Zero to Five Montana

Do you subscribe to our newsletter? Sign up here or at the link in our bio! https://bit.ly/ztf-news Each month you will receive: ??? State and national child care policy updates ?? Information on child care business supports ?? Professional development opportunities ?? Early childhood-related news ?? Action alerts, and more! #childcare #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana

Just published: A new resource for child care providers! “An Advisor’s Guide to Business Partnerships in the Child Care Industry.” Senior Child Care Business Advisor Jason Nitschke notes that entering a partnership can accelerate a business’ ability to get started, grow, and stabilize more quickly than a traditional single-owner structure. However, business partnerships should not be entered into lightly whether they be in the child care industry or any other. Get Jason’s top 5 recommendations at bit.ly/CC-biz-partners #childcarebusiness #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana

Zero to Five Montana was founded on the belief that community-led strategies drive the most effective change. During the summer of 2024, our team traveled around the state to join forces with some of Montana’s local early childhood coalitions to meet with families, providers and others interested in the success of our state’s early childhood system to talk issues and policy priorities. These conversations shaped the policy agenda we’re using as our advocacy priorities for the 2025 legislative session. We’re now excited to share our full “road show report.” It contains insights from our nine community conversations as well as policy recommendations to help improve Montana’s early childhood system. Check it out at bit.ly/ztf-roadshow Making the case for transformative change begins in your community - join us in our efforts! Learn about how you can get involved in early childhood advocacy at https://lnkd.in/gvPz3E4D #communityled #roadshow #advocacy #prioritizekids #strongfuture #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana

Save the dates! Zero to Five Montana is excited to announce “Have a Heart for Kids,” our legislative session advocacy event, is happening in Helena Feb. 5-6, 2025! On Feb. 5, families and providers are invited to participate in our Early Childhood Summit, happening in Helena the day before our advocacy day at the state capitol. We will provide advocacy training and host discussions on early childhood issues. (Zero to Five Montana has some funding to provide support for child care, lodging and travel expenses.) On Feb. 6, join us for a day of connection with lawmakers, families, child care providers and other early childhood champions in the rotunda of the Montana State Capitol. We’ll collectively elevate awareness and action around early childhood issues in our state. Interested? Learn more & register here: https://lnkd.in/gcpR-f2f #haveaheartforkids #advocacy #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana

Join Zero to Five Montana, the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, Child Care Connections and the Early Childhood Collaborative of the Greater Helena Area on Nov. 19 for “Family Friendly Policies: Enhance Workforce Stability.” This lunchtime event will be an engaging discussion on how organizations can better support families and explore the many benefits of adopting family-friendly practices. Presenters will provide insights and practical strategies for businesses to attract and retain employees by creating a more supportive environment for working families. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g3cBsGen #familyforward #workforce #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana

Shared Services update! We are excited to announce telehealth sign-up for child care providers is LIVE! Introducing the AllyHealth Complete Plan: Members and their families have 24/7/365 virtual access to a network of board-certified doctors, mental health counselors, wellness coaches, life coaches, wellbeing support, work-life support, and more. (Nearly every appointment has a $0 copay!) Visit our web page for more information and registration: https://lnkd.in/gBBKsFWd #sharedservices #telehealth #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana

Join us for a one-hour webinar on Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. to learn about the Montana Prenatal to Five Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis Project and how you can provide input. Zero to Five Montana and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services have partnered with Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies on this project to better understand the true cost of providing critical services in child care, early intervention, home visiting, and early education. This webinar will provide an overview and updates about the project, as well as ways you can get involved. Register here: bit.ly/ztf-fiscal #costofcare #fiscalanalysis #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana

Big thanks to the Montana Nonprofit Association for hosting us for a webinar on Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. about Family Forward Montana - a Zero to Five Montana initiative designed to elevate resources, highlight best practices, and bridge connections across our state’s employers. You will also hear about an exciting upcoming funding opportunity specifically for employers hoping to provide child care supports through an employer-sponsored child care grant program. Also, we want to hear from you! How can we help Montana employers access and implement family-friendly workplace resources and play an important role in expanding child care solutions to better serve families and communities? We look forward to engaging with you at this webinar! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gVyQwazC familyforwardmt.org #nonprofit #familyforward #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana

To increase coordination and build collective impact, Montanans working to improve the early childhood system in our state are uniting to form the Montana Early Childhood Network to ensure young children and families in Montana are prioritized in decision-making at all levels. We know early childhood is a crucially important period of growth and development – the experiences and relationships we form in our earliest years have a lasting impact throughout our lives. The Montana Early Childhood Network is a diverse and unique group including individuals, organizations, and coalitions who care about a robust and supported early childhood system in Montana. Consider this your invitation to join! Sign up at bit.ly/MT-ECN Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gyhUf2rk or contact us at [email protected]

Last month our executive director, Caitlin Jensen, was invited to speak on a panel at the Philanthropy Northwest conference in Missoula regarding the role of philanthropy in unlocking public funding for children. We know that increased and sustained public funding across Montana will elevate quality early childhood programs and services for families. Our primary objective at Zero to Five Montana is to work to strengthen our state’s early childhood system – increasing access to and affordability of essential programs to set Montana kids up for success from day one. So, we’ll continue to work with communities and hear directly from families, child care providers and community leaders, to learn what works/what doesn’t work and advocate for real solutions. Private philanthropy launched the Zero to Five initiative in Montana, and we are honored to get to do this work. Thank you to the Headwaters Foundation @headwatersmt for your founding vision and the Children's Funding Project for hosting a great panel! (Caitlin is pictured with Trevor Storrs, Alaska Children's Trust; Dr. Chao-ying Wu, Chuckanut Health Foundation; Elizabeth Gaines, Children's Funding Project and Silvia Torres, Chuckanut Health Foundation. Photo courtesy of Children’s Funding Project.) #philanthropy #publicfunding #earlylearning #earlyeducation #earlychildhood #childcare #earlycare #supportedfamilies #supportedbusinesses #economicdevelopment #zerotofive #forourchildren #forourfuture #montana