Child Care News Newsletter | Family Focus | Family Connections Montana

Child Care Resources’ Happenings

Connoisseurs’ Classic & Auction

You are cordially invited to the sixth annual Connoisseurs’ Classic & Auction, scheduled for November 9, 2012 at the Sister Rita Mudd Activity Center in Missoula, MT.

This will be an evening of rare scotches and exceptional wines, and a live and silent auction.

This year’s live auction will feature a trip for two to the big island of Hawaii!!! Included are two, round-trip airline tickets and 7 nights at an exclusive two-bedroom condo located approximately 25 minutes north of Kona. For more information or to register, visit the Connoisseurs’ Classic & Auction page.

Child Care Referrals

Do you need help finding a child care program in your community? All child care referrals for the state of Montana are now being conducted by a centralized agency, Child Care Solutions MT. For a Best Beginnings Child Care Referral, please visit FamilyConnectionsMT.org, or call toll free, 1.855.406.CARE (2273).

Legally Certified Providers

All paperwork for the Best Beginnings Legally Certified Provider (LCP) Program, formerly Legally Unregistered Provider (LUP), will be processed by a centralized agency, Child Care Solutions MT. Please visit FamilyConnectionsMT.org for more information, or call toll free, 1.800.896.4503.

Enrollment Study

In November 2009, CCR replicated an Enrollment Study in our tri-county region to gain a better understanding of where children receive care and how often they attend. The Enrollment Study was initially conducted state-wide by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services’ (DPHHS) Early Childhood Services Bureau (ECSB) in 2004. CCR used the state’s data from 2004 to compare our recent findings and assess the current child care market. View our findings in the Enrollment Study >>

We’re the Child Care Experts

ChildCareTraining.org >>

Online professional development opportunities for early childhood professionals, offered on demand.

Product Recalls >>

Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for any recent recalls relevant to child care providers and parents of young children.

In the News: Agencies Push To Change MT Laws For Child Care Centers >>

In the News: Fingerprint checks for daycare workers sought >>

View recent press coverage concerning early childhood issues or Child Care Resources.

Hear This Week’s Family Focus >>

Tune into 92.7 or 93.3 every weekday during the breaks at 8 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. for the Family Focus Minute!

Invest in Early Childhood

Strong early childhood care and education builds the foundation for future learning during the crucial rapid brain development period, preparing today’s toddlers to be a strong future workforce and stronger future leaders. Skills beget skills. Quality early learning opportunities for today’s children are the foundation for a lifetime of success. Child Care Resources has produced a video that takes a look at the phenomenal return on investment for early childhood programs.