Helping childcare centers across Montana create safer, healthier environments for children.
Choose Safe Places
• Free, confidential support to help childcare programs keep children safe from environmental hazards
• Free environmental screenings and site assessments to identify potential risks around children
• Non‑regulatory services that will not affect licensing and require no onsite visits
• Educational resources and easy-to-use checklists covering Montana’s most common environmental hazards
• Free environmental screenings and site assessments to identify potential risks around children
• Non‑regulatory services that will not affect licensing and require no onsite visits
• Educational resources and easy-to-use checklists covering Montana’s most common environmental hazards
Why are children more vulnerable to Environmental Health Hazards?
- Children’s bodies are still growing, so toxins affect them more.
- They breathe, eat, and drink more for their size, increasing exposure.
- They play close to the ground where dust and chemicals collect.
- They often put hands and objects in their mouths.
- Early-life exposures can cause long-term health problems.
Program Services
Site Evaluation
- Complete the self-evaluation checklist to understand the environmental factors affecting your childcare site
- Email the Montana Choose Safe Places Program with any questions about your self-evaluation or with additional questions about your childcare facility site.
- *NEW Lead in Drinking Water Testing (free)
- For childcare facilities on public water supply ONLY
- Tests lead in drinking water fixtures
- Reimbursement monies available for fixture replacement and bottle filling stations if lead levels surpass EPA standards
- To request a test visit https://mdphhs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ai8Xcb7r0MNNwwK
- Private Well Water Testing (free)
- Private wells in Montana may contain harmful substances such as arsenic, fluoride, uranium, manganese, nitrates, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and bacteria.
- Free well water testing for all harmful substances one time per childcare center.
- Free testing for bacteria and nitrites is available as often as needed. Licensed childcare facilities are required to test twice a year.
- To request a test visit https://mdphhs.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b2zDd43iJPQkSoe
- Radon Testing (free)
- Radon is an odorless radioactive gas. Radon has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US. The only way to know how much radon is present is to test your indoor air.
- Email ChooseSafePlacesMT@mt.gov to request a test.
- Soil Screening for Lead (free However, shipping expenses may apply if samples are not delivered in person to the Choose Safe Places office at 1400 Broadway Avenue, Helena, MT)
- Lead is toxic and can cause permanent damage in children. However, lead poisoning is preventable. Homes and buildings built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, which can contaminate the soil around the facility. Children and staff can come into contact with lead by ingesting lead-contaminated soil. Testing the soil is the only way to know if it contains lead.
- Email ChooseSafePlacesMT@mt.gov to request a test.
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- The Montana CSP Team is available to answer questions about questions about environmental health and site screening.
- To contact the Montana CSP Team email ChooseSafePlacesMT@mt.govor call 406-444-4198.
