Families First in Cabarrus County: Meeting Families Where They Are
In Cabarrus County, greatness often shows up quietly, in living rooms and kitchens, at small tables stacked with children’s books, and in conversations that help parents see themselves as their child’s first and most important teacher. Families First in Cabarrus County is built on that belief, and for more than a decade, it has been helping families thrive where they are.
Founded in 2014 by Aurora and Spencer Swain, Families First in Cabarrus County began with a simple but powerful mission: to nurture children, empower parents, and strengthen families to flourish for generations. Today, that mission is carried out through bilingual preschools, home-visiting programs, family child care networks, and adult education services that meet families at critical moments in their lives.
Rooted in Experience and Community
Aurora Swain’s journey to Cabarrus County began far from North Carolina. A native of Tampico, Mexico, Aurora immigrated to the United States with a strong educational background, professional training as an industrial engineer, and legal status. Even with those privileges, she quickly learned how isolating and difficult life can be for immigrant families.
One moment in particular shaped her path. While shopping in Concord with her young daughter, Aurora was confronted by a stranger who told her she did not belong. Though another customer spoke up in her defense, the experience left a lasting mark.
“She had no idea that I was here helping families in this community,” Aurora recalls. “That moment stayed with me.”
At the time, Aurora was a parent educator visiting families in their homes. When one mother said she would only send her child to preschool if Aurora opened one, she told her husband and co-founder that they needed to expand Families First to include bilingual preschools, extending their continuum of care beyond home-visiting.
Spencer Swain, a pastor and counselor originally from South Carolina, shared Aurora’s deep commitment to service. Together, they envisioned an organization that would remove barriers to early education while honoring the strengths and cultures of the families they served.
Strengthening the Child Care Ecosystem
For many families in Cabarrus County, licensed child care is simply out of reach. Cost, limited availability, and long waitlists mean that young children often stay home with a parent, relative, or neighbor during the most critical years of brain development.
Families First addresses that gap through ParentChild+, a nationally recognized home-visiting program that serves families with children ages 18 to 36 months. Early learning specialists visit families twice a week, bringing books, educational toys, and coaching that helps parents build language, literacy, and learning into everyday routines.
After 96 visits, families graduate with a home library, hands-on learning materials, and the confidence to advocate for their children’s education.
“Not all children can access a formal preschool setting,” Spencer explains. “Through ParentChild+, we bring high-quality early learning directly into their homes.”
That approach became even more critical after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Families First learned that nearly two-thirds of children who left licensed child care centers during the pandemic did not return. In response, the organization expanded ParentChild+ to ensure those children still had access to meaningful early learning experiences.
Families First does not stop with families. Recognizing the vital role of home-based child care providers, the organization now serves as a Comprehensive Network Hub for three home-based child care networks across Cabarrus and Mecklenburg Counties.
Through the ParentChild+ Home-Based Child Care model, providers receive coaching, culturally relevant materials, shared services, and business support. These networks strengthen providers’ sustainability while improving outcomes for thousands of children ages 0 to 5.
In 2025 alone:
108 children were served in immersion preschools
3,840 ParentChild+ CORE home visits supported individual families
960 visits supported home-based child care providers, reaching nearly 5,000 children
Families First also operates two 5-star bilingual immersion preschools, including North Carolina’s first immersion NC Pre-K classrooms, alongside ESL, GED, tutoring, and trauma-informed family programs.
Expanding Access During a Time of Crisis
Across North Carolina, the child care system is under extraordinary strain. North Carolina has lost 367 licensed child care programs since the pandemic began, with 12% of those losses occurring in the final quarter of 2025 alone (EdNC, 2026). Providers report operating “month-to-month” due to subsidy instability, and center closures are accelerating statewide. Families faced fewer options, and providers faced mounting pressure.
This past year was the most challenging in Families First’s history, but rather than retreat, the organization leaned in.
While others closed or reduced capacity significantly, Families First retained all staff and expanded access. In early 2026, they will open a new NC Pre-K classroom, welcoming 18 additional children into affordable, high-quality care.
They also launched Meck Milestones, expanding home-based support for early literacy, school readiness, and system navigation across Cabarrus and Mecklenburg Counties.
Investing in Educators and the Future
Families First understands that supporting children means supporting the adults who care for them. The organization proudly celebrates educators earning degrees, first-generation college graduates it sponsors, and teachers advancing their credentials in early childhood education.
These investments ensure stability, quality, and continuity for families who rely on trusted caregivers.
A Partner in What Makes Cabarrus County Great
Families First in Cabarrus County is one of the Greater Cabarrus Foundation’s inaugural grant recipients, receiving support through the Early Childhood Education Field of Interest Fund. Grant funding will help ensure the continued success of the ParentChild+ home-visiting program, strengthening early learning for families who lack access to licensed preschool care.
At its core, Families First reflects what makes Cabarrus County great: neighbors showing up for one another, meeting challenges with creativity and compassion, and building systems that allow families to flourish.
Together with community partners, Families First in Cabarrus County is ensuring that children arrive at school ready to learn, parents feel empowered and supported, and families are not navigating uncertainty alone.
For more information about their programs, visit: familiesfirstcc.org