The Central Montana Childcare Alliance (CMCA) is hosting an open meeting for prospective partners interested in offering licensed childcare in their home. The virtual meeting will be held on Thursday, April 25 from 7:00-8:00pm online. Attendees are eligible for a $1,000 start-up grant to purchase supplies in return for starting a new childcare business before the end of June 2024.
All interested parties living in Fergus, Judith Basin, and Petroleum Counties are invited to learn about how they can become a Family, Friend, and Neighbor Childcare Provider (FFN). FFN is a type of licensed childcare provider that can offer care for up to four children from different families (0-12 years old) or to one sibling group from the same family. As the number of children that can be cared for is less than a traditional in-home childcare provider, the training requirements are only 8 hours per year. FFN Childcare Providers can serve children who qualify for the Best Beginnings Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to low-income families to pay for childcare. As a prospective licensed FFN Childcare Provider, grants, free training, and technical assistance are currently available to help get a new childcare business started. As an incentive to become a licensed FFN Childcare Provider, the CMCA is offering a $1,000 start-up grant to new providers located in Central Montana. These funds can be used to help purchase supplies and/or make minor improvements to a home necessary to start a licensed childcare business by June 2024.
“We have a significant number of families in Central Montana in need of childcare, including a huge need for infant care in the Lewistown area,” states Charrisse Jennings, CMCA Education Director. “If you are already occasionally watching a few kids or you would like to get started in the childcare industry, this is a great opportunity to receive support and resources for your new business. At the meeting, we will go over the necessary steps to become a licensed FFN Childcare Provider and then our staff will be available afterwards to assist you with the application process. It is our goal to get your childcare operational by June, as well as help you set up policies and procedures to ensure a profitable and sustainable business for the long haul.”
The Central Montana Childcare Alliance is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2022 to address childcare issues in Central Montana that affect children, families, childcare providers, and the business sector. The organization provides funding and support, with the help of an innovation grant from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, to increase access to childcare for vulnerable populations. Contact CMCA at 406-366-4777 or [email protected] to register for the online meeting.
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