North Dakota Childcare Subsidy Program Ends in September as Federal Funds Expire
A pilot program providing federal childcare relief to working North Dakota families ends in September 2026 after exhausting COVID-19 relief funding. Hundreds of families will lose monthly subsidies, with no replacement program currently announced. Employers and workers are scrambling to find alternatives before the benefit disappears.
The ND Working Parents Child Care Relief Program, which has provided childcare subsidies to working families in North Dakota since 2023 using federal COVID-19 relief funds, is set to expire in September 2026. The program allocated $5 million over the 2023–25 biennium, with unused funds carried into 2026. Once those reserves are depleted this month, the subsidy ends.
Program Details
- Launched in 2023 using federal COVID-19 relief dollars
- Matched funding from participating employers and federal government
- Supported hundreds of families in reducing childcare costs
- Employers successfully used the benefit as a recruitment and retention tool
Implications for Working Families
Parents who have relied on this subsidy face significant out-of-pocket increases when the program ends. While some families may see relief when older children enter school, many will need to explore alternative assistance—including state childcare subsidies (if eligible by income), Head Start programs, employer childcare benefits, or dependent-care flexible spending accounts. If you've been receiving ND Working Parents relief, contact your employer's HR department immediately to ask about other childcare benefits, backup care programs, or employer subsidies that may help bridge the gap.
Sources
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