For Families
Local and national organizations focused on early childhood and family wellness — child care, health, food, housing, literacy, and more.
This page serves to connect Durham County community members with local and national organizations primarily focused on early childhood and family wellness. Below you will find resources for pre-K applications in Durham, family mental health, parenting, developmental concerns, literacy support and more!
If you would like for your organization or program to be added to our list, please complete this Google Form.
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Below, you will find application materials for Durham PreK Application, resources to assist your family in finding child care, and more.
Choosing the Right Child Care Made Easy
Selecting the best child care for your child can feel overwhelming with so many options to consider. “That’s where Child Care Referral Central comes in to help. Child Care Referral Specialists provide personalized support, offering information about child care options in your community, tips on identifying quality programs, and customized referrals to programs that meet your family's unique needs.”
"The mission of DSS Child Care is to assist families living in Durham County with information and access to child care services."
"Durham Early Head Start (DEHS) is a federally-funded, free, and comprehensive child development and family support program for low-income expectant women and families with infants and toddlers age birth to 3. Families participate through two program models: intensive home visiting and full day high-quality center-based child care. Currently, DEHS serves 120 children through center-based care and 36 children through home visiting, for a total enrollment of 156."
"Our mission: To ensure every child in Durham enters school ready to succeed, we lead community strategies for children birth to 5 and their families that promote healthy development and learning and enhance access to high quality care"
Supporting the health and well-being of children and families is a top priority in the early childhood education community. Below, you’ll find valuable resources to address physical health, mental health, and developmental needs, ensuring families have access to the support they deserve.
These organizations listed on this page may be relevant to you if you’re trying to find or manage care for your child or yourself. Click for a short description of each program, eligibility requirements and contact information.
"CCFH provides a wide range services for families of all kinds – from general support for first-time parents to outpatient treatment for serious mental health or behavioral concerns. With expertise across multiple disciplines, our professionals assess each family’s unique needs and deliver compassionate care grounded in clinical research."
"Duke’s Family Studies Program and Clinic, a specialty clinic in Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, specializes in the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art treatment approaches. Our team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers — expertly trained in family treatment methods — provide therapy and skillful care."
"Care Coordination for Children (CC4C) is a new program for eligible children from birth to age 5. CC4C works to improve the overall health of young children. If your child qualifies for this program, your family can receive services offered by CC4C. CC4C focuses on family strengths and concerns. CC4C Care Managers are nurses and social workers who will help identify programs, services, and resources that meet your family’s needs through home visits, doctor visits, telephone calls, and other personal contacts. Your Care Manager will serve as a link between you and your child’s doctor or nurse. He or she will also help you link with other community resources and offer information and support."
"The North Carolina Health Choice (NCHC) Health Insurance Program for Children is a comprehensive health coverage program for low-income children. If you do not qualify for Medicaid, but cannot to afford private or employer-sponsored health insurance, your children may qualify for NCHC. Effective April 1, 2023, NC Health Choice beneficiaries automatically moved to the Medicaid program."
"Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) provides opportunities for the Durham community to Play More: Connecting our whole community to wellness, the outdoors, and lifelong learning. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, we strive to help residents discover, explore and enjoy life through creative and challenging recreational choices that contribute to their physical, emotional and social health."
"What could our society look like if racial disparities in health and learning outcomes didn’t exist? According to extensive studies, the U.S. would save billions in health care costs alone. The value of realizing the potential contributions of so many people around the world who are impaired by—or die from—preventable chronic illnesses is enormous, and the human costs are incalculable."
"Duke Pediatric Neuropsychology provides comprehensive neuropsychological and psychosocial evaluations for children with chronic illnesses."
"CCFH provides a wide range services for families of all kinds – from general support for first-time parents to outpatient treatment for serious mental health or behavioral concerns. With expertise across multiple disciplines, our professionals assess each family’s unique needs and deliver compassionate care grounded in clinical research."
"Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment."
"El Futuro is a one-of-a-kind place where Spanish-speaking immigrants can access culturally-responsive mental health services. We are a community-based program, founded as a volunteer effort in 2001 to meet the otherwise unmet need for bilingual mental health services for the growing Latino immigrant community in North Carolina."
These organizations may be relevant to you if are looking for evaluation or services for children with behavioral, social-emotional, or mental health concerns and challenges. Click for a short description of each program, eligibility requirements and contact information.
