Child Care

I need help paying for Child Care.

Montana families are paying just over $9,000 a year to have an infant attend a full time care center. For low-income, working single parents this could mean nearly 44% of their income is spent on child care.

I need child care, but can’t afford it. What do I do?

HRDC offers the State of Montana’s Best Beginnings scholarship for Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Powder River, Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, Wheatland, and Yellowstone Counties.  You can fill out the application online here.

You can also download the application or pick it up at the HRDC office in Billings or Hardin, or call either location and request an application be mailed to you.

• Fillable Best Beginnings Scholarship Application
• Printable Best Beginnings Scholarship Application
  • Additional Scholarship Forms
  • Attachment A – Adult Household Person Information
  • Attachment B – Child Household Member Information
  • Attachment C – Child Care Service Plan
  • Attachment D – Work Verification Release
  • Attachment E – School Training Verification Release
  • Attachment F – Self Employment Verification
  • Attachment G – Child Support Verification
  • Attachment H – Good Cause Exemption

Who is eligible?

Recipients of the scholarship are working low-income families, working care takers, TANF recipients, disabled parents, foster or guardianship families, and parents in high school, college or pursuing a GED may apply for the Best Beginnings Scholarship. Please click here for more information about eligibility.

How many hours must I work in order to qualify as working low-income?

Parents or guardians must be participating in the following eligible activities:

• Two parent families must work at least 120 hours per month;
• Single parent families must work at least 60 hours per month;
• Single parent families do not have to work while they attend school/training full time;
• Single parent families who are attending school/training part-time must work 40 hours; or
• Teen parents must be attending high school or a high school equivalency program.

Does the work requirement pertain to foster or guardianship families?

Yes. We recommend contacting your Child Protection Specialist or your OPA case manager if you are receiving child-only TANF assistance.
For additional information about eligibility, click here..

What portion will I pay?

Families are solely responsible for making co-payments to their child care provider plus any fees or charges that may exceed the district child care provider rates. Click here for the sliding scale and co-payment calculator.

I need help finding a child care provider. Who can I contact?

HRDC has a free service that helps you find quality child care that best fits your needs.  Click here to go to our Child Care Referral Page.

Are there restrictions on where I take my child for care?

Children on the Best Beginnings Scholarship must attend a licensed child care center, registered group or family child care home, or certified Family/Friend/Neighbor (FFN) formerly known as legally certified child care provider.

I’m not sure if the child care provider I’ve selected qualifies for the program. Who can I ask?

Contact one of our Case Managers or our Child Care Referral Specialist by calling (406) 247-4700.

For more information

Call (406) 247-4700 (Billings) / (406) 665-2523 (Hardin) or Email: childcare@hrdc7.org

Child Care Stabilization Grant 

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Child Care Stabilization Grants are now available for providers to help with rent, mortgage, utilities, payroll, benefits, health & safety training, and much more. Visit childcare.mt.gov to learn more.

Link to forms and regulation information:

You will find all the regulations and forms to become a licensed or registered child care provider at the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing website.  Check it out at: https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/childcare/childcarelicensing/

Child Care’s Provider Services Department provides help and support for:

Licensed and new child care centers, family & group homes, and Family/Friend/Neighbors in Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Powder River, Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, Wheatland, and Yellowstone Counties.

What kind of support is available to child care providers?

HRDC provides oversight and resources to ensure providers are given the tools they need to remain compliant with state regulations and deliver a safe, affordable and quality service. In addition to trainings we offer:

• Tips and resources to improve your program; and recruitment, retention and motivation of staff
• Ideas for low cost marketing, daily schedules and transitions, and how to operate a safe and healthy program
• How to implement emergency policies and procedures including medication administration and managing infectious disease
• Resources to provide developmentally appropriate care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers
• State and National accreditation, standards, and quality rating and improvement systems
• In Home Provider Toolkit  This is a great for home-based businesses, and useful to those starting up and/or needing support.

What types of services are offered?

