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.
Parents & Families
Get Help Paying for Child Care
Important Policy Update Letter
The BBS program has made changes to long standing policies. Please read this letter for more information.
How does it work?
The Best Beginnings Scholarship helps your family pay for child care costs. You can apply for the scholarship if you meet certain criteria. If you are found eligible you make a co-payment based on income, using a sliding fee scale.
How do I apply?
Applying is easy!
- Online: Apply Online
- Your application goes directly to the child care agency based on the county you live in.
- You must first create a State Okta account to access application materials and the Parent Portal
- The Parent Portal walks you through the application process
- Need help finding or applying for care? Contact your Child Care Agency or visit our Provider Locator Map
Who is eligible?
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:
- Two-parent families working at least 120 hours per month.
- Single-parent families working at least 60 hours per month.
- Single parent or two-parent families in which all of the parents attend school/training full time do not have to meet a work requirement.
- Single parent or two-parent families in which one or more of the parents attend school/training part time shall meet a work requirement that accounts for the education/training.
- Teen parents must be attending high school or a high school equivalency program.
- Child care assistance authorization is based on the child's need for care.
Additional considerations when applying:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Eligible while participating in their Family Investment Agreement. Contact your Child Care Agency.
- Tribal Families: Dually eligible for Tribal CCDF Block Grant and Montana Child Care Scholarship.
- Child Support: Non-TANF households must cooperate with the Child Support Enforcement Division or have an approved reason not to.
Child Care Providers
Join a Caring Community of Licensed Providers
Important Policy Update Letter
The BBS program has made changes to long standing policies. Please read this letter for more information.
Why make Best Beginnings part of your business?
When you are licensed with the state of Montana you can welcome children receiving the BBS into your care. The program's monthly payments make it easy to budget and build your business.
Check out the BBS reimbursement rates to see how much you could earn supporting kids in your community.
How it works
To accept BBS children you must first become licensed. The application process to become a licensed provider is straightforward. Apply online, or visit our licensing page to learn more.
If you are a licensed provider complete the following steps to begin:
- Create a State level OKTA account to access the Provider Portal
- Complete the Rights and Responsibilities Agreement in the Provider Portal
- Enroll a child on the Scholarship
- Set up invoicing
- Make a meaningful impact in your community
Benefits
- Reliable source of revenue in the form of subsidy payments
- Receive payments at the beginning of each month
- Connect with a community of peers dedicated to supporting working families
- Access to Best Beginnings Scholarship technical support.
What's the commitment?
Child care providers receiving the BBS commit to quality child care standards to ensure children in their care are safe, happy, and healthy. They receive yearly inspections and agree to the terms and conditions set force by DPHHS.
What is MAQCS?
MAQCS stands for Montana Access to Quality Child Care System.
It is a software system that is used by the public to apply for Best Beginnings Scholarships, to apply to be a Licensed Child Care Provider, and to manage the data and applications as they are processed.
Do I need a MAQCS Account?
- Are you a parent seeking help with the cost of child care?
- Are you a child care Provider, Owner, Co-Owner, Director or an individual staff person at a child care facility?
- If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you need a MAQCS account. You will create an Okta account to log into MAQCS.
We have multiple resources to help you in creating an OKTA account.
Families: How to create your OKTA Account
Providers: How to create your OKTA Account
You can download instructions here: Okta Account Creation and Password Reset.
Visit the Okta Home page here: Okta Help
- The first step is to create an Okta account.
- Okta is a secure site provided by the State of Montana to manage access to many systems for users to do business with State agencies. Click here to go to the Okta site: https://okta.loginmt.com/
- Log into Okta or create a new Okta account.
- Look for the MAQCS application on the home page.
- To narrow down the number of systems displayed, type ‘MAQCS’ into the search bar and click the portal that applies to you.
- Three different apps may appear: HHS MAQCS, HHS MAQCS Child Care Licensing, and HHS MAQCS Best Beginnings.
- If you are a provider, click the Child Care Licensing portal, if you are a parent click the Best Beginnings portal.
- Click ‘Log In’ on the portal homepage.
- Licensing questions can be answered on the Child Care Licensing page here: Frequently Asked Questions
- The Spark help desk is available to give technical assistance. You can find their website here. Or give them a call, 406-481-3728.
- Scholarship questions can be answered on the Best Beginnings Scholarship page here: Frequently Asked Questions.
- For additional assistance, contact your Child Care Agency. Look here to find the team assigned to your area: Child Care Agencies