More than ever, families need support in new ways. With the challenges around finding and affording child care affecting the local workforce, Child Care Connections has developed the Gap Child Care Scholarship Program to reduce the barriers to safe, quality child care.

In support of the Gap Child Care Scholarship, the City of Bozeman has awarded Child Care Connections $100,000 in grant funding for Gallatin County families. This program aims to help families pay for child care when they do not qualify for traditional support like the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship (BBS).

The average Montana spends with two young children spends over $17,000 per year on child care. Second to housing costs, child care is the largest expense for many local families. The Gap Child Care Scholarship more flexible and sustainable support than what is available through the BBS or the CCC’s current ECCS. Eradicating two major barriers of the BBS, this program provides scholarships for licensed or legally operating care and base income eligibility on local median income, as recommended by national experts, rather than federal poverty line. This would allow for families to spend closer to 7% annual household income on child care, which is the affordability threshold set by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This would
increase eligibility for a family of four from a household $41,628 (150% FPL) to $131,163.
Additionally, the program offers wraparound services to participating families to ensure that
they are aware of a multitude of community resources available to them. This program offers a
step toward a sustainable solution for families to help them afford child care.

Gallatin County residents are invited to apply for the Gap Child Care Scholarship starting
November 14th, 2022. Though funding is limited, Child Care Connections continues to seek
additional support for this program. Details and applications can be found online at
https://cccmontana.org/family-resources/gap-child-care-scholarship/.