Partnership Provides Parents at Duke Greater Access to Quality Child Care

Parents who work at Duke University and Health System now have greater access to quality child care through the new Duke Child Care Partnership.

Duke has partnered with Child Care Services Association (CCSA) to provide a $200,000 donation to fund grants to area child care centers for improving the quality of child care or expanding space for infants and toddlers. In exchange for this financial support, Duke faculty, staff and students will receive priority for vacant spaces at these facilities when they become available.

The Duke Child Care Partnership is a result of recommendations that emerged from the Women's Initiative at Duke, which President Nannerl O. Keohane announced in September.

"During discussions with faculty and staff members, the need for quality child care always came up as a primary issue," said Mindy Kornberg, assistant vice president of Human Resources, Work Environment, and member of the Women's Initiative Steering Committee. "Doubling the capacity of our on-campus child care facility was part of the answer, but it alone cannot accommodate all employees with child care needs. This partnership helps address the broader needs of working parents at Duke while helping enhance the quality of care in the community at large."

Proposals from 24 different child care programs were submitted as part of the application process. The CCSA recently awarded grants to 11 facilities as part of this year's partnership.

"Availability of high quality child care is a pressing issue in our communities, and those that are directly affected are our children. By working together and partnering with local businesses and organizations, modeled by Duke University, we can achieve more for our children," said Susan Russell, president of CCSA.

The Duke Child Care Partnership is the most recent initiative emerging from the Women's Initiative. Last month, Duke announced the $2 million expansion of the Duke Children's Campus, its on-site child care facility. In August, Duke also announced a new parental leave benefit for staff that provides up to three weeks of paid leave for primary caregivers following the birth or adoption of a child.

For more information regarding the Duke Child Care Partnership and the child care centers visit the Duke Human Resources web site at or contact Susan Russell at (919) 967-3272.

How Do I Apply?

Eleven child care centers have been selected to participate in this year's program. Duke faculty, staff and students receive priority for vacancies at each of these facilities. Contact the individual facilities to apply. If no vacancies are available, you will be notified when a space becomes available. You will have five days to accept the space before it is offered to the next Duke family on the waiting list.

The Children's Campus
110 Kingston Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27514
967-5020

Chapel Hill Cooperative Preschool
106 Purefoy Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514
942-3955

Primary Colors (Trent)
702 Trent Dr., Durham, NC 27705
416-1728

Tutor Time
1912 Chapel Hill Rd., Durham, NC 27707
489-9700

First Presbyterian Day School
305 E. Main St., Durham, NC 27705
688-8685

Weaver Dairy Community Preschool
124 Weaver Dairy, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
932-1300

Yates Baptist Preschool
2819 Chapel Hill Rd., Durham, NC 27707
489-5760

Bryson Christian Montessori School
6701 Garrett Rd., Durham, NC 27707
490-0287

Erwin Road Children's School
735 Erwin Rd., Durham, NC 27707
490-5437

The "Wright Touch" Children's Academy
310 Sir Gawain Way, Durham, NC 27713
484-8861

McQueen's Child Care Center
124 S. Woodcrest St., Durham, NC 27703
596-2766