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Inaugural Montana Early Childhood Network Convening
in the Books!
The Montana Early Childhood Network Convening earlier this week was an incredible day and a half of connection, sharing and building -- we were thrilled to host the inaugural event this year in Helena. We had 102 registrants from 18 counties covering a diverse cross-section of fields within our state's early childhood system.
The network at a glance:
- 232 members & growing
- Representation includes state agencies, parents, childcare providers, home visitors, economic development professionals, early childhood advocates & coalitions, early education teachers, mental health professionals, legislators, tribal organizations, early intervention specialists and more!
- Membership spans 25 counties & 34 cities
- 15 members from 15 different organizations have presented during the monthly Coffee Connections meetings (see information on this month's below!)
The power in this network lies in its members and the connections made. It’s a place to find people, share what we know, and make the work lighter by doing it together. Thank you for making this first in-person convening such a success. See you next year!
Thank you, sponsors! This event was made possible by generous contributions from:
Have you joined the Montana Early Childhood Network yet?
Learn more and sign up below!
Join for the monthly virtual meet-up to foster connection, collaboration, and information-sharing ☕
October Coffee Connection will be with
Xanna Burg
Director for Montana Kids Count
🗓️ Oct. 22 | ⏰ 9 a.m. | 💻 via Zoom
Join us in Elevating Early Childhood - Sign On Today!
The strongest early childhood policy is built together with the families, providers, and communities it serves. The 2026 statewide Early Childhood Community Conversations Roadshow aimed to get our team engaged at the local level to hear more about what is working and what needs support. As a result of that work, we're thrilled to share our 2026 Roadshow Report and 2027 Early Childhood Policy Agenda.
This year's tour around the state reminded us that we do this work because Montana’s children and families deserve a system that works.
We invite you to join us and sign on to the 2027 policy agenda as part of a collective voice urging Montana's state lawmakers to prioritize young children and families when they return to Helena for the next legislative session in January 2027.
Advocacy 101 Webinar on Oct. 21
The 2027 state legislative session is just around the corner! Now is a great time to make some early childhood advocacy plans. Join us on this webinar to learn more about Montana state government, how it’s structured, how bills become laws, and ways to advocate for early childhood issues in Montana.
This free webinar is offered twice on Oct. 21:
✅ 12 pm: REGISTER HERE
✅ 6 pm: REGISTER HERE
Montana Early Childhood Account Grant Applications Open, Board meets Oct. 15
MECA Grant applications are open!
The MECA Board has announced three initial grant opportunities designed to support early childhood providers in addressing workforce challenges, better serving children with developmental differences, and increasing infant and toddler care capacity.
Information about these grants, and the ongoing work of the MECA grant can be found here. For additional information, see the FAQ
🏛️ Montana Early Childhood Account Board Meeting
📆 Thurs. Oct. 15 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., Via Zoom
Meetings are open to the public and you can tune in via Zoom! Access the agenda, sign up for email updates and learn more about the board on the MECA web page. The first funding priority identified by the board is to support child care infrastructure.
Check out The CONNECTOR
Sign up for The CONNECTOR, a new monthly e-blast developed specifically for child care providers to support the business of care through free trainings, tools and support.
Upcoming Trainings
Business Fundamentals – The Anatomy, Engineering, and Intentional Design of an ECE Business helps participants look beyond the big idea of an ECE business and begin asking the kinds of questions every new owner needs to answer: Who are we serving? How will the program actually run? What will it cost, and how will the numbers work? Using examples and a hands-on activity, participants will learn how to spot gaps in the business, connect symptoms to root causes, and make more intentional decisions before small issues become expensive problems. Oct. 13, 12:30-2:30 p.m. via Zoom.
PEAK for Centers is Montana Child Care Business Connect’s Program Excellence and Administration Knowledge (PEAK) small group coaching cohort that focuses on improving the business administration practices of your child care program!
Fall 2026 PEAK Cohort with Jason is starting Oct. 15
NEW ON THE BLOG!
The new Quality Recognition System (QRS), Montana’s Treasures, is launching this month, and Zero to Five Montana is excited to support childcare businesses as they recognize and build upon the quality services they already provide.
Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services Early Childhood Services Bureau has spent the past several years reimagining Montana’s QRS and looking at how the system can help all childcare programs highlight their strengths and choose pathways toward quality.
Family Forward Montana: Supporting Business Owners in Building Family-Friendly Workplaces
Family Forward Montana, an initiative of Zero to Five Montana and part of the National Best Place for Working Parents® network, uplifts the value of family-friendly work environments across our state. This program is designed specifically for business owners like you, aiming to empower you to build workplaces that prioritize the well-being of employees and their families, ultimately enhancing your business success.
Pete’s Place is a great example of the Family Forward Montana mission in action. Through employee-centered practices that support both individuals and their families, they are helping set the standard for what a family-forward workplace can look like. Watch their full story by clicking on the video below!
Connect with us!
This project is funded in whole or in part under a contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The statements herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the department.