"What could our society look like if racial disparities in health and learning outcomes didn’t exist? According to extensive studies, the U.S. would save billions in health care costs alone. The value of realizing the potential contributions of so many people around the world who are impaired by—or die from—preventable chronic illnesses is enormous, and the human costs are incalculable.
Attachment/Relationships refers to a child’s ability to promote and maintain mutual, positive connections with other children and significant adults. Here are three ways that parents and families can help their preschooler build this protective factor. / El Apego/Relaciones se refiere a la capacidad de un niño para promover y mantener conexiones mutuas y positivas con otros niños y adultos significativos. Estas son tres maneras en que los padres, y las familias, pueden ayudar a su niño preescolar a edificar este factor protector.
"Taking care of mind, body and spirit has become even more crucial than usual in 2021. Multiple stressors born in times of crisis can reveal how important it is to prioritize one’s own well-being. Here is a comprehensive list of resources and tools — culled from colleges and other organizations — for anyone hoping to improve their mental health."
"The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities."
"Alliance Health is the managed care organization for publicly-funded behavioral healthcare for the people of Durham, Wake, Cumberland and Johnston counties in North Carolina. The services that Alliance manages are targeted to people who are covered by Medicaid or are uninsured. They are provided by a large network of private providers that offer services for people who are experiencing: Mental illness, Substance use disorders, Intellectual/developmental disabilities"
" Durham CDSA provides free developmental evaluations and early intervention services on a sliding fee scale for children at risk for developmental delays or diagnosed with special needs. No child will be denied services because of inability to pay. CDSA provides Early Intervention services to children ages birth to 3 years old (including Evaluations, Service Coordination and Transition to Preschool services). CDSA also provides evaluations to children ages 3 to 5."
"The Duke ADHD Clinic offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art assessments and evidence-based treatments for children, adolescents, and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."
"The Duke Autism Clinic provides comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, treatment, ongoing behavioral and medication consultation for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder."
The Duke Children's Evaluation Center offers child/adolescent mental health assessments, behavioral health, Autism services and Fragile X syndrome supports.
"This department offers a full continuum of services to students meeting eligibility criteria. We are committed to ensuring that every student has access to the general curriculum and an opportunity to learn that is equal to that of non-disabled students. Specially designed, research-based instruction is provided in the least restrictive environment to promote student development. We are dedicated to building authentic parent and community relationships!"
"Students who receive special education services qualify in one or more of the 14 areas of eligibility:
Autism, Deaf-blindness, Deafness, Developmental Delay, Emotional Disability, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, or Visual Impairment, including Blindness"
"Duke Speech Pathology and Audiology Clinic 1I provides individualized speech, language, hearing, cognitive, swallowing, and communication services to adults and children. Our providers are equipped with the specialized training and expertise necessary to provide care that is tailored to each person’s individual needs."
"The Birth Injury Justice Center was created as a helpful resource focused on victims of birth injuries and their families. Our mission is to provide legal information and guidance and serve all families with disabilities caused by physical birth injuries."
"Cerebral palsy is a disability caused by brain damage that restricts normal movement and coordination. Each year, 10,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy Guide provides free educational materials, financial options, and support to help those affected by this condition."
These organizations may be relevant to you if are looking for evaluation or services for children with developmental concerns or delays. Click for a short description of each program, eligibility requirements and contact information.
This is a story by Chandra Michiko Ghosh Ippen and Melissa Brymer, illustrated by Erich Ippen, Jr.: This book contains a story about two childhood friends social distancing and adjusting to life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pdf includes the story, parent discussion guides, coloring pages and family activities.
"In this episode of our explainer series, we have a simple video to help explain to children why we need to wear masks during the COVID-19 restrictions. For more resources, visit https://shandy.clinic/nql"
"A short and simple video animation explaining why children should stay at home during these weeks of the coronavirus outbreak (SARS-CoV-2)."
"On this map you’ll find food sites including no-cost meal sites, food pantries, grocery stores, farmers markets and more. Contact information, location and hours should be listed for each site."
"En este mapa encontrará sitios de alimentos, incluyendo sitios de comidas sin costo, despensas de alimentos, supermercados, mercados de agricultores y más. La información de contacto, la ubicación y las horas de servicios se deben enumerar para cada sitio."
Read about Durham's Early Childhood Action Plan and navigate through the different website pages of the ECAP website to learn more.
If you and your family are looking for free or affordable meals or groceries, view the resources below.
