Local Support for Educators
BELN partners with early childhood professionals to strengthen programs, support educators, and build a stronger early childhood system in Ravalli County.
Whether you are looking for support with licensing, resources, enrollment, professional connections, or ongoing program growth, BELN offers services designed to meet professionals where they are and support their goals.
Free Support Available to All ECE Professionals
Early childhood professionals play a vital role in supporting children and families. BELN is committed to helping professionals throughout Ravalli County succeed by offering no-cost resources, connections, and technical assistance that strengthen programs, support quality care, help educators thrive, and provide guidance to navigate systems and access available resources.
All educators can access:
Regular visits that help build relationships, identify program needs, and connect providers with resources and opportunities.
Guidance and support to help providers understand available funding opportunities and navigate licensing-related grant processes.
Connections between families receiving support and child care providers serving their communities.
Support connecting providers with early childhood resources, programs, and services that strengthen their work.
These services ensure every provider has access to trusted guidance and connections that strengthen the early childhood system.
BELN Membership: Expanded Support for Your Program
Providers who become BELN members receive ongoing, individualized support designed to help programs thrive.
BELN membership is an annual membership that provides year-round access to expanded resources, coaching, and support opportunities designed to strengthen your program, build a strong foundation, and support long-term success.
Perfect for early childhood professionals, educators, advocates, and individuals who want to stay connected and engaged in Montana’s ECE community.
Your Impact & Benefits:
- Connect with professionals across the state
- Receive member updates and resources
- Access networking and professional learning opportunities
- Support statewide collaboration and advocacy efforts
- Join a network committed to strengthening early childhood education
Annual Symposium & Summit registration is not included with membership.
Annual ECP Investment: $50
Designed for small teams and organizations focused on staff engagement, collaboration, and professional growth. Includes all Individual benefits, plus eligibility for provider spotlight features and small grants for classroom materials or professional development.
Your Impact & Benefits:
- Connect your team to statewide ECE resources
- Encourage staff collaboration and leadership
- Access shared learning opportunities
- Strengthen your organization’s connection to the ECE community
- Support statewide advocacy and partnerships
Annual Symposium & Summit registration is not included with membership.
Annual ECP Investment: $100
Ideal for schools, child care centers, and organizations seeking deeper engagement and visibility within the BELN network.
Your Impact & Benefits:
- Demonstrate commitment to quality early childhood education
- Expand opportunities for staff development and networking
- Build stronger community partnerships
- Increase visibility within the statewide ECE network
- Support collaborative initiatives that benefit children and families
- Includes all above benefits
Annual Symposium & Summit registration is not included with membership.
Annual ECP Investment: $200
For organizations with multiple locations or a staff team larger than 15 committed to supporting statewide impact and long-term collaboration in early childhood education.
Your Impact & Benefits:
- Help shape the future of early childhood education in Montana
- Support statewide advocacy and systems-level collaboration
- Gain recognition as a key BELN partner
- Strengthen relationships with educators, leaders, and organizations across the state
- Invest in sustainable support for Montana’s children and families
Annual Symposium & Summit registration is not included with membership.
Annual ECP Investment: $500
Ravalli County Child Care Portal
The Ravalli County Child Care Portal, is a free centralized system that helps connect families with available licensed child care in Ravalli County.
By participating, providers can:
- Increase visibility to families actively seeking child care.
- Fill available openings more quickly.
- Reduce gaps in enrollment and support business sustainability.
- Improve continuity of care by connecting families with available programs sooner.
- Strengthen coordinated access to child care across Ravalli County.
The Ravalli County Child Care Portal benefits both families and providers by streamlining the search for care, improving communication, and helping ensure available child care spaces are filled more efficiently.
Professional Development
Testimonials
Access the Support Your Program Needs
Early childhood professionals do important work every day to support children, families, and our community. BELN is here to provide resources, connections, and partnership to help your program grow and thrive.
Whether you are looking for guidance, business support, resources, or a trusted partner to help navigate the early childhood system, BELN is here to support you.
State Agencies
State agencies are key partners in supporting early childhood educators across Montana. From licensing and quality standards to funding opportunities and statewide initiatives, these organizations provide the foundational tools and guidance that help your program grow and thrive. Explore the resources below to get connected with the support that fits your needs.
Zero to Five
Working collaboratively with communities, tribes, policymakers, employers, parents and others, Zero to Five Montana promotes a nonpartisan agenda to advance early childhood policy strategies through innovative approaches and sustainable solutions.
Child Care Resources
Located in Missoula, providing practical tools to enhance program quality and support child development, including housing the Best Beginnings Scholarship and access to child care training resources.
RAISE Montana
RAISE MT advocates for the early childhood system and the families it serves, leads projects supporting early childhood professionals (including the MT Trauma-Informed Early Childhood Advisory Coalition), and educates policymakers, businesses, and the public on key early childhood issues.
SPARK
SPARK Montana is a free, statewide resource for early childhood professionals, offering coaching, training, and support to improve quality and better serve families. Providers benefit from a three-tiered approach to quality, personalized technical assistance and help desk support, a 24/7 resource hub, and workforce fingerprinting services.
Montana Early Childhood Project
The Montana Early Childhood Project supports the workforce through the Practitioner Registry and Training Calendar, incentive programs (including Pre-Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship, and Professional Development Awards), and technical assistance for the training approval system. It also supports Professional Development Specialists and the Montana Early Childhood Higher Education Consortium.
Montana Child Care Business Connect
Montana Child Care Business Connect (MCCBC) supports early child care businesses across Montana by strengthening stability and sustainability. MCCBC offers business advising, training, mentorship, shared services, and technical support to help providers run strong, sustainable programs.