DCDEE is joining our Department of Health and Human Services colleagues in the new DHHS headquarters just across the street from the NC Museum of Art.

Our mailing address is unchanged: 2201 Mail Service Center | Raleigh, NC 27699-2200.

Our new physical address is 1915 Health Services Way, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Our last day in the Six Forks office will be September 26.

We’ll be in the new building beginning October 1 and the November 3^rd Child Care Commission meeting will be held there.

Purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA): This RFA seeks applicants for the successful implementation and sustainability of the Child Care Academies across North Carolina to address the shortage of child care workers by offering a free, two to three-week Child Care Academy. As part of the Child Care Academy model, this RFA prioritizes providing comprehensive training and certification for individuals new to the early childhood education field to expand the early childhood workforce in North Carolina.

Funding Source: Preschool Development Grant Birth-Through Five (PDG B-5)

Funding Availability: A maximum of $50,000.00 is available for up to 10 institutions each will be available through this application for up to nine months to administer child care academies for the funding period of October 15, 2025 – July 31, 2026.

Applicant Eligibility: This RFA is open to the North Carolina Community Colleges and universities included in the UNC System ONLY.

Deadline for Submission: Applications are due no later than 5:00 pm Wednesday September 24, 2025.

How to Apply:

Applications are required to be submitted online by clicking this link and completing the application https://northchealth.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6GoaPBRwQTyWFD0

no later than 5:00 p.m., September 24, 2025.

PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE: A Pre-Application Conference for this RFA will be held on September 12, 2025 at 11:30am-12:30pm. The webinar will be recorded if agency staff are unavailable to attend the scheduled date and time. Please click the link to join the Pre-Application online:

https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=mc6491fbb64c1d4de94c9708f78ae410f

Join by the Pre-Application Conference by phone:

Webinar number (access code): 2432 059 9086

Webinar password: prea (7732 when dialing from a phone or video system)

Session Law 2025-36 outlines the specific requirements a family child care home must meet prior to the issuance of a new license and/or an increase in capacity. In consultation with our partners at the Office of State Fire Marshal, DCDEE has learned the following:

• This change applies to new family child care homes and any existing family child care home that makes a change to their license (increase capacity, change of location, etc.).
• This change in statute is not retroactive and will sunset once new rules are adopted by the Residential and Building Code Councils.
• Local ordinances and HOA requirements are still applicable, however there are no R4 occupancy requirements for any of the capacity options.
• To proceed with an increase in capacity, ensure there are no local ordinances or HOA covenants that prohibit the increase. Then once you have met the following five requirements*, submit a request for an increase in capacity in writing to your licensing consultant. They will schedule a visit and once compliance is verified, they will issue a new permit. *FCCH operators currently meet the requirements outlined in items one and three, in accordance with child care rules .1701(1) and .1714.

The code requirements and guidance to achieve compliance: