Childcare in Billings: Choosing Care and Getting Help

Start with the care schedule you need

Write down your child’s age, intended start date, days of care and earliest drop-off and latest pickup. Include travel time between the provider and your workplace. For school-age care, identify the school and ask who handles transportation, school holidays and early dismissals. Give prospective providers the same schedule so you can compare their answers.

Montana’s child care agencies offer referrals that consider openings, location, care type, extended or nontraditional hours, infant and toddler care, and special circumstances. Family Connections covers Yellowstone County. Use that referral route to identify candidates, then confirm the opening and enrollment terms with each provider. [2]

For an evening sitter or caregiver in your home, ask about references, relevant experience, CPR and first-aid training, emergency procedures and backup coverage. Describe your child’s routines and any medication or allergy needs before agreeing on duties. Ask the state licensing team if you need help understanding the proposed arrangement’s regulatory status. [1]

Check the care setting and state record

Montana lists family homes caring for 3 to 8 children and group homes caring for 9 to 15 children as registered programs. It lists centers caring for 16 or more children as licensed programs. These categories describe the program type; ask each provider about the children and caregivers who will share your child’s room or group. [1]

DPHHS states that licensed or registered programs receive a pre-inspection before providing care, ongoing monitoring and an annual inspection. The licensing page includes access to provider searches, inspection results and complaint reporting. Match the provider’s name and care address to the state record, then ask the director to explain any inspection findings and corrective steps. [1]

During a visit, ask who supervises arrivals, naps, outdoor play and pickup. Discuss authorized pickup adults, medication handling, illness exclusions and emergency contacts. Ask how staff communicate an injury or concern to you. Meet the person who will care for your child as part of your enrollment visit.

Compare written costs before reserving a place

Request a current written quote for your child’s age and schedule. Ask whether the provider charges by hour, day, week or month, and whether you must pay for a reserved place when your child is absent.

Include registration charges, deposits, meals, supplies, transportation and late pickup fees in your comparison. Ask which deposits the provider refunds and under what conditions. Read the closure calendar and withdrawal policy before paying. If you need variable shifts, ask whether you can change days and what notice the provider requires.

If you plan to use a scholarship, ask whether the provider participates and what you would owe under the proposed arrangement. Have the agency explain your copayment and authorization before you commit to a start date. Keep the provider agreement and assistance paperwork together so you can resolve differences in dates, schedules or payment responsibilities. [4]

Check Best Beginnings eligibility alongside your search

DPHHS describes Best Beginnings as childcare payment assistance for eligible Montana families earning less than 185% of the federal poverty level. Parents must also participate in qualifying activities. The listed work requirements are at least 60 hours per month for single-parent families and 120 hours per month for two-parent families, with separate provisions for school, training and teen parents. [4]

Eligible families pay an income-based copayment to their provider. For an online application, parents first create a State Okta account and use the MAQCS Parent Portal. DPHHS routes the application to the child care agency for the applicant’s county; Family Connections serves Yellowstone County and helps families apply and determine eligibility. [2] [4]

Use the federal figures in the chart as a household-size reference for an assistance conversation. HHS publishes these poverty guidelines for administrative eligibility purposes. Ask Family Connections which income rules and sliding fee scale apply to your application, including how it treats your household circumstances. [2] [4] [5]

2026 federal poverty guidelines by household size

Choose your next step

Your hiring checklist

1. Write down your child’s age, start date, required hours and pickup arrangements.
2. Ask each candidate to confirm an opening for that exact schedule.
3. Match the care address and provider name to the state record and review inspection results.
4. Visit the setting and discuss supervision, emergencies, allergies and illness policies.
5. Get tuition, deposits, extra charges, closure dates and withdrawal terms in writing.
6. Ask the agency to assess scholarship eligibility and explain your payment responsibilities.
7. Agree on a settling-in plan, communication method and backup care before the first day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get help finding childcare locally?

Family Connections serves Yellowstone County and refers families of all income levels to licensed and registered care. It lists Wednesday community office hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Billings Public Library. Confirm the session before visiting, or use its phone or video assistance. [2] [3]

How do I check a provider’s licensing and inspections?

Start with the Montana DPHHS Child Care Licensing page and its provider search and inspection-results resources. Check the exact name and care address. Ask the provider to explain findings, and use the licensing program’s complaint route if you need to report a concern. [1]

Does meeting the income limit guarantee a scholarship?

You must also meet the program’s qualifying activity requirements and other applicable conditions. DPHHS bases assistance authorization on the child’s need for care. Family Connections can help assess eligibility and complete the application. [2] [4]

What should I ask before paying a deposit?

Confirm the opening, start date, hours, full charges and refund terms in writing. Ask what happens if you delay enrollment, the provider closes or you leave care. If you expect scholarship assistance, clarify approval and payment responsibilities before committing.