Is there a child care shortage in Havre?

Experts say there's a shortage of child care providers in Montana, Havre included, and the consequences can be serious and long lasting.

"It is shown that when children are prepared for kindergarten they tend to do better in school and less likely to drop out. And they're more likely to graduate and go on and get further education and get good-paying jobs that lend further support to your economy," Lori Eckhardt, marketing and fund development manager at Family Connections in Great Falls, said Monday.

Family Connections oversees region six, the area that includes Havre. The office promotes ear...