ND Towns, Groups Unite on Child Care

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Some small North Dakota towns and community groups are coming together to address a shortage of child care.

The Bismarck Tribune reports in Turtle Lake, part of City Hall is housing a child care program. In Killdeer, the city, a local job development group and a nursing home are working together to provide space for a day care. And in McClusky, a child care is being partially funded by a job development authority and a merchants group.

Child Care Aware of North Dakota spokeswoman Penny Smith says such efforts are "huge" in the world of child care.

The agency estimates that there are nearly 85,000 children in North Dakota needing child care, and the capacity of licensed child cares is only about 31,000.