Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock today announced $10 million in federal CARES Act funding is now available to Montana childcare providers to continue serving Montana fami¬lies with essential workers and assist with efforts to reopen af¬ter closing due to COVID-19.

The $10 million dollars is fund¬ed through the CARES Act Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG). It is not part of the $1.25 billion Coronavirus Re¬lief Fund allocated to Montana.

“We know many Montana families have been balancing working and caring for children at the same time over the last several weeks and need sustain¬able and safe childcare options to continue working or to go back to work,” Governor Bull¬ock said. “This funding will provide much-needed financial assistance to providers, as well as support Montana families.”

The $10 million in Child Care and Development Block Grants will provide support for exist¬ing childcare providers, assis¬tance for low-income families participating in the Best Begin¬nings Scholarship Program, and will fund emergency temporary childcare for essential workers.

Approximately half of the funding will provide assis¬tance to existing licensed and registered childcare providers. Funding can be used to con¬tinue paying staff or go toward increasing sanitation and other measures to operate safely.

“Childcare providers do an excellent job of ensuring safe and healthy environments for Montana’s children,” Sheila Hogan, Director of the Depart¬ment of Public Health and Hu¬man Services, said. “I appreci¬ate all they do to meet the needs of families in their communi¬ties, and I’m hopeful this fund¬ing will help them through this unique and challenging time.”

Providers registered to care for up to six children are eligible for a $3,000 emergency pay¬ment. Group providers that care for 7-12 children can receive $5,000 and centers licensed for 13 or more children are eligible for $8,000. Providers will be able to apply for this assistance through their local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies.

About 30 percent of the fund¬ing will benefit low-income and at-risk children through Best Be¬ginnings scholarships. DPHHS will continue paying for Best Beginnings childcare through the scholarships even if the child is not in attendance during the statewide emergency. These scholarships will allow families to resume care when they can return to work, and keep child¬care providers open long term.

“This is particularly important because we want to support the continuity of care for children,” Jamie Palagi, Early Childhood and Family Support Division Administrator for DPHHS, said. “Maintaining relationships be¬tween a childcare teacher and the child is crucial for children’s se¬curity and positive development.”

DPHHS will reimburse child¬care facilities that are tempo¬rarily closed once they reopen.

The remaining 20 percent of the funding will be available to support temporary childcare needs. For example, this fund¬ing can help health care facilities establish temporary emergency childcare for their employees.

Specific information about how to access or apply for this funding is online at BEST¬BEGINNINGS.MT.GOV.