The Wake County Child Care Subsidy Program provides financial assistance to parents for their child care needs for families based on an assessment of need, income and family size. Each county receives an annual allocation of state and federal funds used for subsidized child care services for its residents. To learn more about how to apply, please visit the Child Care Subsidy Program web page.
Building Family Support
MOREEarly Literacy Initiatives
Early Literacy Initiatives will promote parent engagement and parenting practices in Wake County by providing activities, education, and resource materials through two literacy programs: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read.
Children in Wake County, ages birth to five, who are experiencing homelessness will receive assessment, assistance, and support services through REACH (Resilience, Empowerment, Access for Children Experiencing Homelessness), a program of Passage Home.
MOREProgram for Early Parent Support
Participants in both Spanish- and English-speaking communities are provided with emotional support, an inclusive and safe community, and empowerment to grow as they experience challenges with others who understand their perspective. These programs are completely free of cost and provide participants with crucial resources including diapers, grocery gift cards and books (in participants’ home language). TAPS is currently offering these programs to families in Wake County with babies up to 18 months of age.
MOREImproving Early Childhood Education Access for Latinx Families
Child Care Referral Central (CCRC), a service of Child Care Services Association (CCSA), provides “one-stop shopping” for Wake County Latinx families, who have children birth to 5, with identifying, selecting, and accessing high quality early care and education opportunities. CCRC Specialists provide FREE services, which include counseling on child care options, referrals to programs, assistance checking vacancies, accompanied site-visits, support navigating financial assistance, and Spanish interpretation and translation assistance.
MOREDolly Parton's Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a free high quality, age-appropriate book to children in Wake County every month from birth to age 5 to encourage a love of reading and readiness for kindergarten.
NC Pre-K provides children with a high-quality classroom program to help four-year olds get ready for Kindergarten. Children attend Pre-K for 6.5 hours each day, Monday through Friday.
MORESchool Readiness Services for Hispanic Children
School Readiness Services for Hispanic Children & Families serves Hispanic families with young children in Wake County. It is a multifaceted program that builds early literacy skills, and provides screenings, information and referrals.
MOREHome Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
HIPPY is a FREE 3-year, home-based, early childhood education program that supports parents while providing solutions that strengthen families.