• Maintain licensing requirements
• Technical assistance
• Child Care Collaboration
  • Quarterly meeting for child care providers, CCR&R staff, and Child Care Licensors. Come and ask questions or hear about current changes or updates.
  • Collaboration Notes for 06.14.2022
• Professional Development Training in:
  • Observation, Documentation, & Assessment
  • Program Management
  • Family & Community Partnerships
  • Environmental Design
  • Child Growth & Development
  • Health & Well-Being
  • Professionalism
  • Curriculum
  • Diversity
  • Child Guidance
• Evidence Based Best Practices
  • For young children with special needs and their parents and providers

What services are available to new providers?

• Program Management Essentials and Early Childhood Essentials
• Assistance with selecting classes
• Technical assistance for policies, procedures, contracts and record maintenance
• 360 Support
•  Fingerprinting
  • Early childhood professionals are required to have a background check completed prior to working with children. This ensures the full transparency of caregivers and maintains a safe environment for children.
  • Schedule an appointment by clicking on this link https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/District7HRDCCopy@hrdc7.org/bookings/ If you have any questions please call at 406-247-4754 or email at childcare@hrdc7.org

How do I find training?

• New Provider and New Staff Orientation
• There  are a number of statewide training opportunities for Early Childhood Providers. A resource library is also available for your use.
• Childcaretraining.org offers online training opportunities.  Visit their catalog here for your professional development needs.
• Trainings can be found on The Early Childhood Project (ECP) website by searching the Professional Development Calendar. HRDC Sponsored classes are available on ECP, view our training calendar for more information: June 2022 Professional Development classes. To view our NEW training catalog click here to find classes,  orientation requirements, First/AID/CPR and more.
  • Interested in applying for the next Certified Montana Infant Toddler Caregiver Course or the Certified Montana Preschool Teacher Education Course? Click here to add yourself to the waiting list by entering your contact information.  When the next courses are scheduled and the application link is live you will receive an email with more details on completing the application process.
• Online Registration for all courses is required and payment through the Early Childhood Project.  You will need to sign in or create an ECP account to complete online registration.

Here are some community resources you may need to contact if you need training immediately:

• • Billings Clinic-  This American Heart Association Heartsaver courses are for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in first aid and/or CPR and AED to meet job, regulatory or other requirements. This course covers adult, infant and child CPR.  To register, you may do it online, call 406-255-8440 or 1-800-252-1246.
  • American Medical Response-  AMR offers American Red Cross certification and training in Adult, Child  CPR, First Aid and AED training.  Please contact Kim Hopkins at AMR: 406-259-9601 (She has flexibility in hours and can discuss where trainings can take place).
  • HRDC – We are working to bring you a new Hybrid Red Cross training which will include an Online learning portion, coupled with an in-person skills assessment. You will register and pay HRDC, take the online portion and pass, then schedule a skills test.  Watch the website (www.hrdc7.org)  for UPDATES regarding this  transition.

If you are a provider and are looking for information about how to apply to the Practitioner Registry, please click here.

Montana Early Childhood Project: The Montana Career Path

How do I get information to the Referral Specialist about my child care?

Our referral specialist can update your vacancies and other information.
To be redirected to that page click here.

Click to view Market Rates. To change your rates please fill out the Provider Rate Form  and return it to us by:

• Email:  childcare@hrdc7.org
• Fax: (406) 869-2585
• Mail: PO Box 2016 Billings, MT 59103 – Attention: Danielle
• Drop it by our office at 7 N 31^st St,  Billings, MT

For more information

Call (406) 247-4700 or Email Child Care Department

Best Beginnings Family/Friend/Neighbor (FFN)

What is a Family/Friend/Neighbor (FFN)?

A Family/Friend/Neighbor is a special certification for a friend or family member that cares for up to two children from different families or all the children in one sibling group. The family that is receiving care must be eligible for the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship.  Click here for the FFN page on dphhs.mt.gov

How do I apply to become a Family/Friend/Neighbor (FFN)?

• You will only be eligible to become an FFN if the family you are providing child care for is eligible for the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship.
• The family’s application paperwork (which is submitted to the local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency) is separate from your application paperwork.

