Zero to Five Montana

Whether you’re a parent, child care provider, or community member, your voice matters!

Click the link below to see videos of child care providers using their voices to advocate for change.
🔗 zerotofive.org/share-your-story/

If you’d like to share your own story, we’d love to hear from you.

Melissa and Callie were in Austin, TX last week attending the Family Advocacy Community of Practice!

Thank you, Zero to Three & Alliance For Early Success, we’re grateful for the learning and collaboration that will help drive meaningful change.

➡️ zerotofive.org/our-work/advocacy/

The Montana Early Childhood Network is an effort to coordinate and connect people, organizations, coalitions, and ideas, to ensure every child and family in Montana is considered in the decisions that shape their future.

Find out more & join us 🔽
zerotofive.org/home/montana...

As the federal shutdown continues, more Montana families with young children are feeling the pain.

It's time to act. Using our pre-drafted email (linked below), tell Congress: End the Shutdown. Protect Head Start and essential programs and services Montana families rely on!

🔗 bit.ly/MT-shutdown

YouTube video by First Five Years Fund Stand for Head Start

Head Start makes a HUGE difference for young learners and their families. Watch this video to hear directly from educators, parents, and Head Start alums who have seen the impact of Head Start firsthand. #HeadStartAwareness #HeadStartAwarenessMonth

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwyP...

Upcoming child care business trainings, event information & registration links, finalized reports, etc. all in our August Newsletter, read it here! ⬇️

zerotofive.org/august-2025-...

This event brings together child care business leaders, community leaders, employers, policy makers, and others to learn skills and to also focus on what we can achieve together for Montana children and families!

Learn more & register: zerotofive.org/summit/

Join a workplace that values your contributions and supports your journey to success—both at work and beyond!

Learn more and apply here: zerotofive.org/join-our-team/

Our very own Callie Parr attended a first-of-its-kind gathering that the Buffett Institute and Winnebago Tribe hosted. Early childhood leaders from 40+ sovereign Tribal nations gathered to develop an early education vision and blueprint for the future of Native American children and families!

Our June Newsletter is out!

In it you'll find more information on the Montana Early Childhood Network, Childcare business trainings, 2025 CONNECT Summit, etc.!

Read it all here: zerotofive.org/june-2025-ne...

Join the Montana Chamber of Commerce and Zero to Five Montana for the Employer Forum for Child Care Solutions on June 5 at the Delta Hotel in Helena!

Register here: montanachamber.com/events/monta...

Join us in urging Gov. Gianforte to sign HB 924 into law and establish the Montana Early Childhood Account! 🖊️ Add your name to the letter of support today at bit.ly/Sign924 #mtleg #mtpol

State aid for child care costs misses the mark in some tribal communities The Best Beginnings Scholarship Program offers Montana families financial support for child care costs. But, cultural differences make it difficult for some tribal communities to qualify for the progr...

Great piece by @mtpublicradio.bsky.social www.mtpr.org/montana-news... #mtleg #mtpol

The Montana House Human Services Committee needs to hear from you NOW!

📣 Send a quick message here: bit.ly/565-HHS (you can customize the note with your own story, too!) #mtleg #mtpol

helenair.com/opinion/colu... #mtleg #mtpol

To read our April newsletter and/or to subscribe so you don't miss the next one in your inbox, click here:
🔗 zerotofive.org/news/

In it you'll find more information on early childhood legislation, online trainings for childcare businesses, important save the date details, partner events, etc.!

Supporting providers with start-up and expansion costs is a great way to increase child care supply and help meet Montana's growing demand! Send a quick note to the committee and let them know how you feel about this bill: bit.ly/MT-HB945

HB 654 establishes a pathway for schools and child care programs to partner in early education initiatives benefitting Montana's young children! 🚨HB 654 has a hearing TODAY March 31 at 3 p.m. in room 137. 🚨 Let the committee know your thoughts! www.legmt.gov/participate #mtleg #mtpol

Montana voters support tax credits! Our 2024 poll found: 75% support #mtleg providing tax credits to families with children; 66% support a tax credit for child care workforce & 75% support a tax credit for employers providing child care benefits for workers.
It’s a win-win-win!

Happening tomorrow! Let the House Taxation Committee know how you feel about HB 220 at www.legmt.gov/participate/

Child tax credits allow families with children to keep up with rising costs including expenses like housing, food, transportation, and child care. #MTLeg #MTPol

Tomorrow, Jan. 22, three Medicaid expansion bills have hearings in the Montana Legislature. Take action! Sign up to provide remote testimony, provide written testimony or send a message: www.legmt.gov/participate/
#MTLEG #MTPOL

Montana early childhood advocates! There are a couple of bills being heard tomorrow you might be interested in! Register for remote or written testimony here: www.legmt.gov/participate/

#mtleg #mtpol