Grantee Resources

As a best practice, the programs should request records checks (background check) on employees and volunteers in the program funded by the MT Children's Trust Fund. A Child Protective Service Background Check (also referred to as a records check) completed by the MT DPHHS, CFSD is a check of the CFSD history that is available on a person from 1997 to the date the check is completed. The is check conducted using only the name(s) and other identifying information included on the Release of Information form. You do not need to submit these to the MT Children's Trust Fund, but you should maintain a record in your personnel files.

A semi-annual report will be due February 1. Final reports will be due August 2. For both reports, ensure all Revised Protective Factor Survey data has been entered into the online database.

We advise that you add a reminder to your calendar and review all instructions carefully. Please review the tips on completing the outcomes section.

Program Assessment Tool (Continuous Quality Improvement and Parent Leadership subscales) is due with the final report.

Invoices are due quarterly; however, if you need to receive payment more frequently let me know, and we will work out an alternative schedule. Please follow the guidelines below. Incomplete invoices will not be paid until they are corrected and returned. If you find yourself struggling, do not hesitate to contact MacKenzie at MacKenzie.Forbis@mt.gov or (406)444-3002, and she will walk you through the process.

• Download the invoice template.
• Follow along with this 6-minute tutorial.
• Fill out the contractor information at the top of the first sheet, including Contractor Name and Contractor Number.
• Enter approved budget on the second sheet of the contractor invoice template.
• Review your budget narrative before you begin filling out expenses.
• Double check your entries for errors before submitting your financial report. 
• Make sure mailing address matches the W-9 on file. To set up direct deposit, please contact MacKenzie Forbis.
• If you need to adjust your budget, complete and submit the request on the second sheet of the CTF Contractor Invoice. A 10% flexibility on individual line items is allowed without a budget modification, as long as the expenses meet the budget narrative for that line item.

The Montana Children’s Trust Fund and the University of Montana’s Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development are offering an array of summer training opportunities to benefit those who work with Montana’s kids and families — home visitors, childcare providers, Head Start and Early Head Start, K-3 teachers, Sunday school teachers, family support program professionals, caseworkers, and interested community members. Participation is easy and free!

eLearning Courses

The eLearning courses offer staff, stakeholders, and supervisors learning opportunities on topics such as: motivational interviewing, substance use and recovery, mental health, family diversity, organizational leadership, and supervision. The courses are available 24/7, for drop-in learning.

Courses can be accessed at Let's Grow Montana Website.

Resource Library

The Let’s Grow Montana has a wealth of resources for those serving Montana families on such topics as neonatal abstinence syndrome, tele-health resources, identifying drug paraphernalia in the home, developmental milestones, potty training, and postpartum depression.

Tele-Coaching

Zoom-based tele-coaching and training will be held every other Wednesday starting June 10 (12-1 pm) for staff and other stakeholders working with children and families. Topic areas include: COVID-19, motivational interviewing, family diversity, substance abuse and recovery, mental health, child development/trauma, and managing stress. The complete list of topics, dates, and Zoom link are available at: Let's Grow Montana

Starting Thursday, June 11 (12-1 pm) Zoom-based tele-coaching will be available every other Thursday for supervisors and managers. Topic areas include: self-awareness/stress management, leadership challenges, creating positive work environments, managing dissent/conflict, reflective supervision, and multi-level leadership. The complete list of topics, dates and Zoom link are available at: Let's Grow Montana

For more information and to access free training courses and resources, visit Let's Grow Montana.

Funded programs must demonstrate a meaningful commitment to parent leadership, including but not limited to parents of children with disabilities, parents with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities. Programs are required to foster an understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of diverse populations and/or cultural competency practices in order to be effective in preventing child abuse and neglect, as well as conduct outreach to underserved populations.

• FRIENDS Resources for Parent Leadership
• Parent Education
• Meaningful Parent Leadership Guidebook
• Parent Leadership Development Checklist
• CTF Alliance Resources for Parent Partnership
• Building Effective Partnerships

Funded programs must use the MT CTF logo on all publications/awareness materials. In press releases, articles, etc. where the logo would not be appropriate you should mention the MT CTF grant funding. When using the logo, we prefer that you use the file with extensions AI or EPS whenever possible. This keeps the logo from distorting when you change the size. If you are using our logo on banners or any media that will cause our logo to be significantly enlarged, the use of a vectored (extensions AI or EPS) version is mandatory. Contact me if you have questions or need assistance.

