, they can always contact your local Area Administrator with questions or for more information about the program.

• FY26 Pathway I Application

Where Can my Child Use a Pathway I Scholarship?
Pathway I Scholarships are awarded directly to families who meet eligibility requirements. Pathway I Scholarship funds are paid to the early childhood program that the family chooses. You may use your Pathway I Early Learning Scholarship at any eligible child care or early education program in Minnesota with a Parent Aware Rating. Pathway I Scholarships “follow the child” and are awarded to the family for up to 12 months.

Scholarship amounts are based on the Parent Aware rating level of the program you choose.

Families interested in applying for an Early Learning Scholarship should contact the Area Administrator serving their county. Learn more about area administrators.

Where can my Child Use a Pathway II Scholarship?
Pathway II Scholarships are awarded to families through an eligible Four-Star Parent Aware Rated program. These include Head Start, school district prekindergarten and preschool programs, and child care programs. Programs participating as a Pathway II site receive Pathway II Scholarships funds for up to 12 months.


Child Care Specialist / Early Learning Scholarship
Jessica Harstad
Jessica.Harstad@whiteearth-nsn.gov
Phone: 218-935-6271
Fax: 833-859-0959

White Earth Child Care Community Outreach is a coalition of community families, volunteers, programs, agencies and schools whose goal is to help improve the lives of children zero to twelve years of age. We work to provide ongoing community projects to ensure children are safe, healthy and ready for school. We encourage family participation in their children's activities at home, child care, pre-school and community. We work to provide families with the resources they need for their children to grow and have a bright and fulfilling future.

Early Childhood projects include:

• Early childhood partnership with RBC programs, local schools, MNTRECC, community councils, and West Central Initiative
• Family/community involvement with children
• Increased oral health resources for children
• Opportunities for culturally relevant community family events
• Increased community access to library resources

Community Projects:

• ECI partnership
• Oral Health Resources
• Dental Health Clinic
• Annual Fathers' Festival
• Annual Celebrating Our Children /Back School Event
• Kids Count
• Annual Week of The Young Child Event
• Annual Christmas Literacy Event
  
  
  Early Childhood Community Outreach Specialist
  Casey Francis
  Casey.Francis@whiteearth-nsn.gov
  (218) 935-6256

Will be opening in new location in Spring of 2026 – date to be announced.


Librarian / Smart Play Spot
Carissa Winter
Carissa.Winter@whiteearth-nsn.gov
(218) 935-3563