All child care providers and staff age 18 and older. This includes:
A Comprehensive Criminal Background Check includes:
*There are also special rules for individuals who have lived out of state in the past 5 years. Anyone required to have a background check who has also lived out of state in the past 5 years is required to have a state criminal history record check, sex offender registry check, and child abuse registry check for states in which they’ve lived in the past 5 years.
Individuals are prohibited from working in a child care setting that is receiving payment through the NJ Child Care Subsidy Program if they meet any of the following ineligibility requirements or disqualifying crimes:
Criminal history background checks are free! There is no cost to child care providers.
All costs for criminal history background checks are covered by the State of New Jersey to help make the background check process as easy as possible. For center-based staff, there is a $10 fee per person for CARI (Child Abuse Record Information) background checks, which is a review of a different system - not criminal records. Centers may choose to offer to pay or reimburse staff members for the cost of the CARI background check. Registered Family Child Care providers are not charged a fee for the CARI check.
There are actually two types of background checks. Both are confidential processes.
When? Now. The new child care background check rules are in place for child care centers and new applicants who want to be a registered family child care home provider. For currently registered family child care home providers, the new requirements are being phased in.
Home-based Providers. Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies in every county are responsible for supporting family child care providers (e.g., those individuals who might be interested in starting a family child care home and those who are already registered family child care home providers). Contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency today to make sure you have all the right forms. They are glad to help you and are prepared to answer any questions! #CCR&RsHere2Help!
Child Care Center Staff. For information about Child Abuse Record Information (CARI) background checks for child care centers, youth residential programs, and adoptive applicants, call the CARI Unit at the OOL at 1-877-667-9845. For information about Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) fingerprint background checks for child care centers and youth residential programs, please call the Department of Human Services CHRI unit at 609-633-3761.
Resources
Need Help? Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency to help guide you through the background check process!
About Fingerprint Checks
IdentiGO (Schedule an appointment to get a fingerprint scan)
Background Checks During COVID, NJ Department of Human Services Office of Program Integrity and Accountability
About Child Abuse Registry Checks
Department of Children and Families, Office of Legal Affairs, Child Abuse Record Information
About Child Abuse Registry Checks
Department of Children and Families, Office of Legal Affairs, Child Abuse Record Information
About Interstate Background Checks
Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, Interstate Background Checks (for individuals who have lived out of NJ in the past 5 years)
NJ Law, Regulations, & Support