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Grants Available:

1. Child Care Mini Grants

DPHHS offers “mini grants” to child care providers who need a quick, simple financial boost for eligible expenses. Grant applications are accepted anytime during the year and are awarded quarterly.  To be considered during the first quarter, the application must be postmarked no later than September 1 of the current year.  To be considered during the second quarter, applications must be postmarked no later than December 1 of the current year.  To be considered during the third quarter, applications must be postmarked no later than March 1 of the current year.  To be considered during the fourth quarter, applications must be postmarked no later than June 1 of the current year. Mini grants are available for licensed ($1,500 maximum) or registered ($1,000 maximum, Family & Group) child care providers who participate in the Early Care and Education Practitioners Registry (may be at any level on the Career Path).

Funds can be used to:

• Replace or acquire equipment
• Purchase developmentally appropriate toys and/or supplies
• Obtain liability insurance (only for new providers-$250 maximum)
• Meet regulatory requirements, e.g. install egress windows, or
• Hire substitute care, to enable provider/or staff to attend training, conferences, and/or workshops.

Applications are available through Resource & Referral agencies, Child Care licensors, and the Early Childhood Services Bureau. The Best Beginnings mini grant is an annual one-time reimbursement.

2. Provider Grants

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services offers annual grants to licensed and registered child care providers, allowing them to improve or create high-quality child care programs, which expands and improves access to stable child care for low income families. The application typically becomes available in July and the award date is in September. Child care providers must be licensed or registered by either: the State of Montana, a Montana tribe operating it’s own child care licensing/registration program (if no funds are available for the purpose from the Tribal Block Grant), or a federally licensed program (such as Malmstrom AFB) operating in Montana.

Grants may be renewed annually for up to three years, depending on performance. Grant requirements are as follows:

1. Child Care providers agree to reserve a minimum of 20% of their child openings for children who qualify for services under the State of Montana’s Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program.
   
   
2. Eligible children must be enrolled and receiving care at the child care facility in order for the provider to participate.
   
   
3. To be eligible to participate, child care providers need to be participating in the Montana’s registry of early care and education practitioners that have achieved level III or higher on the career path.
   
   
4. Providers must meet the child care needs in their local communities in one of seven categories. The categories are:
   
   
   1. Odd hour or part time care.
      
      
   2. Inclusion of children with disabilities.
      
      
   3. Rural care.
      
      
   4. Lack of licensed or registered care.
      
      
   5. Other community need.
      
      
   6. Improvements to meet applicable state and/or local licensing/registration requirements.
      
      
   7. Before-and-after school child care programs for school-aged children from kindergarten through age 12.

These grants are awarded to child care providers who demonstrate:

• A strong link to professionalism in the field of early childhood.
• A commitment to providing high quality care in safe and healthy environments.
• A commitment to the development and retention of highly skilled and knowledgeable staff.

Maximum Grant Awards: $15,000 for licensed centers $10,000 for registered group child care homes, and $5,000 for family child care Homes.

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