"If you are in need of food, please use the search boxes below to find an agency near you. Please note that partner agency days and hours of operation are subject to change and may vary from what appears in the search results. We recommend contacting an agency before you visit to confirm its hours and days of operation and the availability of food on that day."
"On this map you’ll find food sites including no-cost meal sites, food pantries, grocery stores, farmers markets and more. Contact information, location and hours should be listed for each site. This information is changing often so please contact the site whenever possible before visiting."
"Parents everywhere have been affected by the pandemic. Lost income, lost childcare, lost sanity - we’re here to help. If you’re a mom or dad and could use a hand with dinner one night in the coming weeks, sign up here."
"PORCH is built around the very simple idea of a neighborhood food drive. Here’s how it works, in three easy steps:
"If you love to cook and have been looking for a way to help those who are struggling as a result of the pandemic, join our growing group of Lasagna Mamas and Papas (and non-parents!). Learn how to get started here."
For a comprehensive list of home learning resources, visit our Home Learning page.
Below are resources to help families in need of temporary housing or shelter.
"Working together, we help provide families with children a stable, safe and loving environment while they are in the temporary crisis of homelessness. FMF now offers after school tutoring, educational enrichment programming, and early interventions to children residing in our shelter as part of a two-generation approach that aims to break the cycle of poverty in our community."
"DCRC’s emergency shelter gives women and children a safe and supportive environment where they can begin to recover from the effects of domestic violence. The shelter offers case management and counseling, as well as assistance with legal, housing, and employment needs. Spanish-speaking staff is available."
“This program provides individuals and families facing eviction with free advice and support, ranging from emergency financial aid to legal council, with the goal of helping citizens avoid eviction judgements and decreasing the number of eviction filings and verdicts in Durham County.”
“When a person experiences homelessness the service priority shall be to reconnect them with housing, and then to other services in the community which will help them maintain their housing.”
"The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) is a non-profit organization in Durham and Orange Counties of North Carolina. CEF’s mission is to cultivate opportunities, assets, and communities that sustain transitions out of homelessness and poverty. Founded in 2009, CEF provides person-centered support, financial education, and asset building tools to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity."
These organizations may be relevant to you if are looking for help getting toiletries, clothing, household and/or personal essentials. Click for a short description of each program, eligibility requirements and contact information.
These organizations offer resources for LGBTQ+ youth in Durham and for teachers to incorporate in schools.
"The LGBTQ Center of Durham commits to centering the experiences of those who are the most marginalized among us. With a history of providing services supplementing this commitment, we continue to strive to set an example for other communities and organizations to prioritize lifting our family up. With the Host Home Program, LGBTQ+ Youth Center, a re-centered Pride, and other gender inclusive support programs, we are aligned with the promise of serving QTPOC. Our services are open to the entire community and seek to make room for all people."
"The LGBTQ Center of Durham proposal was for the creation of an LGBTQ+ Youth Center that will allow the current center to expand its mission to intentionally focus on the City of Durham’s LGBTQ+ youth population. This center will function as the singular physical hub of LGBTQ+ youth resources that currently scatter the city and increase their reach. The space will value and honor youth leadership and wisdom while focusing on enhancing individual agency and empowerment. It will also feature targeted programming and educational events designed to support youth in the development of positive self-concept, resiliency, building social and vocational skills, and leadership skills."
These organizations offer resources for literacy and books for families in Durham.
Library Take Out - "Durham County Library is happy to offer Library Take-Out! as the second phase of our reopening. You can place holds on up to 50 items at a time, and when you're notified that they are ready, make a reservation to come pick them up at the library. You can make a reservation up to 14 days in advance. If no appointments are available, check back the next day as each day another day is opened. Same-day reservations are not available. "
Library Fine Cancellation - "Durham County Library is now fine free. Effective July 1, 2020, library users will no longer be charged fines for overdue materials. This is an important step in ensuring that all residents of Durham County have access to the library’s resources."
"Parents, we are here for you – with books! We know that access to books is fundamental to keeping learning alive for every child – for maintaining and improving reading skills, for finding comfort in a bedtime story, for fueling imaginations during this longer-than-ever time away from school.
Every child under the age of 5 can enroll in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to receive one high-quality, age-appropriate book each month. Families can enroll online by visiting the Imagination Library page on the Partnership’s website. / Cada niño menor de 5 años puede inscribirse en Dolly Parton's Imagination Library para recibir un libro de alta calidad y apropiado para cada edad cada mes. Familias pueden inscribirse en línea visitando la página de la Imagination Library en el sitio web de la Asociación.
