FAMILY CAREGIVERS (of Children and Adult Dependents) RESOURCES
Care for Children & Adult Family Members
Employment Services
Education &Scholarship Resources
Financial Resources
General Services
Health, Medical, Nutrition, and Prescription Resources
Legal Resources
Care for Children & Adult Family Members
CHILD CARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE North Carolina's Division of Child Development uses a combination of state and federal funds to provide subsidized child care services to eligible families through a locally administered state-supervised voucher system.
LINK: http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/parents/pr_sn2_ov_fa.asp
DISABILITYINFO.GOV is a comprehensive online resource managed by the U.S. Department of Labor and designed to provide people with disabilities quick and easy access to the information they need. There are several search tools, including one to assist in the identification of employment resources available in North Carolina.
LINK: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digovpublic/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=5286
FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT is for individuals with a high-risk for nursing home placement. Funds can be used to target low and moderate income individuals and their caregivers who may be better served through home and community-based services.
LINK: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/fchome.htm
FOSTER CARE INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM (NC LINKS) works to build a network of relevant services with youth so that they will have ongoing connections with family, friends, mentors, the community, employment, education, financial assistance, skills training, and other resources to facilitate the transition to adulthood.
LINK: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/links/index.html
Employment Services
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES program, called Work First, is based on the premise that parents have a responsibility to support themselves and their children. Through Work First, parents can get short-term training and other services to help them become employed and self-sufficient, but the responsibility is theirs, and most families have two years to move off Work First Family Assistance. An alternate approach to the Work First Program is Benefit Diversion, which is an alternative to traditional cash assistance for families and is designed to help families with a temporary crisis associated with employment.
LINK to Benefit Diversion: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/workfirst/benefit.htm
LINK to Work First: http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/workfirst/index.htm
YOUTH SERVICES 14-21 is a Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funded youth program that serves to connect young people with quality educational and employment opportunities. Youth Services offer a comprehensive year-round package of services including tutoring, alternative secondary school, summer employment, work experience, occupational skill training, and more.
LINK: http://tiny.cc/youth_services
Education &Scholarship Resources
COLLEGE FOUNDATION OF NC is a nonprofit partnership between Pathways of North Carolina, College Foundation, Inc., and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. These organizations have broad expertise in helping students to prepare successfully for college and to find the best financial aid alternatives. Together, they provide a complete and comprehensive source of information - and real solutions - for students and their families.
LINK: http://www.cfnc.org/index.jsp
NC LEARN & EARN Jobs in the 21st century economy demand more than a high school diploma. Learn and Earn prepares children now for success in the future.
LINK: http://www.nclearnandearn.gov
SMART START is North Carolina's nationally recognized and award-winning early childhood initiative designed to ensure that young children enter school healthy and ready to succeed.
LINK: http://www.ncsmartstart.org/index.htm
Financial Resources
FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM is designed to assist low and moderate income individuals and their caregivers who may be served through home and community-based services. Through a variety of consumer-directed options, such consumers may select their own providers and direct how their services will be delivered. The types of available service depend on the county.
LINK: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/fchome.htm
FINANCIAL CRISIS MANAGEMENT information from the Financial Education Center at NC's Department of the State Treasurer about surviving a layoff and finding a job.
LINK: http://tinyurl.com/chwlju
General Services
CHILD SERVICE COORDINATION PROGRAM is a free and voluntary program that helps families find and use community services. Programs support services for children and families and children in reaching their developmental potential, and to ensure that children are raised in healthy, safe, and nurturing environments.
LINK: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/medicaid/csc.htm
GOVBENEFITS.GOV is the official benefits website of the U.S. government, with information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs.
LINK: http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal
NC211 is an information and referral service facilitated and maintained by the United Way. It links people to a variety of national, statewide, and local government and non-profit resources that may assist them.
LINK: http://www.nc211.org/
Health, Medical, Nutrition, and Prescription Resources
100% TOBACCO-FREE SCHOOLS website is designed to provide parents, teachers, students, administrators, coaches and community advocates with information about North Carolina's 100% Tobacco-Free Schools initiative funded by the Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF).
LINK: http://www.tobaccofreeschoolsnc.org/home.aspx
FIT KIDS NC is a part of the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund. It provides tips and information about incorporating physical activity into the daily lives of youth. Information is provided for parents, teachers, administrators and community leaders.
LINK: http://www.fitkidsnc.com/
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES (NC Division of Social Services) is a federal food assistance program that helps low-income families. In North Carolina monthly allotments of FNS benefits are issued via Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (EBT cards). Food and Nutrition Services is an entitlement program, so all eligible individuals and households can receive assistance. Benefits may be used to purchase most foods at participating stores.
LINK: http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/foodstamp/index.htm
HEALTH CHOICE FOR CHILDREN is a free or reduced price comprehensive health care program for children. If your family makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford rising health insurance premiums, your child(ren) may qualify for NCHC.
LINK: http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/healthchoice/index.htm
MEDICAID serves infants, children, and families in several ways: the Family Planning/Be Smart program, Medicaid for Infants and Children, Medicaid for Families with Dependent Children (for parents or other caretakers), Medicaid for Pregnant Women, Community Alternatives Programs for children who need long-term care, Baby Love -- A combination of services designed to help you have a healthy baby, and Health Check and Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (covers medically necessary health care services to Medicaid-eligible children).
LINK: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/medicaid/families.htm
NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE provides information about Medicaid and NC Health Choice for Children. Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income individuals and families. NC Health Choice for Children is a free or reduced price health care program for children whose families make too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford rising health insurance premiums.
LINK: http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/index.htm
PARTNERSHIP FOR PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE NORTH CAROLINA is a partnership between the Arc of North Carolina, the NC Psychiatric Association, NC Nurses Association, United Way of North Carolina and Urban Ministries of Wake County. It provides access to a variety of public and private patient assistance programs.
LINK: http://www.pparxnc.org/
SAFETY NET DENTAL CLINICS are nonprofit dental facilities where low income families can go for dental care.
Most accept insurance and Medicaid, and some have payment on a sliding scale.
Anyone can get services, but patients will need to provide proof of income.
There are Safety Net Dental Clinics in most of North Carolina's 100 counties.
LINK: http://www.communityhealth.dhhs.state.nc.us/dental/safety_net_clinics.htm
TOBACCO-FREE COLLEGES is a statewide network that participates in coalition building, policy advocacy and grassroots activities to create change. This is a program of the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund.
LINK: http://www.tobaccofreecollegesnc.com
WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children and is also called the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program. WIC is a federal program designed to provide food to low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children until the age of five.
LINK: http://www.nutritionnc.com/wic/index.htm
Legal Resources
ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES work for the idea that at-risk and/or court-involved children are rights-bearing citizens, who are entitled to safe, permanent homes and should receive the medical and educational services currently promised by law.
LINK: http://tiny.cc/child_advocates
Do you know a government resource that should be added to PEARLNC? Email us at or share your suggestion with nchelp at delicious.com.
