Child Care Referral Central · Onslow County · Free for All Families

Finding the Right Child Care
Doesn't Have to Be
Overwhelming.

no caregiver should navigate child care alone

Child Care Referral Central (CCRC) is here to help you start your search, with personalized support that connects you with quality options to fit your family’s needs, schedule, and budget. All child care referrals are provided at no cost to families.

✓ Licensed Providers Only

✓ School-Age Programs & Camps

✓ Subsidy Guidance Included

✓ Free for Every Family

Personalized Support, Not Just a List

How Child Care Referral Central Works

CCRC refers only to legally operating, licensed child care programs and programs and camps for school-age children. These services are supported by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education, so you can start your search with confidence.

And One Place is right here in Onslow County, too. We help families understand what quality care looks like, navigate child care subsidies, and explore our no-cost early education programs.

Because no caregiver should have to navigate child care alone.

A real conversation, not a stack of brochures

Your Next Steps

Here's How to
Start Your Search

Every step is designed around your family’s needs, and every referral is free.

Search Online

Visit Early Years NC to start your search for licensed child care programs and school-age programs and camps near you.

Connect With CCRC

Call Child Care Referral Central at 1-855-327-5933 for personalized support finding quality options that fit your family’s needs, schedule, and budget.

Know What to Look For

Learn how North Carolina’s star-rated license works and what to look for when you visit a program. NC is an open-door state, so programs are required to let parents visit during operating hours, even unannounced.

Clear Support for Subsidies & Financial Assistance

One Place explains eligibility, helps families gather documents, and guides them through the process, so cost never becomes the reason a child loses access to quality care. Call us at (910) 938-0336.

Explore No-Cost Early Education

Your child may qualify for Early Head Start, Three School, or NC Pre-K, all offered at no cost through One Place. See the FAQs below or give us a call.

And every part of this is free.

Start your search today

Three Easy Ways to Request a Referral

Tell us what your family needs, and our Resource and Education Specialists will create a customized list of child care programs that may be a great fit. Every referral is free.

💬

Text Us

Text CHILD to

(910) 333-0608

Our team will get back to you to start the referral process.

📝

Request Online

Share your child's age, the area you need, and your schedule, and we'll follow up with options.

Online Referral Request

📞

Call Us

(910) 938-0336

Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired, dial 711 for the Telecommunications Relay Service.

💵

Help Paying for Child Care

Child care subsidy is available through the State of North Carolina for eligible families. Contact Onslow County Consolidated Human Services at (910) 219-4830, or check your eligibility online.

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EFMP Respite Care for Navy Families

Navy families with a child who has special needs may qualify for up to 40 hours of respite care each month. For an application, contact Child Care Aware at (800) 424-2246.

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Choosing Quality Care

Onslow County Is a Child Care Desert

A child care desert is a community with far fewer licensed child care slots than the families who need them. In a place like Onslow County, having the right support can change everything, because every child here deserves a strong start.

one call can change everything

Child Care Referral Central can help you find licensed programs that fit your child’s age, your schedule, and your budget. That personalized support makes the difference for families navigating limited options.

Extra Care for Those Who Need It Most

Enhanced Referrals for Infants, Toddlers & Children with Special Needs

Families with children under age two face unique challenges — limited availability, higher costs, and specialized developmental needs. Child Care Referral Central offers Enhanced Referrals for infants and toddlers, giving families extra support, deeper guidance, and closer attention to quality indicators.

For new parents, military families, or caregivers navigating transitions, this added level of support can be life-changing.

Specialized support for your youngest children

enhanced support includes

What Makes Enhanced Referrals Different

Quality Matters!

What Makes Child Care Safe and Strong

Choosing a child care program is one of the most important early decisions you’ll make for your child. Research shows that children’s intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development are shaped by the quality of their care.

Child care that provides a safe, stable, and stimulating environment helps nurture your child’s healthy development and better prepares them for kindergarten. Connect with Child Care Referral Central today to find the right fit for your family!

What a high-quality, star-rated program looks like

NC Star-Rated License: what the star rating actually measures, and what it doesn’t

Staff-to-Child Ratios: required minimums by age group and why they matter

Staff Qualifications & Background Checks: what to ask and what to look for

Health & Safety Practices: sanitation, safe sleep, immunizations, and both indoor and outdoor environments

Curriculum & Daily Routines: what age-appropriate learning actually looks like

Caregiver-Child Interactions: warm, responsive, engaged adults using positive guidance

Parent Rights & Access: including the right to visit unannounced and review licensing compliance history

Warning Signs to Watch For: what to do if something doesn’t feel right

“Thank you. I didn't know where to start.”

A parent we hear from every single day at One Place

One Place Also Supports Early Educators

Because Safe, High-Quality Child Care Starts With Strong Providers

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

Technical Assistance

Licensing Support

Quality Coaching

Credential Pathways

Strong educators build strong environments for children

Why Your Support Matters

When donors invest in One Place’s child care work, they help families access the safe, stable child care that makes everything else possible. You help children find the nurturing environments they need to grow.

✨Find safe child care during overwhelming moments

✨Stay employed and financially stable

✨Understand their rights and options

✨Access subsidy and financial support

✨Ensure their child enters a nurturing environment

✨Build long-term, trusting relationships with providers

You help families feel supported, not alone.

A family that’s okay, because of you

100%

Free for every family, every time, made possible by community support and state funding

Your Questions Answered

Frequently Asked Questions

About Child Care Referrals

Is this service free?

Yes. All child care referrals through Child Care Referral Central are provided at no cost to families.

Do I need to know what type of child care I want?

No. Child Care Referral Central will help you understand your options and what might fit your child best. You can also start your search anytime at Early Years NC.

Can you help me find child care for my infant or toddler?

Yes. Child Care Referral Central can help you find licensed programs for infants and toddlers. Call 1-855-327-5933 to get started.

Can I trust the providers you refer?

Yes. CCRC refers only to legally operating, licensed child care programs and programs and camps for school-age children in North Carolina.

What if my preferred child care center has a waitlist?

Child Care Referral Central can help you explore other licensed programs that fit your family, so you have a backup plan. Call 1-855-327-5933.

Do you offer support to child care providers too?

Yes. One Place provides training, coaching, and licensing support to help programs grow in quality and capacity.

Cost & Financial Assistance

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?

Possibly! One Place runs three no-cost early education programs. Not sure which fits? Give us a call and our team will help you figure it out.

Early Head Start (EHS)

Pregnant women and children birth to age 3, based on family income. Families experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, and families receiving SNAP, SSI, or TANF automatically qualify regardless of income.

Three School Program

3-year-olds (by August 31) whose parents are working or in school and who meet TANF income guidelines.

NC Pre-K

4-year-olds (by August 31), based on income or other documented risk factors. Children with identified disabilities and military families are encouraged to apply.

About NC Pre-K & Three School

What are NC Pre-K and Three School?

Both are no-cost programs providing high-quality educational experiences and building school readiness for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds in Onslow County.

How are children selected for placement?

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.

Where are NC Pre-K and Three School classes held?

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.

Are Pre-K teachers qualified?

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.

What’s the difference between Head Start and Smart Start?

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?

For child care referrals, call CCRC at 1-855-327-5933. For anything else, call One Place at (910) 938-0336. We’re happy to help.

Together, We Help Children Learn
& Families Thrive

child care shouldn't be a barrier to safety, stability, or opportunity

With the right support, it becomes a foundation that helps families move forward with confidence and hope.

Finding the Right Child CareDoesn't Have to BeOverwhelming.