A recent change to Montana’s childcare support services contracts has stirred uncertainty among the state’s nonprofits. Tori Sproles, executive director of Bozeman-based Child Care Connections, may lose 15 local employees and become a “stand-alone employee” by year’s end.
“I’m writing reference letters every day,” Sproles told Montana Free Press. “And I can’t blame them. It breaks my heart because I’ve got a great team here and would want to keep them all if I could. But everybody has a life and everybody needs to make sure they take care of themselves and their families.”
Child Care Connections and five other nonprofits have long provided state-contracted in-person assistance for childcare providers and families. Services included training, background checks, and state-funded childcare scholarship assistance.
This spring, Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services divided those services into separate contracts. On Aug. 29, it announced awarding the provider-related services contract to Shine Early Learning, a New York-based for-profit company.
DPHHS offered family-centric service contracts to three of the six existing nonprofits, including Child Care Connections, for administering the Best Beginnings Scholarship. However, Sproles announced that without provider-related services funding, Child Care Connections cannot sustain itself on family services alone and will transfer its provider services to Shine effective Oct. 1.
Another contract for business skill-building services for childcare providers was awarded to Montana nonprofit Zero to Five. DPHHS spokesperson Jon Ebelt stated the restructuring aims to “increase access to high-quality, affordable childcare for hardworking Montana families.” However, not all current nonprofits secured new contracts due to the competitive bidding process.
“DPHHS is working to ensure that families and childcare providers maintain statewide access to resource and referral services during this temporary transition period,” Ebelt wrote. New contracts include specific performance criteria for both family-centric and provider services, focusing on increasing scholarship participation and retaining childcare businesses.
Shine Early Learning has not yet commented on its services in Montana. Grace Decker of Montana Advocates for Children called the contract changes a “seismic shift,” as statewide administration of services like CPR training and licensing requirements is unprecedented in her two decades in the field. Decker noted concerns about the impacts on families and providers.
“Their first question is what does this mean for me, for the service I’m used to having or that I need,” Decker said. The Best Beginnings scholarship remains, but support will now be provided by two nonprofits instead of six.
Other Montana nonprofits are already feeling the effects. Butte 4-Cs, losing contracts for both provider and family services, announced it will cease these services after a 90-day transition, resulting in estimated losses of over $600,000 and affecting eight to ten positions.
Great Falls-based Family Connections and Missoula-based Child Care Resources will continue supporting family services but face expansion challenges. Family Connections Executive Director Kim Stull expects staff reductions, while Child Care Resources Executive Director Kelly Rosenleaf anticipates hiring up to nine new staff to manage a larger caseload.
Physical infrastructure concerns arise as families often require in-person assistance. Existing nonprofits fear the depth and familiarity of services will be most impacted, although changes don’t mean services are ending.
“They may look different, but they’ll still be available for families and providers,” Stull said.
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