 Section 17 of your Contract, contains information regarding publications/awareness materials:

• MT CTF funded programs may not use monies under the contract to pay for media, publicity or advertising that in any way associates the services or performance of the Contractor or the Department under this Contract with any specific political agenda, political party candidate for public office, or any matter to be voted upon by the public. Media includes but is not limited to commercial and noncommercial print, verbal and electronic media.
  • MT CTF funded program must inform any people to whom it provides consultation or training services under the contract that any opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the position of the Department. All public notices, information pamphlets, press releases, research reports, posters, public service announcements, web sites and similar modes of presenting public information pertaining to the services and activities funded with the contract prepared and released by the MT CTF funded program must include the statement:
    • “This project is funded in whole or in part under a Contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The statements herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Department.”
  • MT CTF funded program must state the percentage and the monetary amount of the total program or project costs of the contract funded with (a) federal monies and (b) non-federal monies in all statements, press releases, and other documents or media pieces made available to the public describing the services provided through the contract.
  • Before the MT CTF funded program uses, publishes, releases or distributes them to the public or to local and state programs, the Department must review and approve all products, materials, documents, publications, press releases and media pieces (in any form, including electronic) the MT CTF funded program or its agents produce with contract monies to describe and promote services provided through this contract.

Grant Renewal Applications are due in the Spring. In order to be considered for continued funding, the organization must complete the annual renewal application as well as a budget worksheet, updated logic model, and updated work plan. Funding decisions will be based off the renewal application, completion of service deliverables, Revised Protective Factor Survey data, and grant monitoring. As this is not a competitive process, you may ask staff questions at any time before the renewal application is due. 

Renewal Application Template 

Logic Model Template

Budget Worksheet

Work Plan Suggested Template

Bringing the Protective Factors Framework to Life in Your work: A Resource for Action Programs must align with the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework and the Principles of Family Support Practice. The Children's Trust Fund Alliance offers a series of online courses to support implementation of the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework in multiple settings. Take this free training to help you bring the protective factors to life in your work. 

• About Strengthening Families™ and the Protective Factor Framework
• Protective & Promotive Factors Action Sheets
• Strengthening Families™ 101
• Core Meanings of the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors
• Defining the Five Protective Factors
• Parent Translations of Protective Factors

Parent Leadership

Do you want to get your parents involved more and encourage more parent leadership? The FRIENDS National Resource Center Parent Leadership page has excellent tools and guides on how to get them more involved, as well as assessment tools to make sure your organization is ready from the top down. You can also find information about the National Parent Advisory Council if you know a parent that could be a parent leader for Montana.

Online Learning Center

FRIENDS also offers free webinars and other training tools at their Online Learning Center.

Engage and educate your community about the importance of the prevention of child abuse and neglect as well as child sexual abuse. Start a conversation among community members and find out what resources are available to you. Information about child abuse.

• What is Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizing the signs and symptoms
• Impact of Child Abuse and Neglect
• Kid-friendly tip sheet: How you can help someone who is being abused or neglected
• Identification of Sexual Abuse

National Alliance of Children's Trust and Prevention Funds

The National Alliance assists state Children's Trust and Prevention Funds and promotes and supports a system of services, laws, practices and attitudes that strengthen families' capacity to provide their children with safe, healthy, and nurturing childhoods.

Prevent Child Abuse America

This organization has led the way in building awareness and providing education on child abuse and neglect prevention. PCA provides leadership to promote and implement prevention efforts at the national and local levels. This site contains materials for child abuse prevention, parenting tips, press releases, state chapters, opinion polls and other publications.

Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development

The Center is a multidisciplinary team of professors, researchers, policy advocates, child welfare specialists, health care professionals, and students, representing a breadth and depth of professional experience in working with children, families, and the issues that impact their lives.

• Training Modules

Office of Public Instruction (OPI)

The Montana Office of Public Instruction is the state education agency of Montana. Elsie Arntzen currently serves as the Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction. The agency is headquartered in Helena.

• Learning Hub: an online learning platform that provides high quality professional learning for MT educators and those interested in education for children. The learning hub is free and you do not need to be a teacher to use it. Among the courses are Mental Health & Behavior courses including Suicide Prevention, Bullying Prevention, Overcoming ACEs, Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth, and Warning Signs: Child Sexual Abuse.
• Sex Trafficking & Sexual Abuse
• Internet Safety

Resources for parents

The Parent Resource page lists resources for parents such as the Crying Card, tips for parents, teaching children about body safety, and more.