Thale Dillon

If you are a parent, you are keenly aware of the difficulties in providing adequate child care for your young children. It's no secret that child care can be costly and inadequate child care can contribute to a host of issues, including job selection, absenteeism and work performance. That can in turn can affect one's earning potential, as well as the earning potential of employers and the greater state economy. Put it all together and Montana loses $232 million a year due to inadequate child care.

If you are a parent, you are keenly aware of the difficulties in providing adequate child care for your young children. It’s no secret that child care can be costly and inadequate child care can contribute to a host of issues, including job selection, absenteeism and work performance. That can in turn can affect one’s earning potential, as well as the earning potential of employers and the greater state economy. Put it all together and Montana loses $232 million a year due to inadequate child care.

During the past few years, Montana families and children have experienced a range of positive developments. Montana children overall are doing better than they were 10 or even five years ago. Our state has seen improvements in a variety of areas, including better health insurance coverage, lower child and teen death rates, lower substance abuse rates, lower teen birth rates and higher graduation rates.