Supporting Families Through Scholarship Programs
Access to high-quality early childhood education should not depend on a family’s income, or ability to navigate complex systems. Yet for many families in Ravalli County—and across Montana—cost remains one of the greatest barriers to care.
BELN administers and supports two interconnected scholarship pathways: the Best Beginnings State Scholarship and the BELN Scholarship. While these programs differ in scope and funding source, they are aligned by a shared goal: ensuring families can access and sustain quality care during the most critical years of development.
Best Beginnings State Scholarship
Montana’s Best Beginnings Scholarship helps eligible families afford licensed child care. BELN provides one-on-one guidance to navigate eligibility, complete paperwork, and understand ongoing requirements—reducing delays and care disruptions, while helping families maintain stability once assistance is approved.
BELN works closely with providers to support scholarship implementation by streamlining administrative duties and supporting stable, high-quality care. This coordination keeps families connected and builds trust across the early childhood system.
the BELN Scholarship
The BELN Scholarship was created to fill gaps that state funding does not fully cover, helping families in BELN programs access wraparound support and stay connected to high-quality care.
It helps families bridge affordability challenges and maintain enrollment in high-quality programs during times of financial strain. Intentionally flexible, the scholarship recognizes that families’ circumstances can change quickly, and short-term support can prevent long-term disruption. Paired with relational guidance, it connects families to resources, care, and community support.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Access Valley-Wide
While the BELN Scholarship currently serves families within BELN programs, our long-term vision is to expand this support valley-wide, prioritizing families accessing high-quality care across Ravalli County. This expansion reflects BELN’s belief that scholarships should strengthen the overall system—not create silos or competition.
Future expansion will focus on:
- Supporting families enrolled in quality-rated programs
- Aligning scholarship support with workforce and systems stability
- Ensuring funding complements, rather than replaces, public investment
This vision requires community investment, partnership, and shared commitment. Scholarships are not a standalone solution; they are one component of a systems-based approach that includes provider support, shared infrastructure, and coalition-led coordination.
Stability, Support, and Opportunity for All
At BELN, scholarships do more than cover costs—they support families, stabilize provider enrollment, and strengthen the early childhood system. With navigation support and quality investments, they reduce churn and reveal where barriers remain, guiding our priorities and programs. For families, providers, and funders, scholarships provide stability, reassurance, and a meaningful investment in equity—building a future where every Bitterroot Valley child can thrive.
