Childcare In Fargo Expands As Tech Boosts Oversight

When Barnabas Gbeintor first opened the doors of Victorious Christian Kids Academy in Fargo, North Dakota, the world was still reeling from the pandemic’s disruptions. For many families, finding dependable childcare had become a daily struggle, especially for those who needed care rooted in faith and compassion. As the pastor of River of Life Church, Barnabas saw the need up close and personal—parents juggling work schedules, children craving stability, and a community desperate for support. His response was more than just a business move; it was a heartfelt mission to provide a nurturing environment where children could grow, learn, and feel truly cared for.

But the journey from that modest beginning to the bustling center Victorious Christian Kids Academy is today was anything but straightforward. According to the North Dakota Small Business Development Center (ND SBDC), Barnabas first sought their guidance in October 2022, hoping to strengthen and expand his fledgling business. The academy, initially housed within the church, quickly filled to capacity. The demand for quality childcare in Fargo outpaced what the church-based space could handle, and parents were clamoring for more spots. The need was clear: Victorious Christian Kids Academy had to grow.

By early 2024, Barnabas returned to the ND SBDC with even bigger dreams. He wanted to transition the academy from a group license serving just 30 children to a full center license capable of welcoming 86 kids. This wasn’t just a matter of adding a few more chairs and toys. The transition required major facility upgrades, a fourfold increase in staff—from four to sixteen employees—financial restructuring, and a robust plan that would convince lenders the project was sound. The stakes were high, but Barnabas was determined.

“I had big dreams but very little knowledge about the financial side of growing a business,” Barnabas admitted, as reported by the ND SBDC. “My advisor was extremely knowledgeable, especially in areas where I had no experience. He took the dreams I shared and turned them into a projection that gave the bank clarity and confidence in our loan application.”

With the ND SBDC’s expertise, Barnabas charted a path for a combined $1.365 million project. One of the most significant milestones came when the academy secured a $475,000 Non-Traditional Hours Child Care Grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. This grant was a game-changer, enabling Victorious Christian Kids Academy to purchase its own building with financing from First Community Credit Union. Suddenly, the dream of a larger, more accessible center became a reality.

The new facility didn’t just mean more space—it meant new opportunities for families who needed childcare outside the typical nine-to-five. Nurses, manufacturing employees, firefighters, and countless others who work nontraditional hours could finally find reliable care for their children. Word quickly spread throughout Fargo, and word-of-mouth referrals became one of the academy’s strongest assets. Parents trusted the academy not just for its faith-based approach, but for its unwavering commitment to consistent, high-quality care.

“Your business is your most precious baby,” Barnabas reflected, in words that resonated with entrepreneurs everywhere. “And this precious baby deserves the best care by acquiring the best resources to grow it effectively.” His advice to others trying to build something meaningful? “Absorb every piece of information your advisor shares and apply it. Appreciate every 60 minutes and make it count.”

While local solutions like Victorious Christian Kids Academy are making a tangible difference for families in Fargo, the broader landscape of childcare in America is undergoing its own transformation—one that’s powered by technology and a renewed focus on accountability. This month, Wonderschool, a company already working with more than a dozen states, announced the launch of Wonderschool Oversight, a data-driven platform designed to help state agencies strengthen oversight of childcare subsidy programs.

The timing couldn’t be better. Several states, including Minnesota, have faced intense scrutiny in recent years after high-profile fraud cases exposed gaps in how childcare subsidies are managed. According to Wonderschool, many states still rely on fragmented, paper-based systems that make it difficult to spot risks, conduct timely audits, or ensure that public funds are being used as intended. The result? Delays, administrative headaches, and, at times, missed opportunities to catch misuse before it becomes a crisis.

Wonderschool Oversight aims to change all that. By centralizing enrollment, attendance, billing, and licensing data into a single platform—and layering in advanced analytics and artificial intelligence—the system generates real-time, risk-based scoring to flag patterns that might warrant a closer look. Agency staff aren’t just handed a list of red flags; they get “explainable” insights that help them understand why an activity was flagged, allowing for more informed and timely decisions.

Chris Bennett, CEO of Wonderschool, explained the challenge succinctly: “The childcare providers that American families rely on are, themselves, often reliant on manual, paper-intensive processes that can exacerbate the oversight challenge for state and federal funders. Our work with both states and high-quality providers puts us in a unique position to create tools that streamline provider operations while giving agencies visibility into the administration of critical public benefits for children.”

The platform is built to integrate seamlessly with existing state systems, whether it’s subsidy management, licensing, or third-party childcare management tools. States can deploy Wonderschool Oversight as a standalone solution and scale up as needed, or pair it with the company’s broader suite of childcare management and subsidy solutions. The goal, according to Wonderschool, is to improve payment integrity and accountability without creating unnecessary disruptions for the families and providers who rely on these subsidies every day.

This balance—between expanding access and ensuring responsible use of public funds—is top of mind for policymakers and the business community alike. Grace Appelbe, director of government affairs for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, summed it up: “Arizona employers consistently tell us that the lack of affordable, reliable child care makes it harder to recruit and retain workers, and that’s a real challenge for job creators across our state. The business community wants to be part of the solution, and we’re eager to work with employers, providers, and policymakers to develop childcare options that work for both workers and businesses. At the same time, any new public investment must be done responsibly, with strong oversight and accountability to ensure taxpayer dollars are used as intended.”

As more states adopt technology-driven tools like Wonderschool Oversight, and as local leaders like Barnabas Gbeintor continue to innovate on the ground, the future of childcare in America is being shaped by a blend of compassion, accountability, and smart solutions. For families in Fargo and beyond, that’s a reason for hope—and maybe even a little celebration.