NCDCDEE Resources
NCDCDEE Resources
The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (NCDCDEE) offers child care providers a wealth of information covering professional development, child care rules, licensing requirements, essential documents and forms, and access to stabilization grants. As part of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, NCDCDEE works to uphold quality standards, administer subsidized child care, and support initiatives like NC Pre-K. By following these guidelines and taking advantage of the available resources, you can ensure that children in your care receive a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate early learning experience.
For more information on how NCDCDEE can assist your child care program, please visit the NCDCDEE About Page. If you are a family seeking resources on finding and paying for child care, head to the NCDCDEE Family Resources page.
Environmental Health
Environmental health in childcare settings focuses on creating safe, healthy environments for children, addressing issues like indoor air quality, chemical hazards, and ensuring clean water and sanitation.
The NCDHHS Children’s Environmental Health Unit includes three programs that play vital roles in the health of our children:
- Child Care Sanitation Program (CCS);
- North Carolina Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP); and
- School Sanitation Program
The Child Care Sanitation (CCS) Program monitors and oversees sanitation requirements for licensed child care centers and provides consultation to local health departments regarding communicable disease control and sanitation in the child care setting. NC Child Care Sanitation Rules (PDF, 428 KB) were most recently updated in 2023. The North Carolina Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) currently coordinates clinical and environmental services aimed at eliminating childhood lead poisoning. The School Sanitation Program monitors and oversees sanitation requirements for public and private schools, and provides consultation to local health departments regarding communicable disease control and sanitation in the school setting.
For local assistance in meeting state sanitation requirements for licensed child care facilities, please reach out to:
- Lincoln County Environmental Health. Call (704) 736-8426 between 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Stacy Adcock adcock@lincolncountync.gov
- Abbey Duggan duggan@lincolncountync.gov
- Gaston County Environmental Health at the Gaston County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). Call (704) 862-5303 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Christina T. Rodite, REHS, Assistant Environmental Health Administrator, Rodite@gastongov.com
- Hunter Capps, Gaston County Field Inspector, Capps@gastongov.com
NC Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), established by Congress in 1968 to ensure children in licensed or approved daycare centers, settlement houses, and recreation centers were receiving nutritious meals, is a federally funded program that is administered and funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Made permanent in 1978, the purpose of the program is to ensure that eligible children and adults who attend qualifying non-residential care facilities receive nutritious meals.
NC program applications, resources including information on Farm to CACFP programs, and training are available by visiting https://www.ncdhhs.gov/nccacfp
