Choose Safe Places

The Montana Choose Safe Places (CSP) program was established in 2017 through the APPLETREE grant. The program's goals are to prevent, reduce, and eliminate environmental exposures to children and staff at childcare centers and ensure that daycare centers are free of environmental hazards through site screening and environmental testing.

What is safe siting?

Safe siting is the practice of ensuring that daycare centers are free of environmental hazards.  To achieve safe siting, DPHHS or daycare providers screen current and potential future facility properties to identify and address environmental hazards from natural, historic, or current industrial and agricultural activities.

• Learn more about environmental health

How does the Montana CSP Program Work?

The Montana CSP Program offers free services for childcare providers interested in ensuring that their facility is safe and free of environmental hazards. Take a look at our services and reach out for more information.

All MT CSP Program services are non-regulatory and do not require MT CSP program staff to physically visit the childcare site. All results will remain confidential between the program and the individual who requested the service

Why should I participate in the Montana Choose Safe Places program?

 
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1. Environmental hazards are not always apparent. Choose Safe Places Program staff are trained to identify environmental dangers on and around your site.
2. Children are more susceptible to harmful substances. Exposure to toxic chemicals can disrupt development, learning, and behavior.
3. Participation makes good business sense. By completing a site assessment through the CSPECE program daycare centers can be proactive about ensuring that their site is safe from hazardous environmental exposures.

Program Services

1. Site Evaluation
   • Complete the self-evaluation checklist to understand the environmental factors affecting your childcare site
   • Request a full site assessment from the MT CSP Program
2. Complete environmental screening, as needed
   • Private Well Water Testing
     • Private wells in Montana may contain harmful substances such as arsenic, fluoride, uranium, manganese, nitrates, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and bacteria.
     • If you have not had your well water tested beyond the basics, we encourage you to request well water testing.
     • This test is free.
   • Radon Testing
     • 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.
     • This test is free
   • Soil Screening for Lead 
     • 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.
     • The childcare provider will pay to mail or drop off their soil sample.
   • Email ChooseSafePlacesMT@mt.gov if you are interested in any of these services.
3. Technical Assistance
   • The MT CSP Team is available to answer questions about questions about environmental health and site screening. 
   • To contact the MT CSP Team email ChooseSafePlacesMT@mt.gov or call 406-444-3284.