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. Click here to learn more about participating programs in our area.

Montana’s Early Childhood Career Path

Montana has developed a comprehensive, coordinated career development system for practitioners working in every type of childhood setting. Gain the recognition you deserve for your experience, education and training in early childhood care and education by joining The Practitioner Registry. Your education and experience will determine your level on the Career Path. For more information, visit the Montana Early Childhood Project website or call 800.213.6310.

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.