Cost help
Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship (DPHHS)
Listed under Child care assistance
About this service
The Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship (BBS) program helps Montana families afford quality child care, allowing parents to participate more fully in the workforce and focus on their children(s) well-being.
The State Best Beginnings Scholarship Team helps families use the scholarship portal to apply, submit documents, and manage their benefits. The team provides policy guidance throughout the process, answers questions, and helps ensure families receive the support they need.
How to get help
To apply for or manage your child care scholarship, you must create an account using the State of Montana’s secure OKTA system. This account allows you to safely log in to the Parent Portal to submit applications, upload documents, and manage your case.
Apply: Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship (DPHHS)
- Phone
- 406.728.6446
Who qualifies
Families earning less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level with children in licensed care, including centers, family homes, and Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) care are eligible. Income and co-payments are determined by the Child Care Sliding Fee Scale. Co-payments are paid directly to your child care provider. Parents must be participating in eligible activities.
Cost
- Published cost
- Total Monthly Co-payment = Gross Monthly Income (GMI) x the percentage assigned to the income range, which is based on Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) or $10, whichever is greater.
- How families pay
- Sliding scale
Sources
- from dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/MAQCS/Contacts updated
- from dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/policymanual/SlidingFee… updated
- from dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/documentsandresources/H… updated
- from dphhs.mt.gov/AboutUs/index updated
- from dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/childcare/BestBeginningsScholarships updated