These organizations may be relevant to you if are looking for help finding opportunities for enrichment, school readiness support, books or other literacy resources. Click for a short description of each program, eligibility requirements and contact information.
These resources and organizations can help families find support groups, meet other families, connect with professionals that can assist in child raising and development, and more.
Durham families now have a new resource at their fingertips! Nurturing Durham is an online hub designed to introduce families to free and low-cost programs available in our community to support them during a child’s early years – from the prenatal period through age 8.
"Exchange Family Center has been working for 26 years to better the lives of children in Durham and to keep families together. We use a multi-prong approach — providing support and training for families, caregivers and childcare professionals, as well as working to raise community awareness. Anyone and everyone can play a part in creating safe and responsive environments for children."
"Healthy Families Durham (HFD) offers early childhood intervention services through an intensive home-visiting program. The program is designed to improve parent-child interaction and child social-emotional well-being, promote parenting skills, enhance child health and development, increase school readiness, support family self-sufficiency, and reduce risk for child maltreatment. We believe that parenting is both a rewarding and a difficult job. HFD seeks to support families and relieve some of the stress of being a parent, using approaches that focus on family strengths and cultural sensitivity. Parents are a baby’s first and most important teachers. Knowing what to expect at each age and stage makes parenting fun and helps children grow to their full potential."
"DCI’s mission is to create a pipeline of high-quality services from birth through high school graduation for children and families living in a 120-block area of East Durham."
This is a disaster response toolkit created by one of CCSA's HSB Specialists. This toolkit has resources for a variety of disasters and tips on helping children cope and recover from disasters.
On this website, you will find a collection of Durham County services. For example, Parenting Education, Family Support Groups, Children's Rights Groups, Family Counseling, and more.
"Developed by educational researchers, Ready4K is an evidence-based family engagement curriculum delivered via text messages. Each week, parents and caregivers receive fun facts and easy tips on how to promote their children’s development by building on existing family routines – like pointing out letters on the cereal box at breakfast, counting the number of steps as you walk to the car or bus, or making feeling faces in the mirror after you brush your teeth. In a series of randomized controlled trials, this approach has been shown to increase child development by 2 to 3 months over the course of a school year."
"During the first three years of life, emotionally nourishing relationships lay the foundation for lifelong health and well-being. By supporting the caring adults who touch the lives of infants and toddlers, we hope to maximize our long-term impact in ensuring all infants and toddlers have a bright future."
"Whether you need just a few tips to help set up a toddler’s bedtime routine or you have a teenager whose defiance is upsetting the whole family, Triple P has a positive parenting program to fit your needs. You can also choose the way you get that Triple P help – in groups with other parents, one-on-one with a trained provider or even DIY online!"
"To make sure you get the right program for your needs, use our Triple P Selector. Just three quick questions and you’ll have your answer. "
"We are tackling maternal and infant mortality by helping those who are disproportionately impacted - Black and birthers of color, who die 4 times more often! We are taking the unprecedented approach of sponsoring these families with paid parental leave and other essential services. We are doing this by fundraising and partnering with existing grassroots organizations who are intimately involved with the community we are serving."
"PSI-NC is the North Carolina state chapter of Postpartum Support International (PSI), the world’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping those suffering from perinatal mood disorders, the most common complication of childbirth. Our mission is to promote awareness, education, prevention, and treatment of perinatal mental health issues affecting mothers, their families, and support systems in all areas of North Carolina."
"Ready, Set, BABY (RSB) is an educational program designed to counsel prenatal women about maternity care best practices and the benefits and management of breastfeeding, incorporating other important information to help women achieve their goals."
"During the first three years of life, emotionally nourishing relationships lay the foundation for lifelong health and well-being. By supporting the caring adults who touch the lives of infants and toddlers, we hope to maximize our long-term impact in ensuring all infants and toddlers have a bright future."
"Helping Each Adolescent Reach Their Spark (H.E.A.R.T.S.) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that educates and equips adolescent parents with the tools needed to become independent and self-sufficient. We address the risk factors associated with teen parenting through social, psychological, and academic development."
"The mission of Zeal of Xander, Inc. Is to assist grieving parents with navigating through the traumatic experience of child loss. Through partnership and diligence, we will invoke strength and confidence to enhance the quality of their new lives."
