Finding and Paying For Child Care
While this site does not point to specific child care or preschool programs, there are programs that maintain a current directory and can provide support finding the best child care options for any family (see CCSA Child Care Referral Central). In addition, Durham programs that provide free or subsidized child care for eligible families are listed below.
Any family with children 0 to 12-years-old
Alamance, Caswell, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Orange, Person, Vance and Wake counties
Cost:
Call a referral specialist at 855-327-5933, email referral@childcareservices.org, or visit childcareservices.org/families
childcareservices.org/families
Low-income families with children between ages 0-12 who need childcare, meet income guidelines, live in Durham County, and are employed or in school; there are additional priority groups that may be eligible; contact us for more information
Durham County
Cost:
There is no application fee. If the parent qualifies for services, they will have a parent fee that is paid to the childcare provider. The parent fee is ten percent of the family’s earned income (wages).
Call 919-560-8300 or email dsschildcarewaitlist@dconc.gov
Low-income expectant women and families with newborns and children up to age 3; foster children, homeless children and children from families receiving public assistance as well as children with documented disabilities may be eligible regardless of income
Services are provided at home or various childcare centers in Durham
Cost:
Durham Early Head Start: dpfc.net/our-work/durham-early-head-start
Durham Early Head Start Home-based Program: ccfhnc.org/durham-early-head-start-home-based-program/
Any child that is a resident of Durham County, regardless of income, that turns 4 by August 31 of their applying year
Visit durhamprek.org/families/site-locations for a full list of school pre-K sites, hours, and locations.
Cost:
Pre-k is free for any child whose family makes below 400% of the federal poverty level (for example, a family of 4 with an income below $119,999) and offers a sliding scale fee for all others. Visit durhamprek.org/dpk-sliding-scale for further details
Call 1-833-773-5338 to speak with our Bilingual PreK Information Desk or visit the enrollment page at durhamprek.org/dpk-application.
Application appointments are available in English and Spanish (other languages available by request).
Children starting at 6-weeks-old to 5-years-old who meet income eligibility as determined by Federal Poverty Guidelines
Please visit fcrinc.org to view all of the FCR Head Start & Early Head Start locations in Durham and Orange Counties.
Cost:
Call 919-688-5541 x 240 or visit fcrinc.org to fill out the application in English or Spanish.
Parents of children with developmental disabilities, childcare organizations and providers serving children ages 3-18.
Free consultation and training services are available in Wake and Durham Counties. Fee-for-service training options are available both in-person and virtually at any location. Webinars are also available on the Community Partnerships, Inc. website at communitypartnerships.org
Cost:
Contact Jenna Tarleton at 919-630-3178 or jtarleton@communitypartnerships.org to get started.
Partners in Inclusion will access an interpreter for families who speak languages other English and Spanish.
English 
Spanish