Last updated: May 19, 2026
Bottom line
Montana’s main child care help program is the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship. It can help pay a qualifying provider while you work, attend school or training, take part in TANF work activities, or meet other approved rules. You usually still pay a monthly copay.
The fastest starting point is the state’s Okta portal. If the portal is hard to use, call the child care agency that serves your county. Montana says the application goes to a regional agency based on where you live.
This guide focuses on child care. For wider benefit help, use our Montana help guide and our national child care help page.
Urgent help if child care is about to fall apart
If you may lose your job, miss school, or leave a child in an unsafe situation because child care fell through, do not wait for a perfect plan.
- Call your regional child care agency and say you need help with a Best Beginnings application, provider search, or provider change.
- Search or call Montana 211 for same-day local help, food, diapers, shelters, transportation, and crisis resources.
- If you are facing eviction or a utility shutoff, also check ASMOM’s housing help, rent help, and bill help guides.
- If you or your children are in danger, call 911. If abuse or stalking is part of the problem, contact a local advocate before sharing plans that could make you less safe.
Where to start
If you already have a provider
Ask the provider if they accept Best Beginnings and what you would owe each month after the state payment and your copay. Then apply through the portal.
If you need a provider
Call your child care agency and ask for referrals that match your hours, child’s age, location, and whether the provider takes the scholarship.
If you work nights
Ask about Family, Friend, and Neighbor care or Relative Care Exempt care. Do not assume a relative can be paid until the agency approves the provider.
If you are in school
Ask how your class schedule affects your authorization. Also check our Montana education grants page.
Quick reference for Montana child care help
| Need | Best first step | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Help paying for licensed or approved child care | Apply for Best Beginnings. | You may have a copay, and some providers may charge more than the state pays. |
| Help using the new portal | Use the MAQCS contacts page. | Montana moved applications and documents into the Okta/MAQCS portal. |
| Help finding child care | Contact your child care agency. | Openings can be tight for infants, nontraditional hours, and rural areas. |
| Free early learning for young children | Use the Head Start locator. | Head Start may not cover all work hours, so ask about wraparound care. |
| Food, cash, Medicaid, or energy help | Use Apply.mt.gov. | These programs do not replace child care, but they may free up room in your budget. |
Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship
Best Beginnings helps many Montana families pay for child care so parents can work, attend school or training, or complete approved TANF activities. Montana’s child care page says single-parent families generally must work at least 60 hours per month unless a different school, training, teen parent, or TANF rule applies.
Eligible care can include licensed child care centers, registered family or group homes, and approved Family, Friend, and Neighbor care. The official parent page also points families to family resources, provider search tools, Head Start, and child care licensing basics.
For many single mothers, the key question is not just “Do I qualify?” It is also “Can I find a provider who has an opening and will accept the scholarship?” Ask both questions before you plan your work or school schedule around a child care slot.
Who may qualify
- You live in Montana and the child needing care lives with you.
- Your child needs care so you can work, attend school or training, attend high school as a teen parent, or complete approved TANF activities.
- Your household income fits the current Montana sliding fee scale.
- The provider is licensed, registered, or otherwise approved for scholarship payment.
- If there is an absent parent and you are not on TANF, you may have to cooperate with child support or ask about good cause.
Important portal change
A February 2026 state letter says the Best Beginnings Parent Portal is available through Okta and that applications, renewals, and documents are handled through the portal. It also says paper documents will no longer be accepted for new applications and renewals. If you cannot upload papers, contact your child care agency or MAQCS support before sending anything by mail. Read the state’s portal update for details.
Income limits, copays, and what you may owe
Montana uses a sliding fee scale. The posted scale says the monthly copay is based on your gross monthly income, and the copay is the assigned percentage of income or $10, whichever is greater.
