The Down East Partnership for Children (DEPC) Scholarship Program is funded by Smart Start, North Carolina's nationally recognized and award-winning early childhood initiative designed to ensure that young children enter school healthy and ready to succeed.

DEPC Scholarships offer:

Financial assistance for high quality early childhood education and child care.

Eligibility:

-Child must be birth to three years old (or a sibling).

-Families must live in Nash or Edgecombe County.

-Parents must be working an average of 20 hours/week or working and in school an average
 of 20 hours/week or in school full time.

-Income eligibility is based on 75% of the median income in Nash and Edgecombe County.

Income Eligibility:

-Parents must pay a fee of 10% of their gross annual income to their child care provider.
 The Down East Partnership for Children pays the remainder of the child care fees to the
 child care provider.

-The child care chosen by the parent must be a 4 or 5 star licensed child care center
 or family child care home.

-The DEPC Scholarship Program provides full time child care (up to 50 hours per week).

-Children who are enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs, Head Start, or the
 Dept. of Social Services Child Care Subsidy Program are not eligible.

-Parents must complete 8 hours of parent education/involvement annually.

To Apply:

You may download a copy of the Early Childhood Education Referral Form. Please complete all information on the form and return it along with all required documents to:

Down East Partnership for Children
Scholarship Program
PO Box 1245
Rocky Mount, NC 27802

or you may return the Referral Form in person at DEPC, 215 Lexington Street in downtown Rocky Mount, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

or you can pick up a Referral Form at DEPC.

or you can call DEPC at 985-4300 and request a Referral Form.

For more information, contact:

Lyn Barger, Subsidy Program Manager, at (252) 985-4300 x-219 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Gladys Richardson, Subsidy Specialist, at (252) 985-4300, x-233 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Need Help Choosing Child Care?

Child Care Resource & Referral can help you locate a licensed center or registered family child care home. For child care referrals call (252) 985-4300 Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and ask for assistance in locating child care.