This activity provides financial assistance to Duplin County parents to pay for child care. This program is available to parents/guardians of children birth through five, so they can go to work, attend school, or participate in job training activities. For more information about signing up for child care assistance or questions about this program, please contact Duplin County Department of Social Services, at 910-296-2200.
Services
Child Care Subsidies
W.A.G.E.$
The Child Care WAGE$ Project is a statewide education-based salary supplement initiative created and administered by Child Care Services Association, a non-profit agency in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Applications from teachers, directors, and family child care providers are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal year and payments are made monthly to each group of participants successfully completing a commitment period at that time. Payments are mailed directly to eligible participants from W.A.G.E.$. For more information regarding this program and/or the salary supplement, please contact W.A.G.E.$. 919-967-3272.
Child Care Health Consultant
This activity provides a Registered Nurse to assist child care providers in meeting licensure requirements, improving standards, and developing emergency plans. The nurse visits child care providers as requested to provide technical assistance, workshops, assist with the development of policies and procedures, follow-up on environmental sanitation inspections, and address issues of immediate concern. For more information, please contact Duplin County Health Services, at 910-296-2130.
Special Needs Itinerant Preschool Teachers
This activity provides two Special Needs Itinerate Preschool Teachers that go in child care settings to provide appropriate instruction for children with special needs. Children are seen as often as their Individual Education Plan allows. The teachers also provide workshops to child care teachers to help them identify and instruct children with special needs. For more information, contact Duplin County Schools at, 910-296-6601.
Pre Kindergarten Classes Program
This activity provides two Special Needs Itinerate Preschool Teachers that go in child care settings to provide appropriate instruction for children with special needs. Children are seen as often as their Individual Education Plan allows. The teachers also provide workshops to child care teachers to help them identify and instruct children with special needs. For more information, contact Duplin County Schools at, 910-296-6601.
Program Coordinator & Evaluation
This activity utilizes a full time person to oversee activities funded through Smart Start and private grants. The Program Coordinator works closely with other staff to monitor compliance with approved activity.
Child Care Resource and Referral
Download brochure for more info
Child Care Resource and Referral Services (CCR&R) is a community-based service that is designed to provide an effective child care delivery system.
Quality Enhancement Project
This activity provides mini grants (non-monetary) to child care providers to purchase equipment for facitlites to enhance their programs. These packages also provide extensive technical assistance and training for facilities. For more information, please contact Duplin County Partnership for Children at, 910-296-2000.--> View Slideshow
Parents As Teachers
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The Parents as Teachers program provides monthly home visits to families of children prenatal through kindergarten entry to assist and support parents in being their child’s first and most important teacher.
Service Promotion and Outreach/Bilingual Specialist
This activity is designed to enhance the activities of Duplin County Partnership for Children by identifying, referring, and enrolling children (especially Latino children) birth through five, families, and childcare providers in programs and services funded, coordinated, or supported by Smart Start funds or staff. This activity also helps to ensure ongoing community awareness of Smart-Start funded services for young children and their families, child care providers and medical providers living or working in Duplin County. For more information, call Karen Pacheco, Service Promotion and Outreach Coordinator at Smart Start at 910-296-2000.
Regulated Child Care and Licensing Information in NC
Who’s Regulated by the Division of Child Development?
How Do I Get Licensed?
What is the Family Child Care Home Application Process?
What is the Child Care Center Application Process?
Licensing Requirements Overview and Rule Changes
Information retrieved from: www.ncchildcare.net
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Explanation of Star Ratings
What is a “Star Rated License”?
The star rated license is a voluntary licensing system where your program can earn points in two components:
- Program Standards
- Staff Education
In addition, programs having a two component license can earn a "quality point" for meeting enhanced standards for staff education and program standards.
Why “Star Rated Licenses”?
North Carolina moved to this system in 2000 for many reasons. It allows your child care program to be recognized for the higher quality care that you are already providing. In the previous system your program's indvividual strenghts were not highlighted. For Family Child Care Homes, there was not any way to indicate being recognized for providing higher qualilty care.
Be sure to explore other pertinent star rated license information in order to:
- Understand how points are calculated
- Learn how a star rating can be increased
- See a sample license
- Read the most frequently asked questions about star rated licenses
How Are Points Earned?
When you apply for a star rated license a child care consultant will visit your program and evaluate each of the two quality components as well as the quality point option that may be selected by your program:
- Program Standards
- Education Standards
You will receive one point for meeting minimum requirements. To earn more than one point, you will have to meet higher voluntary standards.
For more information on how points are earned and how to determine star ratings please visit:
Increasing Your Star Rating
Once you have received a star rated license, you may decide that you want to try and increase your star rating. If you have a one star rated license, you can apply for a 2-5 star rated license at any time. If you have a 2-5 star rated license, you can reapply for a higher rating after six months.
Visit the link below for valuable resources and suggestions on how you can earn more points.
Star Rated License FAQs
Visit the link below for a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.