In order to best support you as you respond to COVID, the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is sharing the following new resources:

• The COVID-19 in NC and the ChildCareStrongNC Public Health Toolkit: What You Need to Know live event held August 6, 2021, is now available on YouTube and in Moodle (see instructions below). This training shares the latest data on the Delta variant, ways to help promote the COVID-19 vaccine, and recent changes made to the ChildCareStrongNC Public Health Toolkit.  
• DCDEE has also posted the questions and answers from the COVID-19 in NC and the ChildCareStrongNC Public Health Toolkit: What You Need to Know on the DCDEE website. 

Accessing Online Training Module:

In order to receive credit for the training, please log into the DCDEE Moodle platform to view information. To access training in the Moodle platform, you will need to login with your NCID - the same NCID that used for WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal.

If you do not have an NCID, use this link to get one: Getting your NCID Username and Password.

• From the Moodle home screen go to my courses; click on COVID-19 in NC and the ChildCareStrongNC Public Health Toolkit: What You Need to Know.  Certificates cannot be generated until the module is completed in its entirety.
• Click the link provided to go directly to DCDEE's Moodle page.
• Moodle can also be accessed through

On February 10, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced plans for how the state will move to Group 3 for COVID-19 vaccines. Because supply is still very limited and the population of frontline essential workers is so large, NC will begin with anyone working in child care or in PreK - 12 schools starting on February 24, 2021. 

DHHS drafted How Child Care Programs Can Help Get Child Care Staff Vaccinated, which contains detailed information about how DHHS is working with its partners on supporting child care and school staff in accessing vaccines.  One of those partners, the local child care resource & referral agencies (CCR&R), will work with child care program and staff to make sure information about vaccination events and appointment blocks is able to child care program staff. Someone from the local CCR&R will contact you to begin collecting staff contact information and link you to local vaccination events. Smart Start is also working with local vaccine providers to help make sure they’re ready to give shots to child care staff.

We know that many parents and families are trying to find options for child care and remote learning facilities as school districts are reopening under either a Plan B (hybrid) or Plan C (full remote learning). Families can call the child care hotline (1-888-600-1685) to find local care options for infants through children age 12. The child care hotline is a partnership with NC’s Child Care Resource and Referral Network. Flyers are available in English and Spanish to provide more information about the child care hotline for parents and families who may need school-age care.

NCDHHS is offering free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 test kits to be delivered directly to North Carolina early childhood programs. To order tests, child care programs must first register and get approved. Once approved, use the Testing Order Form to request tests by the ordering dates listed on the Ordering Calendar.

WATCH! COVID-19 Webinar Now Available in English and Spanish!

English: https://youtu.be/gw2xWYCdF5A

Español: https://youtu.be/p-6GvnpgOa0

Guidance: Managing COVID-19 Cases in Child Care Facilities.

The Division of Child Development and Early Education recently held a Public Health Town Hall for Early Care and Learning Professionals to learn about the latest vaccines, treatments, and tools to combat COVID-19. Led by DCDEE Legislative Liaison & Policy Manager Arlette Lambert, MSW, the town hall featured NCDHHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Charlene Wong, MD; and NCDHHS State Child Care Nurse Consultant Amy Petersen, BSN, RN of the Division of Child and Family Well-Being.

DCDEE also announced the retirement of the ChildCareStrongNC Public Health Toolkit effective August 31, 2022. Child care programs and local health departments should follow the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Operational Guidance for Early Care and Education Programs with the following exception: mask exemptions are allowed in North Carolina when children and staff return to child care following an exposure or 5-10 days after a COVID-19 infection. For details on the specific mask exemptions, as well as information to support implementation of the CDC guidance, please see DCDEE’s supplemental document, Managing COVID-19 Cases in Child Care Facilities.