Child Care Directions has closed it's Robeson County offices, just four months after the Laurinburg-based organization's director and board president abruptly left.

Officials with Partnership for Children in Robeson County said concerns over the Laurinburg nonprofit's lack of financial stability caused them to withhold Smart Start funds.

It was not immediately clear if the financial situation is linked to the departure of Child Care Directions Executive Director Sandy Carter or Board President Troy Young in October.

The organization has never publicly acknowledged why the pair left or that there are financial problems with the child services agency.

Board President Gladys Holmes declined to comment on the closing of the Robeson County office.

Child Care Directions will still provide a child-care resource and referral service for parents and child-care providers in Robeson County, but the service will no longer be funded with state Smart Start money administered through the Robeson Partnership for Children, according to Partnership Executive Director Jessica Lowery.

Two other local services provided by Child Care Directions — a resource lending library and environmental quality assurance program for child-care facilities — will now be administered by the Partnership for Children, Lowery said.

“We wanted to keep these services in Robeson County but were just a little concerned,” Lowery said. “After all, we (the Partnership) are responsible for the administration of every dollar of Smart Start funds that come into Robeson County.”

The closing of the office resulted in the termination of four employees- three of whom will probably be hired by the Partnership to continue operating the resource lending library and help the county’s 137 child-care providers meet the state requirements for certification of their facilities.

Angela D. Sumner, who directed the programs for Child Care Directions, will not be rehired in that capacity, Lowery said.

Child Care Directions, Inc. is a non-profit child care resource and referral agency that was established in 1985. Their mission is "to expand the availability of child care and to improve the quality of child care in our service area so that all children in the community will have an opportunity for healthy early childhood development."

The nonprofit is funded through private donations and federal and state grants.