'The Nurturing Center's goal is to ensure that children are treated with
respect and live in safety with secure, healthy relationships.'
What is the Best Beginnings Scholarship Program?
Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarships are child care payment awards to help Montana working families pay for child care.
The Best Beginnings Scholarship Program helps families pay for child care while they:
- Work
- Work and attend school
- Attend high school
- Participate in Montana’s Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) program Some additional restrictions apply.
“Without The Nurturing Center’s help, there would be no way I could afford to work and go to school.”
Jessa S.
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Eligibility Requirements
Families must meet a minimum work requirement: A two parent household needs to work 120 hours each month. A single parent household needs to work 60 hours each month. A single parent, while attending school full time, needs to work 40 hours each month. When there are two parents, the work hours may be divided between the two. One parent may meet the work requirement while the other goes to school.
- Maximum income guidelines: Household size generally includes the parent(s) and their children. A household of two may receive up to $1711 per month ($1750 effective 8/1/08), gross income, and be eligible. When a family applies at The Nurturing Center, income is evaluated by an eligibility specialist.
- Co-payment is required: Everyone pays a co-payment based on a sliding fee scale. The minimum monthly co-payment is $10. The co-payment goes directly to the child care provider as it is automatically
 deducted from their reimbursement when payment is made.
Failure to
pay a co-payment can jeopardize the family’s eligilbity.
Some child care providers charge more than the State rate of reimbursement or have
additional fees.
Families are responsible for any fees over and above the current State
reimbursement rates.
For more information about the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship, or to apply for the program, contact Rhonda at 406-756-1414, 800-204-0644 or rhonda@nurturingcenter.org
To download the Best Beginnings Scholarship Application or Forms, select below:
Children who have been identified with special needs and are in child care and whose family is eligible for Montana's Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program could be eligible for higher reimbursement rate. For more information about this program, contact rhonda@nurturingcenter.org or info@nurturingcenter.org or visit http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/hrd/childcare/inculsion.shtml
| “The Nurturing Center’s Best Beginnings
child care scholarship program
helped me tremendously and has allowed
me to work. Child care costs for three
children are a big chunk of change;
I couldn’t go to work without it.”
Jamie W. |
Scholarships are available to working families whose income is below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and families who get cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
For more information about child care assistance, or to get an application mailed to you, contact Rhonda at 406-756-1414, 800-204-0644 or rhonda@nurturingcenter.org.
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