Governor, DPHHS increase childcare support
Support to improve access to childcare across Montana through help with costs
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News from the office of Governor Gianforte
HELENA — Together with Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton, Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced increased support for families’ childcare costs through the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program (BBCCS).
“Montana’s early childhood providers support hardworking families, strengthen our economy, and build a brighter future for our state,” Gov. Gianforte said. “This is a crucial investment in our childcare system to ensure providers and families have the support they need to get the services they require.”
The DPHHS Early Childhood and Family Support Division offers the BBCCS to qualified low-income families whose child receives care from a licensed or registered center, group or family childcare home, or Family, Friend, and Neighbor provider.
Beginning March 1, the increased subsidy rate allows all licensed and registered childcare providers who accept BBCCS to receive the rate increase for eligible clients the program serves. The new childcare rates can be viewed on the DPHHS website.
With the increased rate, an additional 15 percent premium will be added for providers operating in areas identified as high growth counties. The high growth designation applies to Flathead, Gallatin, Missoula, Ravalli, Yellowstone, and Lewis and Clark counties.
The increased rates will help childcare providers better cover costs associated with the care they provide, while also stabilizing the childcare workforce and providing families with improved access to childcare.
“Ensuring Montana families have access to high-quality childcare is a major component to their overall prosperity,” Dir. Brereton said. “While all participating childcare providers and families across Montana will benefit from our rate increases, those living in high growth areas will receive an additional boost to ensure that childcare provider doors stay open and access to services increases. We’re looking forward to monitoring and measuring the impact of these rate increases over time.”
The rate increase comes after Gov. Gianforte signed House Bill 648 into law in 2023 to increase funding for the Best Beginnings Scholarship program, expanding access to childcare for hundreds of young Montanans.
To increase access to quality childcare, promote strong, healthy families, and address childcare workforce availability, recruitment, and retention, the governor and DPHHS announced last year a $24 million investment in the state’s early childhood system.
