Child Care Assistance
The Blackfeet 477 Child Care Assistance Program is designed to provide assistance to Low-Income families who are in need of Child Care assistance. It is operated by a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services/Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau.
477 Manager: Marla Knoplfe, mknopfle@blackfeetnation.com
Child Care Case Management: Amber Gobert, agobert@blackfeetnation.com
Early Childhood Trainer/Case Manager: Gloria Shirt
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Blackfeet 477 Child Care Assistance program is to ensure that availability and accessibility of quality child care services are available for families that live on or near the Blackfeet Reservation. Our service area is the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, which is located in Glacier and Pondera Counties in northwest Montana. This service area includes the communities of Cut Bank, on the eastern border of the Reservation, and Dupuyer and Valier, which are located south of the Reservation in Pondera County.
Eligibility
The Child Care Assistance program uses income to determine eligibility. The parent or parents both need to be working, in school or in training to be eligible (same rule applies to foster parents and Grandparents). Priority is given to teen parents, foster parents, grandparents raising grandchildren and TANF clients. Once eligibility is determined then a sliding fee scale is used to determine the parent's co-payment. The way the sliding fee scale determines the co-payment is by income and the number of individuals in the family. A copayment is the amount the family will pay for their child care.
Parents have their choices of care which is Child Care Center, Group Home Provider, Family Home provider and 477 Family home. The Choice of care is the parent’s decision.
Child Care Rates
Blackfeet 477 Child Care Assistance Program (CCDF) Rates for 2019-2021
Infant/Toddler Ages 0 to 3 years
| Full Day | Half Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Center | $40.00 | $20.00 |
| Group Home | $36.00 | $18.00 |
| Family Home | $36.00 | $18.00 |
| 477 | $36.00 | $18.00 |
Preschool Ages 3 to 6 years
| Full Day | Half Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Center | $36.00 | $18.00 |
| Group Home | $34.00 | $17.00 |
| Family Home | $34.00 | $17.00 |
| 477 | $34.00 | $17.00 |
School Ages 6 to 13
| Full Day | Half Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Center | $34.00 | $17.00 |
| Group Home | $30.00 | $15.00 |
| Family Home | $30.00 | $15.00 |
| 477 | $30.00 | $15.00 |
- Providers who care for children with a disability will be paid 10% more.
- Providers who have a current up to date CDA will be paid 10%
- Providers who have an AA in Early Childhood will be paid 10% more.
- Providers who provide care for non-traditional hours 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday, or Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) will be paid 5% more.
- Payment Rates will be used throughout the service area Effective date 10/1/2019-9/30/2022