A Systems-Based Vision for Early Childhood
The Bitterroot Early Learning Network was created around a simple question: What would early childhood look like if it were built as a coordinated system rather than a collection of disconnected services?
Early childhood outcomes are shaped by more than classroom experiences. Access to care, family stability, educator support, workforce needs, and community investment all play a role. BELN connects these pieces to create solutions that strengthen the early childhood ecosystem in Ravalli County.
The Four Domains of BELN
BELN strengthens early childhood in Ravalli County through four interconnected domains that work together to support children, families, educators, and the community.
1. Early Childhood Education Programs
Our programs—including Evergreen Saplings, Evergreen Kids Corner Preschool, and Summer Explorers—serve as both high-quality learning environments and learning laboratories. They allow us to meet immediate community needs while staying connected to the lived experiences of families and educators, shaping everything from professional development to advocacy.
2. Family Support
Families are the primary drivers of early childhood development. BELN provides guidance, workshops, developmental support, and community-based activities, working alongside families to reduce barriers, connect resources, and ensure they feel supported rather than judged.
3. Educator and Program Support
Quality care depends on stable, supported educators. We offer coaching, professional development, Communities of Practice, and systems navigation, helping providers align with state standards, strengthen programs, and focus on children rather than constant crisis management.
4. Community and Policy Engagement
Beyond individual programs, BELN builds coordinated systems through coalition leadership, shared infrastructure, and cross-sector partnerships. This includes the Bitterroot Early Childhood Coalition, a county-wide waitlist portal, and the Ravalli Child Care Advantage—investing in child care as vital community infrastructure.
Together, these four domains create an integrated, place-based approach that strengthens both individuals and the broader early childhood ecosystem.
Early Support, Lasting Change
Our systems-based approach is grounded in prevention. When families receive support early, challenges are mitigated rather than compounded. When providers are stabilized, quality improves and access expands. When systems are aligned, resources are used more efficiently and equitably.
This work requires patience, trust, and long-term commitment, but it is the only way to create durable change.
Shaped By Place, Guided by people
Place-based education and community connection are woven throughout all four domains. The Bitterroot Valley—its land, culture, relationships, and rhythms—shapes how we design programs, support families, and build systems.
We believe early childhood work must be relevant to the lives children and families are actually living, not abstract models disconnected from place.
Adaptive Work for Lasting Systems Change
BELN’s work is grounded in continuous learning, adapting alongside families, educators, and partners as community needs evolve. This flexibility allows us to meet immediate needs while building lasting systems—supporting individuals, strengthening infrastructure, and remaining accountable to the community we serve.
