Nativity Child & Family Center

Nativity Child & Family Center (NCFC) is a mission partner of Nativity Lutheran Church operating a licensed, donor-facing early learning and extended-day care program for children ages 16 months through 12 years. The center emphasizes whole-child development—physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social—through a play-based, state-approved curriculum and family-centered supports. NCFC serves roughly 150 children and offers full- and part-time care, before/after-school programming, and a summer program; in 2023 the summer offering expanded to serve an all-time high of 75 students. The program holds national accreditation and state recognitions, maintains Minnesota Department of Human Services licensing, and reports active governance and leadership (Center Director Jen Evenson; board leadership including Chair Bryan Helminiak and Treasurer Amy Babcock). In recent years NCFC focused on post-pandemic operational adjustments (updated COVID policies and staff compensation practices), staff retention and evaluation alignment with rate changes, reapplying for state compensation funding, and continued investment in quality improvements and community programming.