What is Best Beginnings?

Best Beginnings is Montana’s childcare assistance program. This program helps pay for childcare AKA Early Childhood Education (within certain household incomes) when parents are not available to care for their children:

  • During working hours;

  • During school or training hours, if meeting work requirements;

  • If they are a teen parent attending high school; or

  • If they are a parent receiving TANF who is participating in family investment agreement activities.

Who is Best Beginnings

The federal and state government is behind Montana’s Best Beginnings Program. Every state has their own program names for childcare assistance that are in partial funded by the US Government.

The state then works with various agencies to help coordinate the funds and program. Here at Alberton Early Learning Center we work with Child Care Resources, a childcare reference and referral agency, to help take care of the Best Beginnings scholarships.

 

Where Is Best Beginnings accepted?

Best Beginnings is accepted at most licensed childcare facilities/providers. Not all facilities/providers accept BB so make sure they are a participant. Depending on annual income, a family will have a CO-PAY that they have to pay monthly to the provider. The rest will be covered by the BB scholarship as long as it is below or meets the state standard daily rate. Your CO-PAY will depend on how much your families annual income is. Please be aware that no matter how much you make it is important to check to see if you qualify for assistance!

When can Best Beginnings be used?

You can apply for Best beginnings at any time!! Best Beginnings can be used yearly. The funds are for 12 months long and then you will get re-evaluated or if financial situations change within those 12 months, scholarships will be re-evaluated.

 

How does Best beginnings work?

Step #1: Take a look at the sliding fee scale to see if you would qualify for the best beginnings scholarship! Remember….even if you THINK you do not qualify, CHECK ANYWAYS!

Step #2: Choose your Childcare Provider. Shop around and find one that is best for you and your child! Make sure they accept the Best Beginnings Scholarship.

Step #3: Fill out the Best Beginnings Application. You can do this 1 of 3 ways:

  1. Fill out the application ONLINE here. For this you will have to make what’s called a Montana E-Pass account. This is Montana’s official government technology that holds are legal docs/apps/ paperwork.

    OR

  2. Download and print the application MANUALLY here. Then turn it into Childcare Resources in Missoula.

    OR

  1. Contact Child Care Resources in Missoula to help fill out the application and walk you through the process.

Step #4: Childcare Resources will then be in contact as to what paperwork they still need or how your application will proceed! From there you will get all the info you need as to what your monthly CO-PAY will be to your provider to when your child can start attending a facility!