Child Care Resource and Referral
The primary purpose of Child Care Resource and Referral (R&R) is to assist parents who are seeking child care. In order to provide this service, the R&R collects and maintains up-to-date information on child care centers, family and group day care homes, preschools and after-school programs. Information is also kept on in-home care, summer programs, child care for children who are mildly ill or who have special needs, and other early childhood programs. The major goal of R&R is to increase the availability and accessibility of child care and to enhance the quality of the care for Montana families.

Staff

Denise Herman	Coordinator	denise@hilinehomeprograms.org
Peggy Shipp	Family Services Technician	peggy@hilinehomeprograms.org
Bea Stellflug	CACPF Technician	bea@hilinehomeprograms.org
Elissa Wambeke	Professional Development Specialist	elissa@hilinehomeprograms.org

CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PHILOSOPHY:

• Parents must be responsible, educated consumers when choosing child care. The early years of a child's life are setting the stage for all future development.
• Every child deserves the best possible services to guarantee optimal physical, mental and emotional growth and development.
• All parents deserve consideration regardless of race, sex, age, national origin, handicap and/or economic resources.
• Quality child care is positive if it is a partnership between parents and care givers requiring professionalism, communication and respect.

Parents:

• Looking for child care
• Managing the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program
• Information on choosing child care
• Processing legally unregistered provider applications

For Child Care Providers:

• Lending Library
• Information on state regulations and programs
• Reimbursement of meals for those participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
• Information on Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program for families

Community:

• Refers parents and providers to other agencies or programs
• Offers parenting classes and public education on child care issues.
• Assists in the development and promotion of policy initiatives which maintain and expand the supply of quality child care in the local communities as well as the state and national level.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

These projects are funded (in part) under an agreement with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services but any statements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the department.