MEDIA CONTACT
Kimberly Hall
Greater Gallatin United Way CEO
Khall@gguw.org | 406-587-2194
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal Action on Afterschool Funding Threatens Support Systems in Montana
Bozeman, MT— (July 2nd, 2025) — As summer camps serve hundreds of children across Gallatin and Park counties and plans for the upcoming school year take shape, a sudden freeze on federal education funding is putting essential afterschool and summer programs in jeopardy.
On July 1, the federal government unexpectedly froze $6.8 billion in education funding, including $1.4 billion allocated for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), a primary source of support for before- and after-school care and summer learning programs across the country. These funds were scheduled to be released that same day and are now indefinitely on hold.
Locally, this decision could impact Greater Gallatin United Way’s kidsLINK program, which supports 10 school sites in Gallatin and Park counties. The freeze is already impacting rural summer programs currently serving families and threatening the ability to prepare for fall.
“These are not funds for the future, they are to support kids and working families today,” said Kim Hall, CEO/President of Greater Gallatin United Way. “kidsLINK is not optional, it’s essential. It ensures parents can work, businesses can stay staffed, and children have a safe, supportive place to grow. When programs like this are threatened, it’s not just families who suffer, it’s our entire community.”
More than 1,200 children in Gallatin and Park counties depend on kidsLINK. Across Montana, over 9,100 students benefit from programs funded through 21st CCLC, particularly in low-income, rural, and tribal communities where options are already limited.
The Broader Impact
- Rural summer camp programs may scale back, leaving families without care mid-season.
- Planning and staffing for fall afterschool programs are on hold, creating program uncertainty, putting jobs and future services at risk.
- Parents may be forced to reduce work hours or leave jobs to care for children.
- Local businesses, already short-staffed, could face greater workforce disruptions as reliable child care options disappear.
Why These Programs Matter
- Afterschool and summer programs like kidsLINK are more than child care:
- They improve academic outcomes and social-emotional development.
- They provide structure, connection and mentorship, all key factors in preventing youth suicide and at-risk behaviors.
- They enable working parents to keep their jobs, and businesses to stay staffed.
- For every $1 invested, communities see a $3 return in public savings.
The freeze on 21st CCLC funds threatens the long-term stability of services that are proven to improve educational outcomes, reduce crime, support mental health, and help build a stronger workforce.
“These programs are essential. Not just for families, but for our local economy,” said Kim Hall. “When working families lose access to child care, businesses lose reliable employees. It’s a ripple effect that impacts everyone.”
To learn more about kidsLINK and Greater Gallatin United Way, visit greatergallatinunitedway.org.
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About Greater Gallatin United Way:
Since 1978, Greater Gallatin United Way has brought people together to create lasting, local change across Gallatin, Madison, Meagher, and Park counties. Through programs like kidsLINK, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and collaborative partnerships, GGUW supports working families, builds community resilience, and helps every child and family thrive.