The table below uses the official scale marked effective July 1, 2025. It was the current posted scale found for this review. Always check the sliding fee scale before applying, because income numbers can change.
| Family size | Monthly gross income at max entry | Copay shown at max entry |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $3,261 | $228 |
| 3 | $4,109 | $288 |
| 4 | $4,956 | $347 |
| 5 | $5,804 | $406 |
| 6 | $6,652 | $466 |
| 7 | $7,500 | $525 |
| 8 | $8,348 | $584 |
Do not treat these numbers as a promise of approval. Your agency must review household size, income, activity hours, provider details, and other rules. If your income is close to the limit, apply or ask the agency to screen you.
Provider rates and extra charges
Montana sets maximum monthly provider rates by provider type and child age. For example, the posted full-time monthly rates include $1,276 for an infant or toddler in a child care center, $1,210 for preschool care in a center, and $1,100 for school-age care in a center. See the state’s provider rates for the full list.
If your provider charges more than the amount Montana pays, you may owe the difference plus your copay. Before you enroll, ask the provider for your expected monthly total in writing.
How to find child care that may work
Montana’s child care agencies can help families apply for Best Beginnings, determine scholarship eligibility, and refer families to licensed and registered child care. They can also help you search by openings, location, provider type, quality, infant and toddler care, special needs, and nontraditional hours.
| Agency | Main phone | Counties listed by Montana DPHHS |
|---|---|---|
| Child Care Resources | 406-728-6446 or 800-728-6446 | Western and parts of south-central Montana, including Missoula, Flathead, Gallatin, Lewis & Clark, Ravalli, Silver Bow, and more. |
| Family Connections | 406-761-6010 or 800-696-4503 | Central, northern, eastern, and Yellowstone-area counties, including Cascade, Yellowstone, Big Horn, Hill, Roosevelt, Richland, and more. |
Use the state’s find child care page to check licensing basics, inspection reports, and safety questions. When you call a provider, ask whether they are licensed or registered, whether they accept Best Beginnings, and whether they have openings for your child’s age.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting care with a new provider before the provider is approved for payment.
- Assuming a relative can be paid without FFN or Relative Care Exempt approval.
- Forgetting to report a new provider, address change, job loss, or income change.
- Not asking whether the provider charges more than the state rate.
- Missing a renewal notice in the portal or mail.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start may help with early learning, meals, health screenings, and family support for eligible children. It is not the same as a child care scholarship, and many programs have limited hours, but it can be a strong option for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Use the Head Start locator and ask the local program whether it has full-day services, waitlists, transportation, or partnerships with Best Beginnings for wraparound care. If you need food or health coverage at the same time, our SNAP help, WIC help, and Medicaid help guides can help you plan the next steps.
Documents to gather before you apply
Missing documents are one of the most common reasons a case slows down. The state application packet asks for identity, residence, household, income, activity, provider, and child information. The portal may ask you to upload photos or files.
| Document or information | Why it matters | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID for adults | Confirms who is applying. | Use clear photos if uploading. |
| Proof of Montana address | Shows Montana residency. | Use a lease, utility bill, or other current proof. |
| Child’s age and relationship proof | Shows the child lives with you and may qualify. | Birth certificate or guardianship papers may be requested. |
| Pay stubs or income proof | Used to calculate eligibility and copay. | Upload the most recent proof and explain irregular hours. |
| Work, school, or training schedule | Used to set the child care authorization. | Ask your employer or school for written verification. |
| Provider name and schedule | Needed to set up payment. | Confirm the provider accepts Best Beginnings first. |
| Child support or good cause information | May be required for non-TANF households with an absent parent. | Ask about good cause if cooperation could be unsafe. |
For a general paperwork planner, see ASMOM’s community support page and our baby supplies guide if you also need diapers, clothing, or infant items.
If you are denied, delayed, or confused
Ask for the reason in writing. A denial may be about income, missing proof, work or school hours, child support rules, provider status, or funding. Do not rely only on a phone explanation.
