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
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:
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- 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 31st 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)?
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
How do I attend FFN Training?
Please click here to be directed to training information on the Montana DPHHS website.