Application requirements include:

• Family Association Form
• Forms required for all adults living in the household 18 years and older (fees vary)
• Statement of Health Form
• State of MT Release of Information
• FBI Release of Information form for Fingerprint
• Health and Safety Checklist
• Medication Administration Attestation
• Immunization Certification Form
• Tax ID Form – W9
• Training Requirements
• Health & Safety Overview
• FFN Fundamentals
• CPR/First Aid Certification (required for non-relative care)

Contact Child Care Licensing if you have any questions about the FFN Program:
PO Box 4210
Helena MT 59620-4210
Phone: (406) 444-2012
Fax : (406) 444-2750 or Email: childcarelicensing@mt.gov

• FFN Application and Documents

How do I attend FFN Training?

Please click here to be directed to training information on the Montana DPHHS website.

I need help finding Child Care.

Our Referral Specialist helps you find quality child care that best fits your needs. Whether your hours of needed care are limited or you are looking for specific environments, we connect families to licensed or registered child care providers to provide a quality experience for everyone.  We provide referrals for families in Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Powder River, Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, Wheatland and Yellowstone counties.

1. Stop by our office or call (406) 247-4700 to get a child care need form.
2. Create an account to generate your own list by clicking here.
3. Click here to complete an online child care need form.
4. Click here to print out a form and return it to us by:
   • Email: childcare@hrdc7.org
   • Fax: (406) 869-2585
   • Mail: PO Box 2016 Billings, MT 59103 – Attention: Child Care Referral Specialist
   • Drop it by our office at 7 N 31^st St,  Billings, MT

If you are a provider and need to update information with our Referral Specialist click here.

In an effort to reduce the costs of child care while ensuring children receive healthy and nutritious meals, eligible child care providers are given cash reimbursement for serving meals to enrolled participants that meet Federal nutritional guidelines, outlined in the CACFP meal pattern.

Do I apply for CACFP through HRDC?

Yes. HRDC administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for the Montana Department of Health and Human Services

What counties do you serve?

Big Horn, Carbon, Custer, Fallon, Fergus, Musselshell, Prairie, Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland and Yellowstone.

How many meals are eligible for reimbursement?

Participating providers may be approved to claim up to two meals and one snack, or two snacks and one meal, per day, per child.

What trainings are required as a CACFP participant?

Participants are required to participate in two mandatory trainings annually.

• 2 hour regulations training includes a review of CACFP requirements, recordkeeping, payments and civil rights.
• 2 hour nutrition training includes CACFP meal patterns, menus, recipes, and food safety.

Do you conduct site visits?

Yes. We will visit each CACFP participant’s site a minimum of three times a year.

How do I enroll in the CACFP?

Family and Group Home providers should call (406) 247-4700 to apply. Child Care Centers must apply through the state department or call 888-307-9333. Facilities must be licensed to qualify for CACFP.

For more information

Call (406) 247-4700 or Email childcare@hrdc7.org

What is STARS?

The Best Beginnings STARS to Quality Program is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system that aligns quality indicators with support and incentives for early childhood programs and early childhood professionals. The Early Childhood Services Bureau has enjoyed watching the program grow and develop with the input from the various stakeholders, and has listened carefully to early childhood professionals, parents, and national experts to provide a strong program, desired by many.

STARS has several components:

1. Workforce Development
2. Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
3. Infrastructure to administer the programs, provide training , coaching, and technical assistance, and to validate the STARS system

How do I apply to be a STARS Provider?

Programs may apply for Best Beginnings STARS to Quality at any time on the Early Childhood Project website.  To apply, you must log in as an organization, go to the STARS tab, and click “Apply for STARS”.  If your application is accepted, you will be notified and sent a STARS to Quality agreement and W-9 which must be returned in order to be accepted into STARS to Quality.  Click the link below to apply. If you need assistance, contact HRDC Provider Services, watch the video tutorials, or click here for printable instructions.

For more information about Montana STARS to quality, visit the website: Best Beginnings STARS to Quality

What changes will I see as my child grows?

How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age.
Click here to connect to the CDC website sharing more information about each stage.

Choosing Care Pointers

Click here to learn more about speech & language therapy resources for children.