Financial Incentives

Best Beginnings STARS to Quality Program

The Best Beginnings STARS to Quality program is Montana’s voluntary Quality Rating Improvement System, or QRIS. Learn about the STARS to Quality Program, or apply to participate.

View participating programs in our area.

Provider Grants

Provider grants are administered by Child Care Resources for providers in Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli Counties. Providers may apply for a single grant award to fund the following purposes:

  • Start Up Funds
  • Infant & Toddler Expansion Funds
  • Emergency/Natural Disaster Funds (Covid-19 related expenses are not eligible for emergency provider grants)

Grant applications may range from $500 – $3,000. All grant applications will be reviewed by a committee. Upcoming application deadlines are August 10, 2020 and September 14, 2020.

To find out more information and to apply please click on the Provider Grant Application.

You may also contact Claudette Barber with any questions or for more information at cbarber@childcareresources.org.

Provider Grants — CARES Act Grants

  • Grants to Licensed/Registered Child Care Businesses – The CARES Act includes funding specifically for the child care industry.  Grants are available to all licensed/registered child care programs. The application is available here.  This document is a fillable Word document.  After completing the form please save it as a Word document for fastest screening. If you do not have Word, you may use Google Docs or download a free office suite from http://www.openoffice.org/.  This is an open source website that provides free programs.  Contact Dylan Griffin for more information at dgriffin@childcareresources.org.  Submit your completed application to Dylan as well.  CCR team members will screen applications quickly to assure they are complete and forward them daily to the Early Childhood Services Bureau.  Processing these application is a state priority, but CCR does not know how soon payments will be sent. If you are unable to access the application, or have other technical difficulties please contact us and we will support you in ensuring your application is completed and submitted.
  • Other CARES Act Grants – Montana also has grants to businesses, social service nonprofits, and to individuals who are having trouble paying housing costs due to the pandemic.  These grants are competitive.  Applications open on May 7th.  A comprehensive information resource and application portal is available at COVIDRelief.mt.gov. To prepare for the application, businesses and non-profits should have their tax ID, proof of business registration, a brief description of how the grant will be spent, and a brief description of how COVID-19 has impacted their operations. Homeowners and renters should have bank account information available and verification of job or income loss.

Provider grants are administered by Child Care Resources for providers in Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli Counties. Providers may apply for a single grant award to fund the following purposes:

  • Start Up Funds
  • Infant Toddler Expansion Funds
  • Emergency/Natural Disaster Funds

Grant applications may range from $500 – $3,000. All grant applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by CCR. Upcoming application deadlines are January 13, 2020, February 10, 2020, and March 9, 2020.

To find out more information and to apply, please view the Provider Grant Application. Give CCR a call; one of our Professional Development Specialists is available to answer questions. Submit your application to CCR.

Child and Adult Care Food Program

CACFP provides partial meal reimbursements to help you serve nutritious meals to the children in your care. Child Care Resources sponsors the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program for home providers. Centers participate though Montana CACFP via the Early Childhood Services Bureau.

If you are a family or group home child care provider contact us to sign up. We will visit your facility and help you complete the application. We’ll also share resources about the program and about serving nutritious meals. The best part is that you can begin claiming meals for reimbursements the day we visit to sign you up!

If you have a child care center and are interested in enrolling in CACFP, please visit Montana CACFP.

As a provider participating in CACFP you receive four hours of free professional development, which count toward your annual licensing training requirement.

Professional Development Incentive Award for Completion of the Certified Infant/Toddler Course

The Early Childhood Services Bureau (ECSB) offers a one-time incentive award for successful completion of the 60-hour Certified Infant/Toddler Course.

Visit the Montana Early Childhood Project for more information.

Scholarships

The Montana Early Childhood Project has several scholarship programs available to help you achieve your professional development goals as an early childhood professional. For a description of the scholarships and the application process, please visit the Montana Early Childhood Project.