Use this page if you need help for children, childcare, pregnancy support, infant care, parenting support, WIC, child support, child welfare services, adoption information, foster care information, after-school programs, or services for children with special health care needs.
Union County Community Action, Inc.
Helps with:
Children and family services that promote self-sufficiency for children, youth, adults, and families.
Best first step:
Call to ask which programs are currently available and who qualifies.
Phone:
704-283-7583
Address:
1401-H W. Roosevelt Blvd.
Monroe, NC 28110
Service area:
Union, Anson, and Richmond counties.
Good questions to ask:
“What family support programs are available?”
“Do you help children, adults, or both?”
“Are there income requirements?”
“How do I apply?”
WIC — Women, Infants, and Children
Helps with:
Nutrition and breastfeeding services for eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children.
Best first step:
Call the Union County WIC office to ask about eligibility and appointments.
Phone:
704-296-4893
Address:
2330 Concord Avenue
Monroe, NC 28110
Good questions to ask:
“Do I qualify for WIC?”
“What should I bring to the appointment?”
“Can I apply while pregnant?”
“Can you help with breastfeeding support?”
HELP Pregnancy Center
Helps with:
Free and confidential pregnancy-related services and support for pregnant girls and women, young families, and families in need.
Best first step:
Call for an appointment.
Monroe phone:
704-289-5133
Indian Trail phone:
704-839-0071
Marvin / Waxhaw phone:
704-627-4015
Monroe address:
480 Help Street
Monroe, NC 28110
Indian Trail address:
319 A Unionville-Indian Trail Road
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Marvin / Waxhaw address:
10004 New Town Road
Waxhaw, NC 28173
Services may include:
Limited OB ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, maternity clothes, baby and children’s clothes, baby supplies, information on parenting, adoption and abortion, abortion recovery help and support, adoption counseling, peer counseling, pregnancy and parenting classes, and support services.
Good questions to ask:
“Do I need an appointment?”
“What services are available at this location?”
WoMB Clinic — Wingate University
Helps with:
Women’s, maternal, infant, pelvic floor, lactation, infant feeding, parenting, and perinatal/postnatal mental health services.
Best first step:
Call or email to ask about services, appointments, and availability.
Phone:
704-233-8972
Location:
Wingate University
Hayes Building, Room 121-B
Services may include:
Infant development and parenting support, pelvic floor therapy, lactation counseling, infant feeding support, perinatal and postnatal mental health screening and support, coping skills, stress management, daily routine support, and self-care guidance.
Good questions to ask:
“What services are currently available?”
“Do I need a referral?”
“Can you help with breastfeeding or infant feeding?”
“Do you help during pregnancy and after birth?”
Angel House Maternity Home
Helps with:
Safe housing and support for displaced pregnant adolescent and adult women in crisis.
Best first step:
Call to ask about eligibility, openings, and the application process.
Phone:
704-392-6270
Address:
2000 Newland Road
Charlotte, NC 28216
Services may include:
Safe housing, education, health care support, personal growth, and counseling.
Good questions to ask:
“Are there openings?”
“Who qualifies?”
“What is the application process?”
“What support services are included?”
Newborn Safe Surrender
Helps with:
A legal option for a parent to safely surrender a newborn up to seven days old to a responsible adult.
Best first step:
If this is urgent, contact a safe surrender contact such as a health care provider, law enforcement officer, social services worker, or emergency medical personnel.
Union County DSS phone:
704-296-4300
Possible safe surrender contacts include:
Health care provider
Law enforcement officer
Social services worker
Emergency medical personnel
Good questions to ask:
“How can I safely surrender a newborn?”
“What happens next?”
“Can I get help immediately?”
Alliance for Children
Helps with:
Early childhood development, school readiness, child health, education, and emotional development for young children in Union County.
Best first step:
Call to ask about programs, resources, and referrals for young children and families.
Phone:
704-226-1407
Pre-Kindergarten office:
2661 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Suite A
Monroe, NC 28110
Good questions to ask:
“What programs are available for young children?”
“Can you help with pre-kindergarten resources?”
“Do you have parent resources?”
“How can I apply or learn more?”
Child Care Resources, Inc.
Helps with:
Referrals and information about childcare.
Best first step:
Call to ask for help finding childcare options.
Phone:
704-376-6697
Address:
200B Regency Executive Park Drive, Suite 240
Charlotte, NC 28217
Service area:
Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, Rowan, and Stanly counties.
Good questions to ask:
“Can you help me find childcare?”
“Do you have referrals for Union County?”
“Can you help me understand childcare options?”
“Are there resources for lower-cost childcare?”
Christ Our Shepherd Child Development Campus
Helps with:
Childcare and educational resources, with a focus on supporting children and single parents.
Best first step:
Call to ask about programs, eligibility, openings, and costs.
Phone:
704-845-4673
Address:
226 W. John Street
Matthews, NC 28105
Description:
Christ Our Shepherd provides Christian-based children’s programs and education and supports the needs of single parents.
Good questions to ask:
“Are there openings?”
“What ages do you serve?”
“What are the costs?”
“Do you have support for single parents?”
Union County Department of Social Services — Child Welfare
Helps with:
Child welfare services for children at risk of abuse, neglect, or dependency.
Best first step:
Call DSS if you need child welfare services or need to report concerns about child safety.
Phone:
704-296-4300
Address:
2330 Concord Avenue
Monroe, NC 28110
Good questions to ask:
“How do I report concern for a child’s safety?”
“What family services are available?”
“Can someone explain the child welfare process?”
“What happens after a report is made?”
Child Support Services
Helps with:
Help collecting child support through state and local child support offices.
Best first step:
Call to ask about applying for child support services.