Montana’s fair hearing policy says parents and providers may be entitled to a fair hearing after certain adverse actions, but there may be limits if the denial or closure is based only on lack of CCDF funding. The policy also says parents have 90 calendar days from the mailing date of an adverse action notice to request a hearing. Read the state fair hearing policy and contact Montana Lawhelp if you need help understanding your rights.
Keep a simple case log
Write down the date you applied, what you uploaded, who you spoke with, what they said, and your next deadline. Save screenshots from the portal. If you talk by phone, ask for the worker’s name and the best way to send missing proof.
Backup options if Best Beginnings is not enough
Child care help often works best when paired with other supports. These programs may not pay your child care bill directly, but they can reduce pressure on the rest of your budget.
- TANF: If you receive TANF, Best Beginnings may cover child care while you take part in your Family Investment Agreement. Start through the TANF page.
- SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, and cash help: Use Apply.mt.gov or call the Montana Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535. The public assistance page lists contact options.
- WIC: Pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding parents, infants, and children under 5 may qualify. The Montana WIC eligibility page explains who can apply.
- Tribal child care: If you are connected to a Tribal community, ask your Tribal CCDF program about child care help. ACF keeps a national Tribal CCDF list.
- Child care workers: If you work directly with children in a licensed or registered child care facility, ask about the Montana Bright Futures Child Care Worker Scholarship. The state’s worker scholarship packet lists rules.
- Work and school supports: Ask Job Service, your college, or a training program about child care, transportation, or emergency grants. ASMOM also has guides on job training and scholarship help.
- Child support: Support can help with family costs, but safety matters. Read our child support help guide and ask about good cause if cooperation could put you or your child at risk.
Phone scripts
Call the child care agency
Hello, my name is ____. I live in ____ County. I am a single parent and need child care so I can work or attend school. Can you tell me which Best Beginnings steps I need to complete, what documents are missing, and whether you can help me find a provider that accepts the scholarship?
Call a provider
Hello, I am looking for care for a child age ____. Do you have openings for the days and hours ____? Do you accept Best Beginnings? If yes, can you tell me what I would owe each month after the scholarship and copay?
Call about a delayed case
Hello, I applied for Best Beginnings on ____. I uploaded ____ on ____. Can you check whether my case is complete? If something is missing, can you tell me exactly what to upload and the deadline?
Call after a denial
Hello, I received a notice denying or closing my child care scholarship. I need the reason in writing and information on how to request a fair hearing. Can you also tell me whether there is anything I can submit now to fix the case?
Resumen en español
En Montana, el programa principal para ayudar a pagar el cuidado infantil se llama Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship. Muchas familias deben solicitar por el portal de Okta/MAQCS y subir documentos como identificación, dirección, ingresos, horario de trabajo o escuela, e información del proveedor.
Si necesita ayuda, llame a la agencia de cuidado infantil de su condado. Pregunte si el proveedor acepta Best Beginnings, cuánto pagará usted cada mes, y qué documentos faltan. Si necesita ayuda urgente con comida, pañales, vivienda o transporte, llame al 2-1-1.
Questions single mothers ask about Montana child care help
Can Best Beginnings pay for all of my child care?
Sometimes it covers a large part of the cost, but many families still pay a monthly copay. You may also owe the difference if your provider charges more than the state payment rate.
Can I get help if I am in school?
Yes, school or training can count, but the exact work or school rule depends on your situation. Full-time students may be treated differently than part-time students, so ask your agency before assuming your hours qualify.
Can a relative be paid to watch my child?
Possibly. Montana may allow approved Family, Friend, and Neighbor care or Relative Care Exempt care. The provider must be approved before payment can be made.
What if I cannot use the online portal?
Contact your child care agency or MAQCS support. Montana moved Best Beginnings into the Okta/MAQCS portal, so ask for help before mailing or dropping off documents.
What should I do if my application is denied?
Ask for the denial reason in writing. Check whether the problem is missing proof, income, activity hours, provider approval, child support rules, or funding. If you disagree, ask about the fair hearing deadline right away.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 19, 2026, next review August 19, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.