About Us
Our Mission & Story
Early Years Crisis Care provides free, short-term emergency childcare for children ages 0–8 when families are experiencing crisis. Our goal is to prevent child abuse and neglect by giving parents a safe place for their children while they address emergencies, stabilize their lives, and connect with community resources.
In 2025, Early Years Educational Center partnered with Montana's Birth to Five PDG B-5 grant to pilot Missoula's first crisis childcare program. With mentorship from Toby's House Crisis Nursery in Great Falls, three crisis childcare spaces were created to serve families experiencing emergencies. The pilot exceeded expectations, providing more than 700 hours of free crisis childcare from October through December 2025.
Even after the grant ended, we continued to provide over 200 hours of crisis childcare each month because the need in our community remained so great. Today, Early Years Crisis Care is becoming a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding these services for Missoula families.
Why Crisis Childcare Matters
What comes to mind when you think of a family in crisis?
A crisis can happen suddenly and leave parents feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure where to turn. It may look like a parent escaping an unsafe relationship, navigating a medical emergency, seeking recovery support, facing homelessness, or simply reaching a moment when they need help to keep going.
Most families do not plan for a crisis. Many experience these challenges quietly, carrying the weight of protecting their children while trying to find stability.
When safe childcare is unavailable, parents can be left with impossible choices.
The Reality in Missoula
In Missoula, many families face barriers that make finding safe, reliable childcare even more difficult.
Some parents are working hard to rebuild their lives but do not qualify for traditional childcare assistance because their circumstances do not fit existing requirements. This may include parents who are:
- Participating in full-time recovery programs
- Working in exchange for housing
- Experiencing homelessness
- Waiting for parenting plans or child support determinations
- Escaping domestic violence
These families are often taking important steps toward stability, but without safe childcare they may struggle to attend appointments, maintain employment, access treatment, secure housing, or move forward in their recovery journey
Our Impact So Far
Hours of Crisis Care
Hours of Crisis Care
Hours of Crisis Care
October–December 2025
734 hours of crisis childcare
10 families served
11 children kept safe
Who We Have Served
Hours of Crisis Care
Hours of Crisis Care
- 9 families experienced homelessness during 2025
- 7 families had active substance use in the household or a parent in recovery
- 4 families were escaping recent domestic violence
Reviews
Our Partners
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