Early Childhood Tribal Policy
Our Tribal Work
Our ultimate goal is to live in a Montana dedicated to the success of every child. Our work revolves around a vision that our state will be committed to giving every child a great start in life and a promising future. Learn more about our tribal outreach.
Early Childhood Tribal Coaltion
Recognizing the need for coordinated support efforts to be placed within tribal communities to address early childhood issues, Zero to Five Montana is striving to ensure Montana’s early childhood system uplifts the perspectives and experiences of parents and early childhood leaders across our tribal nations.
American Indian children in Montana hold the key to the future across our tribal nations. Young children born and raised within their tribal communities learn the culture and standards of their tribe. We must ensure young children are receiving the best start in life by providing quality services and equal opportunities both on and off the reservations.
Zero to Five Montana has assembled a coalition to help mitigate challenges that impact reservation communities in early childhood services. This framework will assist tribes in aligning values and priorities while sharing knowledge amongst each other. Currently, there are gaps in services where we can identify opportunities that reflect the hope and aspirations of the tribes across Montana.
The coalition is guided by a clear membership framework that protects tribal leadership while welcoming meaningful partnership:
- Active Members self-identify as American Indian and/or Alaska Native and work directly with or within Tribal communities. They lead discussions, guide priorities, and hold all voting and decision-making authority.
- Allied Partners are non-Tribal individuals or organizations who work with Tribal children and families. They may participate in meetings, offer expertise, and support projects, while honoring that decision-making rests solely with Active Members.
- Support Network Members include state or national partners who stay informed through the listserv and offer resources, connections, or support, while not participating in meetings or decision-making.
This intentional structure keeps the coalition tribal-led, rooted in cultural values, and grounded in the experiences of Native families. The coalition launched in 2024 and has worked to:
- Elevate tribal perspectives in statewide policy conversations, including early childhood funding, language preservation, and transitions.
- Strengthen relationships between tribal programs, community teams, and statewide partners.
- Host the first Trailblazing Transition Summit, bringing eight tribal community teams together to braid culture, advocacy, and early learning priorities.
- Support local action planning for community-specific transition work, family engagement, and language/culture integration.
Together, we will shape policies that reflect the diverse needs of Montana’s tribal communities and promote equitable early childhood development statewide.
Have questions or want to learn more? Email Callie at calliep@zerotofive.org.
2025 Trailblazing Transition Summit
Transitions in the early years, such as moving from home to an early education program or from preschool to kindergarten, are pivotal moments in a child’s development. These shifts influence a child’s sense of security and sense of belonging. For tribal communities, transitions also provide an opportunity to honor cultural identity, intergenerational knowledge, and community strengths.
The Trailblazing Transitions Summit in November of 2025 brought together eight tribal community teams from across Montana, comprised of elders, educators, parents, and early childhood leaders for two days of connection, cultural grounding, and collaborative planning. Co-hosted by Zero to Five Montana and Bright Futures Birth-to-Five (B5), this first-of-its-kind gathering centered Indigenous knowledge, community wisdom, and demonstrated the power of local, culturally grounded approaches to early childhood transitions.
Click the following report to learn more about the summit:
Foundations: 2022 Montana Infant & Toddler Tribal Language Pilot
The Montana Tribal Language Pilot helped create opportunities for infant-toddler programs in Montana to create, strengthen, and promote native language strategies in classrooms for infants and toddlers.
2022 Montana Infant/Toddler Tribal Language Pilot Participants included: CS&KT Early Childhood Services, Browning Schools Child Care Center, Fort Belknap Child Care, Blackfeet Early Childhood Center, Browning, Tiny Tots Child Care (Wolf Point)
Pilot resources: