Dare County Plans Informational Session to Expand Family Child Care Home Options

Dare County Hosts Family Child Care Home Informational Session

This October, Dare County is gearing up for an exciting opportunity to enhance child care options for families. On October 9, 2024, the Children & Youth Partnership (CYP) will hold an informative session on how to open a Family Child Care Home. This event will take place at the St. Andrew’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and is aimed at helping aspiring caregivers navigate the journey of providing safe and nurturing care in their own homes.

Child care has been identified as a critical need in the Dare County community. Just last March, during the State of the Child Conference, a survey revealed that a whopping 76.1% of local businesses reported difficulties with staffing and scheduling, all due to the lack of sufficient child care options for their employees. As many parents juggle careers alongside family responsibilities, expanding child care resources is more important than ever.

Why Family Child Care Homes Matter

Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) play a vital role in the early care and education system. They offer a cozy, home-like environment that many parents prefer for their young children, especially infants and toddlers, who require the most attention. Unfortunately, spaces for child care in Dare County are limited, which adds to the stress working families face each day.

Did you know that in North Carolina, a license is required to care for more than two unrelated children for over four hours a day? Being a licensed child care provider brings a host of benefits. For one, it gives you the chance to be self-employed right from your home, allowing you to care for your own kids as you provide for others. Plus, there are opportunities to earn college credit in early childhood education—all at no cost!

Join the Informational Session

If this seems like something you’d like to learn more about, the upcoming informational session is the perfect starting point. The event is free, but registration is required. CYP’s early childhood specialists, along with community partners, will share everything you need to know about becoming a licensed child care provider. They’ll also offer support and training throughout the licensing process, making it easier than ever to embark on this fulfilling journey.

To register for this free event, head over to www.darekids.org/events or bit.ly/fcchinfo24. If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to reach out to Bonnie Brumbeloe at 252-441-0614, ext. 7 or via email at bbrumbeloe@darekids.org.

The Bigger Picture

The Children & Youth Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving children, youth, and families in Dare County. They run the Smart Start program that supports early childhood development for kids from birth to age five. They also serve as a central source of information for countless programs, activities, and resources available to all children in our community.

As Dare County strives to provide better child care options, the upcoming event is an essential step toward creating a robust support system for working families. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent looking to earn extra income or someone passionate about early childhood education, this is a golden opportunity to make a real difference in your community.

Mark your calendars and consider joining this informative session on October 9th. Together, we can nurture the future of Dare County, one child at a time!