New Jersey's most trusted child care resource.
Child Care Aware of New Jersey is open and working to support families statewide as families seek and obtain child care in order to return to work or remain employed.
New health and safety requirements are in place to promote the safety of those who work in child care and the families with children that are served. For the latest information, check out these resources from the NJ Division of Family Development.
NEW! COVID-19 Child Care Initiatives Extended Through January 31, 2021
Full-Time Child Care Assistance for School Age: The Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DFD) will continue to pay for children approved for full-time care through the NJ Child Care Subsidy Program due to remote learning through January 31, 2021.
Child Care Tuition Assistance for School-Age Children: The extension will happen automatically for approved families currently enrolled in your program and who continue to need child care while their child (5-13 years old) attends remote learning through January 31, 2021. Payment for child care services in January is scheduled to be issued directly to you beginning mid-January. If you have questions, you may email NJCOVID-19APPS@dhs.nj.gov
Supplemental Payments: DFD will issue an additional supplemental payment of $300 per subsidy-eligible child, for January, including infants, toddlers, and school-age children enrolled in your program. More information regarding this payment will come at a later date.
Enrollment-based Payment: DFD will continue to pay providers based on enrollment rather than attendance through January 31, 2021.
This extension was possible due to action by Congress to extend the time for which Coronavirus Relief Funds can be spent. Should you have any questions, please contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency.
Dept. of Children and Families & Dept. of Human Services, Division of Family Development
Guidance for Child Care During COVID-19
New Jersey Department of Health
NJ Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development
Division of Unemployment Insurance
Tax Relief
Have questions about COVID-19?
Use the NJ COVID-19 Information Hub to find quick answers to questions such as
State announcements, services, and assistance are available through the COVID-19 hub. Try it!
Child Care Provider Resources
Podcasts from the Committee for Economic Development (CED), April 16, 2020
The are many new financing options available to support child care programs. However, it can be confusing to know which path might be the best for you. The podcasts below help every child care program understand the options available and key questions to consider.
Small Business Administration Help
Need Help Reviewing Business Options?
Helping Family Child Care to Thrive Through the Public Health Crisis and Beyond
In January 2020, there were 1,486 registered family child care providers in New Jersey. In May, Child Care Aware of New Jersey and the New Jersey Family Child Care Providers Association conducted a survey to better understand the family child care home landscape and providers' needs for re-opening.
COVID-19 Impact. Among the 1,014 family child care providers who responded to the survey, 346 closed due to the pandemic (218 responded in English and 128 responded in Spanish). Two-thirds of survey respondents indicated they have remained open and reported this was out of necessity - her own income and economic well-being, and families have been counting on her.
The number of registered family child care programs in New Jersey has been declining over the past decade. As the state looks to re-open businesses and services to jumpstart recovery, working parents will need access to child care. With parent anxiety high related to potential COVID-19 exposure, there could be a shift in parent preferences for the smaller child care settings offered in neighborhood family child care homes. Both open and temporarily closed family child care providers will need meaningful support to welcome children and keep everyone (including themselves) healthy and well.
New Jersey Family Child Care Home Provider Survey Results
Coming soon!
Parent Resources
Talking About COVID-19 with Children (CDC Suggestions)
Community Resources
Recent CDC Guidance
