Looking for Child Care?
Finding a high-quality child care provider that fits your family’s needs can often feel like an overwhelming task. Our team is here to help you navigate your options and select a safe, trustworthy, and nurturing program to meet the needs of your child and family.
HOW WE HELP
Quality early childhood programs are part of the foundation of your child’s life. To provide your child with a strong start, we’ll connect you with child care centers, family child care homes, after-school programs or half-day preschool programs so your child can grow and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
For Early Educators and Professionals
Early educators play an important role in a child’s success; however, many early educators and early care and education professionals struggle to locate the resources and tools they need. To help support both the early educators and children of our community, we offer a wide range of professional opportunities and trainings.
start your
search
Text “Child” to (910) 333-0608
Our team will get back to you to start the referral process.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, please dial 711 for access to the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS).
Based on your family’s needs, our Resource and Education Specialists will create a customized list of child care facilities that may be a good fit for you.
If you have a child under the age of 2, we can provide an enhanced referral — searching for programs that match your needs and confirming vacancies on your behalf.
All of our child care referrals are provided at no cost.
Start your own search online.
If you’d like to search on your own, the North Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral Council offers a large database of child care programs.
Click the link below to quickly create an account and access the search. Questions? Contact our Child Care Resource and Referral team at
(910) 938-0336.
Why is high-quality child care important?
The first 2,000 days of your child’s life are so important — and quality child care helps to build a strong foundation and ensure your child’s overall health, wellness, and long-term success — both in school and in life.
Learn more about choosing quality child care.
What is high-quality early learning?
The best programs provide a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where children have the space to play, learn, and participate in activities led by caring and knowledgeable early educators.
Star Ratings and Child Safety
As you search for the right program for your child, you will most likely see programs with star ratings. North Carolina has a star-rated license system that categorizes programs from those meeting the minimum requirements (1 star) to programs that meet additional voluntary criteria, such as teacher qualifications (2-5 stars). If you are looking at a religious-sponsored child care program and notice that it doesn’t have a rating, be aware that these programs will only receive a rating if they choose to apply and absence of a star rating does not necessarily indicate the program’s level of quality.
For additional information, we recommend visiting North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education.
EFMP Respite Care
EFMP Respite Care helps Navy families with children with special needs by providing 40 hours of respite care per month so they can leave the house, go to an appointment, or just rest, while knowing their child is well cared for. For an application or more information, contact Child Care Aware at (800)424-2246.
Child Care Subsidy
If you need help paying for high-quality early care and education for your child, assistance is available through the state of North Carolina.
For more information, reach out to Consolidated Human Services at (910) 219-4830.
