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Exciting news for Montana's early childhood community!
The Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services announced the Montana Early Childhood Account (MECA) Board has “approved $8.5 million in funding to deliver critical financial resources to child care providers across the state through three noncompetitive grant programs.”
These investments were made possible through the Growth & Opportunity Trust (HB 924, the legislation that created MECA) and are designed to strengthen Montana's early childhood system through strategic, data-informed funding. The funds will help address workforce challenges, support the high cost of providing quality infant and toddler care, and reduce barriers to professional development and developmental screening by improving access to technology. The MECA Board began meeting in February 2026 and is now taking the first steps toward putting these resources into the hands of providers. Read more on the DPHHS website.
More information on how to apply for grants will be coming in the next few months!
This is a great start to ongoing investments in the programs and services critical to Montana’s children and families. We are so thankful for everyone who made their voice heard and helped to support this historic investment in Montana’s future!
The MECA board meets next on July 26 at 10 a.m. For more information, the meeting Zoom link, and to sign up for email updates, visit https://bit.ly/MTECA
Child Care CONNECT Summit is less than one month away!
📍 Fairmont Hot Springs
📆 July 28-29
The annual CONNECT Summit is a unique opportunity for Montana employers, community leaders and economic developers to discover partnership opportunities and learn about strategies to support and build robust child care infrastructure statewide, while ALSO offering child care business owners and professionals space to connect with peers and level up their business and leadership knowledge.
Community Conversations Road Show heads to
Dillon and Hamilton this month!
Join us in one of the following communities to help shape a shared vision for early childhood policy in Montana:
While these two visits mark the end of our in-person Road Show, we are offering two more virtual opportunities to connect next month:
Join us this fall for a presentation and discussion on Zero to Five Montana's policy agenda and our priorities for the 2027 legislative session.
We Are Still Here - Native Culture Webinar Series
The Alliance for Early Success has been offering regular webinars for the early childhood policy advocacy community that center history, research, policy, and more, all with the purpose of helping us see the way past and present policy decisions intersect with native culture and sovereignty.
Our own Early Childhood Tribal Policy Coordinator Callie Parr serves on an advisory committee of Alliance grantees with Native heritage to help shape the overall learning arc of the series, including identifying potential topics and speakers for webinars.
Upcoming webinars, recordings and resources can be found on the Alliance for Early Success website.
The Opportunity Blueprint for Infant-Toddler Care Services
Infant-Toddler care has never been easy work. It is physically demanding, emotionally complex, and expensive to provide. For many providers, the hardest part has not been the work itself – it has been trying to make the numbers work without sacrificing quality, staff, or personal well-being.
Rising labor costs, workforce instability, public preschool expansion, and family mobility require a new model grounded in unit‑level profitability from the outset.
Zero to Five Montana has developed this resource to explain why Infant‑Toddler care must be financially viable at the individual child level, how to localize data to identify real opportunities, and how to build comprehensive budgets that accurately determine cost per child.
Sustainability does not come from one fix. It comes from aligning pricing, enrollment, expenses, and revenue sources in realistic ways – this guide helps give clarity around making solid business decisions.
Join us for a webinar on July 8, from 6-7 p.m. to learn more about this free resource!
Attendees will receive 1 hour of ECP credit.
Join us for Child Care Leaders Lunch and Learn Workshops
This series will help child care providers shift from managing daily crises to leading with purpose, giving you practical strategies to strengthen your team, improve communication, build accountability, and create a culture where people want to stay. Connect with fellow child care leaders, learn from real-life examples, and walk away with tools you can use immediately to lead with greater confidence and impact.
- July 8 - The shift from Provider to Leader
- July 15 - Building Accountability Without Creating Fear.
- July 22 - Communication Under Pressure.
- July 29 - Creating Culture instead of Managing Chaos.
Attendees will receive 4 hours of ECP credit. Register for FREE here.
Child Care Providers: 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.
A sincere thank you to everyone who attended the Employer Forum for Child Care Solutions on June 11 in Kalispell. Through informative presentations, a thoughtful panel discussion, and meaningful conversations, participants shared ideas and insights on how we can work together to support families and strengthen our workforce.
Family Forward Montana Offers Free Resources for Employers!
Want to learn more about supporting your employees and implementing family-friendly policies? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter featuring resources, sample policies and best practices to help make your business one of Montana's Best Places for Working Parents®!
Partner News
Great Beginnings, Great Families Conference Aug. 11-13
Join maternal, child, and adolescent professionals, advocates, support staff, and providers for a chance to improve the health and well-being of Montanans. Connect with programs to increase the efficacy of maternal, early childhood, and youth programs throughout our state.
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.
