Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) and Why It Matters
Whether you’re moving to Onslow County for the first time or you’re weighing your options for your child, the process of finding a high-quality child care provider can be overwhelming. One Place offers Child Care Resource & Referrals (CCR&R) to help your family navigate your options and select a safe, trustworthy, and nurturing program to support your child.
Why CCR&R Matters
Quality early childhood programs serve as the foundation of a young child’s life.
To provide your child with the resources they need to start strong, we connect families in Onslow County to child care centers, family child care homes, afterschool programs, or half-day preschool programs. By enrolling your child in a high-quality early education program, they’ll have the support they need to grow and thrive in a safe, supportive environment.
Why Preschool Matters
Enrolling your child in a preschool program will have a tremendously positive impact on the rest of their life. One study discovered that children who participated in preschool programs were less likely to be arrested, more likely to graduate, and less likely to struggle with substance abuse as adults.
When children attend preschool programs, they’ll gain important skills and develop a solid foundation for the rest of their academic life. Because a child’s brain undergoes crucial development during the first five years of their life, enrollment in a preschool program serves as a vital opportunity to build school readiness skills, which has been found to be a solid predictor of long-term achievement.
Preschool Supports Your Child’s Social-Emotional Development
Because a child’s brain develops with such rapid speed during the first 2,000 days of their life, the quality of these early experiences and interactions are responsible for the child’s social-emotional foundation.
These early experiences, for example, may include interactions with caregivers, parents, extended family members, child care providers, and teachers. When social and emotional health is prioritized in the preschool classroom, it has a cascading impact on a child’s long-term ability to grow, thrive, and succeed.
During the first few years of their life, children begin to acquire these key skills:
- Experience, regulate, and express emotions
- Identify and understand their own feelings
- Assess and understand the emotions of others
- Establish and maintain positive, close relationships with other children and adults
- Feel empathy for others
- Explore their environment and continue to learn
How CCR&R Works
One Place provides resources and referrals to local child care centers, family child care homes, and other programs to fit your needs in Onslow County.
All of our CCR&R services are provided free of charge to families in Onslow County.
To start your search, One Place offers a few options:
- Text “Child” to (910) 333-0608.
After texting our referral number, you’ll be prompted to submit an online form. This includes questions like your reasons for seeking child care and your basic information. Once we receive this form, our Resource and Education Specialists will create a customized list of child care facilities in Onslow County that match your needs and preferences.
If you have a child under the age of 2 years old, our team can provide an enhanced referral: This means that we will search for programs that match your unique needs, and then we will call the programs directly to confirm available vacancies on your behalf.
- Fill out an online request.
You can submit an online request for child care through our online form. Click here to access the form. Once this form has been completed, our Resource and Education Specialists will create a customized list of child care facilities in Onslow County that match your needs and preferences.
- Stop by the One Place office.
If you’d prefer to stop by our office and talk with a member of the CCR&R team, we’re here to help.
900 Dennis Road
Jacksonville, NC 28546
- Give us a call.
You can bypass filling out our online form by calling our team directly. We’ll ask all the questions we need to add you and your child to the system—so we can provide quality resources and referrals to you.
Call us at (910) 333-0608.
- Start your own search online.
If you would like to search on your own, the North Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral Council offers a database of child care programs. You can create an account and access the search to get started. Click here to get started.
If you have any questions along the way, our CCR&R team is here to help. Give us a call at (910) 938-0336 to speak to a member of our team.
Another way to gather information on local child care facilities is by reviewing the North Carolina Official Child Care Search. This resource allows you to filter by facility, permit, ages served, and special requirements. You can also get recommendations from people in your network. We recommend that you ask trusted friends and family, colleagues, or neighbors about their experiences with child care.
You’ve received a child care referral. Now what?
Once you’ve received a list of potential child care providers in Onslow County, it’s time to evaluate the programs and determine what’s best for your child and your family’s needs. Keep these points in mind as you evaluate:
- Visit the child care provider.
As an open-door policy state, child care programs in North Carolina are required to allow visitors during operation. We always recommend visiting the child care provider in person—and showing up unannounced for the clearest picture of how the center runs.
Talk with the director and the teachers, ask them about their approach and their philosophy to care and education, and evaluate the premises. Don’t be afraid to take notes and ask questions.
Consult the Division of Child Development’s Child Care Checklist for questions to ask:
- Understand the Star-Rated licensing system.
North Carolina has a star-rated license system that awards child care programs one to five stars, based on state-defined standards. It’s important to note, however, that any starred program meets the minimum licensing requirements—and the star rating is not necessarily a reflection of better quality.
If you are looking at a religious-sponsored child care program and notice it doesn’t have a rating, be aware that these programs only receive a rating if they choose to apply. The absence of a star rating does not indicate the program’s overall level of quality.
Before making a decision about a program based on the star rating, we recommend visiting the program in person and coming to your own decision.
- Get started early.
Because Onslow County is located in a child care desert, it’s important to start the child care search well in advance if possible. Most programs in Onslow County today have a waiting list—so once you’ve found a program that’s a good fit, add your child to the list and be patient. It can take time but availability is constantly changing.
We’re here to help.
In addition to child care referrals, One Place offers numerous resources for families in Onslow County—from health and transportation to employment and military family resources. Click here for additional information on how we can help your child and family grow and thrive in our community.