Smart Start Enhances NC Tri-Share for All 100 Counties
New Partnerships and Technology Expand Opportunities for Children, Families, and Employers
Raleigh, NC — October 23 — The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) is enhancing NC Tri-Share Child Care Program statewide through a new partnership with TOOTRiS and additional program improvements to make child care more affordable for working families.
Tri-Share splits child care costs evenly between employers, employees, and the state, helping families afford care while supporting local businesses. The North Carolina General Assembly tasked NCPC with designing and implementing the Tri-Share Pilot Program, which launched publicly in September 2024.
“Our first year of implementation has provided valuable insights, and we’re excited to build on that foundation as we expand into the next, enhanced phase of the program with added support from our philanthropic and technology partners” said Mary Scott, Strategic Initiatives Director at NCPC.
NCPC is partnering with TOOTRiS, a leading child care technology provider, as the program’s new Third-Party Administrator (TPA). TOOTRiS will streamline program operations statewide, including enrollment, provider payments, and employer engagement through its secure digital platform—creating a seamless experience for families, employers and child care providers.
“NCPC has established a strong foundation for Tri-Share, and we’re honored to help build on that success,” said Alessandra Lezama, CEO of TOOTRiS. “Our role is to strengthen what’s already working by unifying the state, employer, and parent funding into one seamless, transparent system. The result is faster processing, simplified operations, and a more efficient flow of support to the families and providers who depend on this program.”
TOOTRiS will unify multiple funding streams, simplify administration, and enable all stakeholders — the state, employers, and parents — to transact in real time, laying the groundwork for true statewide scale.
“Our partnership with TOOTRiS represents an important step in supporting the sustainability of our mixed delivery early care and education system for everyone,” stated Scott. “Together, we’re creating new opportunities for families to access affordable, dependable child care.”
Originally serving 14 counties, NC Tri-Share has also expanded to cover every county in North Carolina.
“High-quality child care is foundational for a thriving economy,” said Amy Cubbage, NCPC President. “When families have access to affordable care, parents can work, children can thrive, and businesses benefit from a stronger, more stable workforce.”
NC Tri-Share model benefits:
- Employers: Improve talent attraction and retention, reduce turnover, boost productivity
- Employees: Reduce care costs while providing real-time access to high-quality child care options
- Providers: Improve operational efficiency with direct connection to families and streamlined payments
NCPC also received a generous grant to hire a Program and Business Director focused on Tri-Share program administration and enhancing employer recruitment as well as the creation of a family navigation portal.
“We’re excited to grow NC Tri-Share alongside other early care and family support services across the state,” continued Cubbage.
Employers interested in participating can learn more at http://www.smartstart.org/trishare or contact one of the three Regional Hubs:
- Cleveland County Partnership for Children: Shannon White, Executive Director – shannon.white@ccpartnershipforchildren.com, 704-734-2052
- Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children: Sharon Cooper, Executive Director – scooper@mppfc.org
- Partners for Children and Families, Inc.: Stuart Mills, Executive Director – smills@pfcfmc.org, 910-949-4045 (office), 910-603-8650 (cell)
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About Smart Start and NCPC
Smart Start is a statewide network of 75 local partnerships serving all 100 North Carolina counties with a mission to advance a high quality, comprehensive, accountable early childhood system that benefits each child in North Carolina beginning with a healthy birth.
Led by NCPC, this network ensures fiscal and programmatic accountability. For more information, visit www.smartstart.org
About TOOTRiS
TOOTRiS is the nation’s largest, most comprehensive technology platform for Child Care, partnering with government agencies, employers, and providers to modernize access, funding, and administration of Child Care systems. Through its platform, TOOTRiS streamlines complex funding models — including subsidies, cost-sharing programs like Tri-Share, and employer benefits — into one integrated, transparent digital experience. With a network spanning more than 232,000 unique providers, TOOTRiS helps strengthen local Child Care systems, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure more families can reliably find and afford quality care
