Child Care Referrals

Resource and referral services are the foundation of our comprehensive dependent care programs. Mercer County residents benefit from our all-inclusive database of licensed and registered child care centers, family child care providers, school-age programs, nursery schools, and summer camps. Our professional family care consultants research and supply referrals that best meet a family’s child care needs.

Mercer County residents should contact our community referral line at:

Phone: (609) 989-8101
E-mail: 

Community referral hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This free referral service is available to families living or searching for child care in Mercer County. Parents needing assistance finding child care can contact our community line at 609-989-8101, or self-search by clicking this link: Search for Providers in Mercer County. Child care searches are based on the search criteria discussed with and identified by the parent. A search is conducted in the NACCRRAWare database and results are produced randomly from this program. When possible, each family will receive a minimum of three options and maximum of six options per inquiry, based upon the family’s individual requests. If you would like further information regarding any providers found on-line, please call our community line at the number listed above. For families looking for care who are not Mercer County residents, click here for the list of NJ Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies by County. For visitors who are not New Jersey residents, visit www.childcareaware.org to find the CCR&R serving your area.

Parents can review inspection records to view the type of licensing violations centers have recently incurred. To look up a center you are interested in using, click here.

For additional information on types of child care available and financial assistance programs, click on the Families tab above and choose your area of interest from the drop-down menu.

We do not license, endorse, or recommend any particular provider and cannot assure that any provider offers quality child care. You should visit several providers to determine which is best for your family and decide for yourself if any fulfill your needs.

We maintain strict confidentiality policies regarding any personally identifiable or family information you provide.

Head Start and Early Head Start

Head Start programs prepare America’s most vulnerable young children to succeed in school and in life beyond school. To achieve this, Head Start programs deliver services to children and families in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being while engaging parents as partners every step of the way.

Head Start encompasses Head Start preschool programs, which primarily serve 3- and 4-year-old children, and Early Head Start programs for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. Head Start services are delivered nationwide through 1,600 agencies which tailor the federal program to the local needs of families in their service.  There are a number of Head Start and Early Head Start (for children under age three) programs available in Mercer County.  For more information about Head Start, Click Here.