Department of Public Health & Human Services

Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarships
Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarships offer child care payment assistance to low-income parents who are working and/or participating in pre-approved education programs, with certain limitations.

Best Beginnings Quality Programs
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) administers the Best Beginnings Quality Programs through contracts with local Resource and Referral programs, the Montana University System, private child care providers and other entities to provide child care providers with start-up, expansion, and training opportunities. These programs have been thoughtfully designed to maximize limited resources so that access to quality early childhood programs is improved for all children.

Best Beginnings Quality programs promote training, professional development, and environmental improvement support for all licensed and registered child care facilities.

Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides funding for nutritious meals and snacks while children are in child care.

Head Start - State Collaboration Office
It is the goal of the Head Start Collaboration to impact the lives of low-income children and families by influencing state and local policy and the effective delivery of services, while linking Head Start programs and communities through collaborative relationships.

School Readiness
Success in learning occurs before kindergarten. Families, communities, services and schools all play a part in a child’s school readiness by supporting the development of skills and positive behaviors, as well as enhancing the environments in which they spend their time.