Family Child Care Home Direct Support Pilot Program
Family Child Care Home Direct Support Pilot Program supports new child care providers through onboarding, coaching, and training to establish homes and expand high-quality care in North Carolina.
Funder: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Due Dates: October 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (Application instructions available) | November 18, 2026, 9:30–10:30 a.m. (Pre-application conference) | November 18, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (Optional intent to apply) | December 1, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (Application submission)
Funding Amounts: Up to three awards of up to $1,083,333 each for a two-year funding cycle
Summary: Supports regional coordination and direct provider assistance to establish new family child care homes and expand high-quality child care in selected North Carolina counties.
Key Information: Eligibility is limited to three North Carolina Councils of Government, one each from the Mountain, Coastal Plain, and Piedmont regions.
Description
The Family Child Care Home Direct Support Pilot Program is administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services through its Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). In partnership with three Councils of Government, DCDEE will recruit, establish, and support new family child care homes to expand access to high-quality child care in selected North Carolina counties.
The two-year pilot combines regional coordination with comprehensive onboarding, coaching, mentorship, training, and workforce supports for prospective and newly established family child care providers. These services are intended to help providers launch, develop, and sustain high-quality child care programs. The initiative focuses on building child care capacity in counties within the Mountain, Coastal Plain, and Piedmont regions.
