Early Childhood and Family Support Division
Child Care Bureau
Montana Access to Quality Child Care System (MAQCS)
This page provides contact information for you to navigate technical issues regarding your Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship or Child Care Licensing Application. You can use the entities and resources listed here to ask questions, report issues, or receive help.
Best Beginnings Scholarship Portal is LIVE!
The Best Beginnings Scholarship Parent & Provider Portal are now available through Okta (Montana’s secure login system). This secure online platform replaces paper-based processes, making it faster and easier to manage your child care scholarship.
Access the portal through Okta by selecting the HHS MAQCS BBS PARENTS icon.
Don’t Have an Okta Account?
- Visit the Okta login page:
https://okta.loginmt.com/ - Click “Don’t have an account? Sign Up” and follow the instructions.
Need help creating an account?
View the step-by-step guide here:
https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/documentsandresources/HeadofHouseholdBBSOktaAccountCreation.pdf
Already Have an Okta Account?
Go to:
https://okta.loginmt.com/
Log in and select the HHS MAQCS BBS PARENTS icon.
Linking Your Scholarship Case
To link your existing Best Beginnings Scholarship case to your Okta account, you will need your:
- PS ID (Unique Person ID) or
- CS ID (Case Number)
Your CS ID can be found on all official notifications.
If you need help locating your CS ID, contact your eligibility worker or your regional Child Care Agency.
Need Help?
Visit the bottom of the Best Beginnings Scholarship website for help with:
- Creating an Okta account
- Logging into MAQCS
- Troubleshooting Okta login issues
If you still need assistance, create a support box ticket here.
HOW DO I GET INTO MAQCS:
- LOG INTO or CREATE an Okta Account.
- Use a personal email address
- Do not use the business address that was on file in CCUBS
- Log INTO MAQCS
- Find and click on the tile named “ECFSD MAQCS Child Care Providers”
IMPORTANT:
- You should NOT need to create an account for MAQCS.
- If you are asked to create an account,
- PLEASE CONTACT US by creating a support ticket here.
- You should NOT need to create your facilities in MAQCS if you are already licensed/registered
- If you DO NOT see your facilities
- PLEASE CONTACT US by creating a support ticket here.
For Families
Best Beginnings Scholarship Team
The State Best Beginnings Scholarship Team helps families use the scholarship portal to apply, submit documents, and manage their benefits. The team provides policy guidance throughout the process, answers questions, and helps ensure families receive the support they need.
Child Care Agencies
We help families apply for and manage the Best Beginnings Scholarship (BBS) through the online portal and understand each step of the process. Our team supports children with special needs and children in foster care, offers free child care referrals, and helps families explore their options. Through this support, we make it easier for families to access quality child care and early education opportunities.
Child Care Resources
Region 1
2409 Dearborn Ave., Suite L
Missoula, MT 59801
Office: 406.728.6446
Toll Free: 800.728.6446
Fax: 406.549.1189
Email: ccr@childcareresources.org
Website: http://www.childcareresources.org
Serving Counties: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Carbon, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland.
Family Connections
Region 2
410 Central Ave., Suite 402
Great Falls, MT 59401
Office: 406.761.6010
Toll Free: 800.696.4503
Fax: 406.453.8976
Email: fcinfo@fc406.org
Website: http://www.familyconnectionsmt.org
Serving Counties: Big Horn, Blaine, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wibaux, Yellowstone.
For Providers
The Child Care Licensing (CCL) program helps providers use the licensing portal to apply, update records, and stay compliant. CCL supports licensed, registered, and prospective providers with portal guidance, required documents, and next steps. The program also conducts pre-inspections, annual inspections, ongoing monitoring, and follows up on complaints.
Phone: (406) 444-2012
Fax: (406) 444-2750
Email: childcarelicensing@mt.gov
Mail: PO Box 4210
Helena, MT 59620-4210
Phone: (406) 481-3728
Support providers in meeting high-quality standards and achieving strong outcomes by making it easier to access the tools and services they need. Our team offers live Help Desk support and a 24/7 Knowledge Hub to assist with portal access, child care enrollment, and workforce fingerprinting.
Provides business advising, targeted training, mentorship, shared services coordination, and technical assistance to strengthen programs and build community capacity.
We have multiple resources to help you in creating an OKTA account.
Families: How to create your OKTA Account
Providers: How to create your OKTA Account
You can download instructions here: Okta Account Creation and Password Reset.
Visit the Okta Home page here: Okta Help
General
- The first step is to create an Okta account.
- Okta is a secure site provided by the State of Montana to manage access to many systems for users to do business with State agencies. Click here to go to the Okta site: https://okta.loginmt.com/
- Log into Okta or create a new Okta account.
- Look for the MAQCS application on the home page.
- To narrow down the number of systems displayed, type ‘MAQCS’ into the search bar and click the portal that applies to you.
- Three different apps may appear: HHS MAQCS, HHS MAQCS BBS - Parent Portal, and HHS MAQCS Child Care Provider - Provider Portal.
- If you are a provider, click the Provider Portal, if you are a parent click the Parent Portal.
- Click ‘Log In’ on the portal homepage.
Parents
Providers
If you are experiencing difficulties create a support box ticket
If you are still unable to access after receiving assistance, reach out to the HHS service desk at HHSServiceDesk@service.mt.gov or give them a call at 406-444-9500.
- Licensing questions can be answered on the Child Care Licensing page here: Frequently Asked Questions
- The Spark help desk is available to give technical assistance. You can find their website here. Or give them a call, 406-481-3728.
- Scholarship questions can be answered on the Best Beginnings Scholarship page here: Frequently Asked Questions.
- For additional assistance, contact your Child Care Agency. Look here to find the team assigned to your area: Child Care Agencies