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Child Care Resource & Referral · Onslow County · Free for All Families
Finding child care shouldn’t be this hard. But for many families in Onslow County, the search begins with uncertainty: Am I choosing the right place? How do I know it’s safe? What if I can’t afford it? Where do I even start? Every day, our CCR&R team becomes the calm in that storm.
✓ Licensed Providers Only
✓ Enhanced Referrals for Infants & Toddlers
✓ Subsidy Guidance Included
✓ Ongoing Support After Enrollment
When a parent reaches out, they don’t receive a stack of brochures or a phone book of providers. They receive personalized, human support from a Resource and Education Specialist who knows Onslow County’s child care landscape, and genuinely cares about their child’s safety and future.
Because no caregiver should have to navigate child care alone.
From first contact through enrollment and beyond — every step is designed around your family’s needs, not a checklist.
We ask about your child’s age, needs, routines, personality, and any special circumstances — so we can match your family with the right care, not just any care.
Parents learn how to evaluate quality programs, how North Carolina’s star-rated licensing system works, and what to look for when visiting a provider. NC is an open-door state — programs are required to let parents visit during operating hours, even unannounced.
We explain eligibility, help families gather documents, and guide them through the process — so cost never becomes the reason a child loses access to quality care.
Extra Care for Those Who Need It Most
Our goal isn’t just to help families find child care. It’s to help them feel confident in their choice.
— A parent we hear from every single day at One Place
Families and providers are connected — when educators succeed, children succeed. Through training, technical assistance, licensing support, and quality coaching, we help child care professionals improve their programs, gain credentials, and build high-quality environments where children thrive.
Families and providers are connected; when educators succeed, children succeed.
Professional Training
✨Understand their rights and options
You help families feel supported, not alone.
A family that’s okay — because of you
Free for every family, every time — made possible by community support and state funding
Is this service free?
Do I need to know what type of child care I want?
Can you help me find child care for my infant or toddler?
Can I trust the providers you refer?
What if my preferred child care center has a waitlist?
Do you offer support to child care providers too?
Do you help with child care subsidy?
We explain eligibility, help you gather paperwork, and walk you through how to apply. Many families qualify and don’t know it. You can also check eligibility directly through the NC DHHS subsidy tool.
Could my child qualify for free preschool or Early Head Start?
Both are no-cost programs providing high-quality educational experiences and building school readiness for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Onslow County.
Placement depends on available space and each child’s priority level. Children with greater risk factors and children who haven’t received prior early education services outside the home receive higher priority.
Classes are held in 4 and 5-star rated child care centers. NC Pre-K is also offered through Onslow County Schools at participating elementary schools.
Yes. NC Pre-K teachers are state-licensed professionals with degrees in Early Childhood Education or a related field. Three School teachers also hold degrees in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
Head Start is a federally funded preschool program for low-income 3- and 4-year-olds. Smart Start is funded through state and private dollars and supports a broader range of services for children under age 6 and their families. Visit the Smart Start FAQs →
Don’t see your question here?
