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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A licensed group provider in Valley City has been selected for the “Make a Difference” award for her work with childhood service and helping to shape the lives and futures of the children in their care.

Governor Jack Dalrymple has proclaimed May 6th as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day, and has awarded the Make a Difference award to KinderKidz of Dickinson and Shelley Differding of Valley City. The awards were given in conjunction with the North Dakota Department of Human Services.

“Child care providers, teachers, and other educators of young children everywhere deserve special recognition for their hard work and dedication in providing early learning experiences that children need to succeed in school and in life,” said Becky Eberhardt, the department’s early childhood services administrator. “We celebrate these providers for going above and beyond in the home and classroom, and in their communities.”

As a licensed child care group provider, Shelly Differding is able to provide care for up to 12 children. She has been licensed since June 1981. Differding has maintained a high level of excellence in licensing compliance for over three decades, and she remains committed to the community and the children and families she serves.

County social service early childhood licensers and child care consultants from Child Care Aware of North Dakota nominated providers for this award.

Eberhardt said there are about 1,600 licensed home, group, and facility child care providers and preschool and school-aged programs in the state, and there is support available to help individuals interested in starting a licensed child care business.