Phone:
800-992-9457
Address:
1501 Charlotte Avenue
Monroe, NC 28111
Important note:
Child Support Services is not authorized to help with custody, visitation, or property settlements.
Good questions to ask:
“How do I apply for child support services?”
“Is there an application fee?”
“What information do I need about the other parent?”
“Can you help if I already receive public assistance?”
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Helpline
Helps with:
Information about potential benefits, services, and resources for children and youth with special health care needs.
Best first step:
Call to ask about resources for a child with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional needs.
Phone:
800-737-3028
Good questions to ask:
“What benefits or services might my child qualify for?”
“Can you help me find local resources?”
“Do you help children with developmental or behavioral conditions?”
“Can professionals call for information too?”
NC START
Helps with:
Crisis prevention and intervention for individuals age six and older who have intellectual or developmental disabilities and complex behavioral or mental health needs.
Best first step:
Call to ask about referrals, eligibility, and available crisis prevention services.
Phone:
888-974-2937
Services may include:
Clinical consultation, training, education, therapeutic respite, crisis response, and therapeutic coaching.
Good questions to ask:
“Who qualifies for NC START?”
“How do I make a referral?”
“Can you help prevent a crisis?”
“What should I do if there is already a crisis?”
Safe Kids Union County
Helps with:
Child safety education and injury prevention.
Best first step:
Call to ask about current safety programs, events, and resources.
Phone:
980-993-7664
Address:
600 Hospital Drive
Monroe, NC 28112
Description:
Safe Kids Union County is led by Atrium Health Union and works to help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries through evidence-based programs.
Programs may include:
Car-seat checkups, safety workshops, sports clinics, and other child safety programs.
Good questions to ask:
“Do you offer car-seat checks?”
“What safety programs are coming up?”
“Do I need an appointment?”
“Are programs free?”
School Breakfast and Lunch Program
Helps with:
Free or reduced-cost school meals for eligible children.
Best first step:
Ask the child’s school office how to apply for school meal benefits. Families may also apply online.
Online application:
lunchapplication.com
Good questions to ask:
“Can someone at the school help me apply?”
“What information do I need?”
“If my income changed recently, can I still apply?”
Old Armory Community Center After-School Program
Helps with:
After-school care through a partnership with the YWCA.
Best first step:
Call to ask about enrollment, schedule, ages served, cost, and availability.
Phone:
704-282-5765
Address:
500 South Johnson Street
Monroe, NC 28110
Good questions to ask:
“Are there openings?”
“What ages or grades do you serve?”
“What is the cost?”
“What time does the program run?”
Beyond the Bell After-School Enrichment Program
Helps with:
After-school enrichment programs for children.
Best first step:
Call the City of Monroe or the community center location to ask about enrollment and availability.
Locations listed online:
J. Ray Shute Community Center
506 East Green Street
Monroe, NC 28110
Sutton Park Community Center
2303 Brooks Street
Monroe, NC 28111
Winchester Community Center
1001 Winchester Avenue
Monroe, NC 28111
Dickerson Community Center
899 North Johnson Street
Monroe, NC 28110
Activities may include:
Cultural activities, arts and crafts, gym activities, mentorships, food service, and other enrichment activities.
Good questions to ask:
“Which location should I call?”
“Are there openings?”
“What ages or grades do you serve?”
“What is the cost?”
E.X.C.E.L. Enrichment Program
Helps with:
After-school academic enrichment for children.
Best first step:
Call to ask about enrollment, cost, schedule, and availability.
Phone:
404-242-7765
Address:
115 Henderson Street
Monroe, NC 28112
Who they serve:
Children ages 5 to 10, grades K through 4th.
Services may include:
Homework assistance, reading, math, writing, and cultural enrichment activities.
Good questions to ask:
“Are there openings?”
“What grades do you serve?”
“What is the cost?”
“What days and times does the program meet?”
Christian Adoption Services
Helps with:
Domestic and international adoption services and support for birth parents and adoptive families.
Best first step:
Call to ask about adoption services, birth parent support, and the application process.
Phone:
800-453-1011
Address:
7884 Idlewild Road
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Description:
Christian Adoption Services is a private, nonprofit agency that provides services to birth parents throughout North Carolina and places children with adoptive families throughout North Carolina and the United States.
Good questions to ask:
“What services are available for birth parents?”
“What services are available for adoptive families?”
“What is the process?”
“Is counseling available?”
American Adoptions
Helps with:
Adoption information for expectant parents, including those considering adoption for a child with medical or special needs.
Best first step:
Call to ask about options, counseling, support, and the adoption process.
Phone:
1-800-ADOPTION
Good questions to ask:
“What support is available for expectant parents?”
“Can you explain the adoption process?”
“Are there families open to adopting a child with special needs?”
“Is counseling available?”
Foster and Adoptive Parents — Union County Child and Family Services
Helps with:
Information for prospective foster and adoptive families.
Best first step:
Call Union County DSS to ask how to begin learning about foster care or adoption.
Phone:
704-296-4300
Description:
Union County Division of Social Services helps prospective families navigate the initial stages of foster care and adoption and connects children in need of adoptive and foster homes with families.
Good questions to ask:
“How do I learn about becoming a foster parent?”
“How do I learn about adoption?”
“What training is required?”
“What is the first step?”
Miracle Houses of North Carolina
Helps with:
Residential care and treatment for children and adolescents who are at risk of being removed from their homes or need a higher level of care.
Best first step:
Call to ask about eligibility, referrals, available programs, and admissions.
Phone:
704-535-4447
Headquarters:
7508 E. Independence Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28227
Description:
Miracle Houses provides a structured environment and personalized care plans for children and adolescents with emotional, psychological, and developmental needs.
Good questions to ask:
“Who qualifies for services?”
“Do you accept referrals?”
“What ages do you serve?”
“What level of care is provided?”