Finding Childcare in Gallatin Valley Shouldn't Be a Full-Time Job. Gallatin United Way Has a New Solution.

If you're a parent in Gallatin or Park counties, you know the feeling. The endless waitlists. The constant calls. The high-stakes lottery of finding a safe, affordable, and available childcare spot for your child. It’s a stressful, overwhelming process that can feel like a full-time job in itself.

In a region where the cost of infant care can rival college tuition and 61% of families live in a "childcare desert"—with far more children than licensed spots—this isn't just a family issue. It's a community and economic crisis.

When parents can't find care, they're forced to miss work, reduce their hours, or leave the workforce entirely. This strains our local businesses, impacts our economy, and places an incredible burden on families just trying to thrive.

But what if finding childcare was as simple as searching for a restaurant or a hotel?

That’s the vision behind Child Connect, a powerful new initiative launched by Greater Gallatin United Way to help parents find local available childcare.

What is Child Connect?

Child Connect is a community-powered initiative designed to strengthen our entire local childcare system by bringing three key groups together: families, providers, and employers.

The centerpiece of this initiative is a new, easy-to-use technology platform called Kinside. And for families in Gallatin and Park counties, it’s a total game-changer.

How Child Connect and Kinside Help

Greater Gallatin United Way has partnered with Kinside to create a centralized, one-stop shop for childcare. Here’s how it works:

• For Families: Real-Time Openings
  Kinside is a free tool for parents that acts like a real-time search engine for licensed childcare. Instead of calling dozens of providers one by one, families can create a free account to:
• See real-time availability at licensed childcare providers.
• Search and filter by location (near home or work), your child’s age, and your specific schedule needs.
• Compare programs and enroll directly through the platform.

For the first time, parents can move from "hoping to win the lottery" to making an informed choice for their family.

• For Childcare Providers: Filling Spots and Reducing Admin
  Child Connect isn't just for parents. It’s a vital tool for our valued childcare providers, too. By joining the platform, providers can:
• Gain visibility to a wider audience of local families.
• Fill open spots quickly and efficiently.
• Reduce administrative work by managing waitlists and enrollments in one place.
  This helps providers stay sustainable, which is essential for maintaining and growing the number of available spots in our community.

• For Employers: Supporting a Stable Workforce
  Local businesses feel the childcare crisis just as acutely in the form of absenteeism and high turnover. Child Connect allows employers to be part of the solution by:
• Offering Kinside as a free benefit to their employees.
• Helping their workforce find the reliable care they need to be present and productive.
• Improving employee retention and attracting new talent in a competitive market.

How to Get Involved

This initiative is a shining example of what our community can do when we "Live United." It’s a collaborative effort supported by partners like the City of Bozeman and Family Forward Montana, all working toward the same goal.

• If you are a parent looking for care, you can create your free Kinside account today.
• If you are an employer who wants to support your working families, you can learn about offering this benefit to your team.
• If you are a licensed childcare provider, you can join the platform to connect with families and fill your openings.

To learn more about the Child Connect initiative and to sign up, visit the Greater Gallatin United Way website.

Finding childcare in our community has been a mountain for families to climb for far too long. With Child Connect, Greater Gallatin United Way is providing the tools, technology, and community-wide collaboration to finally clear the path.