"We envision a society where Black, Indigenous, and People of color, receive quality perinatal, maternal, and postpartum care with the ability to maintain financial stability. To do this we will train doulas to serve and educate and empower communities around maternal healthcare and create economic development opportunities and support to decrease poverty within their communities after childbirth. MAAME (Mobilizing African American Mothers through Empowerment) will empower Black, Indigenous, and other Birthing People of color to navigate systems and mobilize to offer resources, services, and support for holistic maternal health, wellness, sustainable communities, and economic advancement."
"Most of us do not spend a lot of time thinking about diapers. But if you are a parent, grandparent, or caregiver without enough of them, they can become a major source of stress, guilt, and desperation. Public safety net programs such as The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, previously known as Food Stamps) do not cover the purchase of diapers, often leaving families with a difficult decision between buying diapers and other necessities with their limited funds. For families in need, something as small as a diaper can have a significant impact."
"Family Connects Durham (formerly Durham Connects) is a community-wide nurse home visiting program for all parents of newborns, regardless of income or socioeconomic status. Our mission is to increase child well-being by bridging the gap between parent needs and community resources. Registered nurses support all families in Durham County, North Carolina by providing no-cost postpartum home visits."
Our mission is to assist anyone who has been affected by a birth injury. Our website is a compilation of information around the different types of injuries. We offer resources to assist the injured and their families, and we will continuously be adding more. Affected families can also reach out to us if they have any questions at all or are looking for advice.
Durham PreK and the Pre-K Partners are committed to continuously learning how to foster anti-racist classrooms for all children and families. We are developing a webpage specific to racial equity in early childhood education, and will post that resource and commitment below when it is available. We have listed a few of the resources we plan to include on the Racial Equity page below as a starting point for this internal and community-based work.
"For more than 40 years, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has been at the forefront of engaging leaders, policymakers, professionals, and parents around critical and timely issues that directly impact Black children and their families. We are a trusted partner in delivering culturally relevant resources that respond to the unique strengths and needs of Black children around issues including early childhood education, health, child welfare, literacy, and family engagement. With the support of our Affiliate network in communities across the country, we are committed to our mission “to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and their families through education and advocacy.”
"The Anti-Racism Community Fund commits to fighting for justice through action, community empowerment, and the dismantling of systems that perpetuate racism and keep our neighbors in poverty. That can only happen by educating community members on important issues, mobilizing residents to create community-level solutions, and supporting local leaders to create systemic change."
"The Anti-Racism Community Fund will invest in:
1. Local leaders of color to build resource capacity and create environments where Triangle-area residents hold the power needed to create community-level change
2. Nonprofits with systemic approaches to dismantling racist structures in housing, food, health, workforce, or education All funding decisions will be made by a committee of community leaders with proven experience with anti-racism work. Click here for more information."
SPLC Learning for Justice offers hundreds or free lesson plans, professional development opportunities, research and more to assist teachers in teaching topics like race, injustice, equity, bullying and more.
A committee of local organizations working together with the community to improve the state of physical, mental and social health of Durham's community. Their website provides resources for advancing health equity, recent health data, and connections to local services for community members.
"What could our society look like if racial disparities in health and learning outcomes didn’t exist? According to extensive studies, the U.S. would save billions in health care costs alone. The value of realizing the potential contributions of so many people around the world who are impaired by—or die from—preventable chronic illnesses is enormous, and the human costs are incalculable.
"Child care and early education policies are shaped by a history of systemic and structural racism. This has created major racial disparities in children’s access to quality child care that meets their cultural and linguistic needs and enables their parents to work. Early care and education workers are overwhelmingly in low-quality jobs with inadequate compensation. And workers of color are often relegated to the lowest-paid positions.
Equity Starts Early: Addressing Racial Inequities in Child Care and Early Education Policy explores these critical racial equity issues in major early childhood programs, policies, and systems, including CCDBG, Head Start, and state pre-kindergarten programs."
PBS offers this resource guide for parents to use as they plan to talk to their children about race.
Early Childhood experts talk about how to improve the early childhood education system to provide equal access to tools and opportunities. This three-episode webinar series will feature "honest dialogue about the state of our country, [Child Care Aware of America's] position, mental health and health trauma that exists as a result of systemic racism and how we create an equitable system to support providers, children and families."
Some multilingual resources are dispersed throughout the other resource categories, but more can be found below for families that prefer information in Spanish or other languages.
Immigrant Access to Health Care & Benefits in Time of Emergency
