06/14/2026
‼️🪧MT childcare providers across the state are at risk for losing their businesses due to issues with licensing and Best Beginnings due to no fault of their own. Providers should never have payments delayed or missing due to state officials being behind;
➖Licensing taking more than 90 days to process renewals. When your license is delayed, you can’t recieve payments from Best Beginnings OR the Food Program (CACFP), this delay is causing huge financial stress on providers. Providers are waiting months for their renewal licenses to be approved, in turn months without these state payments.
➖Delays in Best Beginnings even without renewal. Many providers are not seeing the month priors payment of Best Beginnings until as late as the 20th of the month. Causing delays in payroll.
➖EFT Payments being delayed by system flaws and receiving a paper check instead. With no explanation as to why this is happening.
❌Parents need to be prepared for providers to make difficult decisions, we cannot keep facilities open without these payments. No one should be forced to work for free, and there is a real possibility this blows up quickly.
‼️Respect your providers, and help fight for and with them!
‼️Childcare is the backbone of the work force, we need your support now, so we can continue to serve you!
Contact the people below and tell them how vital your childcare program is, and how their delays are putting all of us at risk for closing.
Jody Lehman, Child Care Bureau Chief: (406) 444-3928 [email protected]
Governor Giantforte, 406-444-3111 [email protected]
Jill Christensen, Early Childhood Services Bureau Chief: (406) 444-0309
Main Child Care Licensing Office: (406) 444-2012 | [email protected]
Alison Drake; CCDF Program Manager, (406) 444-1400
