Types of Child Care

Licensed Child Care Center
Child care centers with 6 or more children are licensed and regulated by the NJ Office of Licensing (OOL). They are inspected at least once annually.  Child care centers participating in Grow NJ Kids, NJ’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, receive support and coaching to continuously improve their program and sustain high-quality settings for children.  Participation in GNJK is voluntary but shows a commitment to excellence for healthy child development.

​Registered Family Child Care Provider (FCC)
Registered family child care providers care for 5 or fewer children at a time in their home. They are inspected at least once annually. CCR&Rs support family child care homes to provide high quality (e.g., coaching, mentoring, and strategies to support children in a mixed age group setting).  Registration is voluntary in New Jersey, but mandatory for home-based providers serving children whose care is paid for with a child care subsidy. Registered FCC providers may also participate in Grow NJ Kids.

School-Age Child Care (SACC)
SACC programs serve school-age children and operate during the school-year providing before school and after school services. They may also operate during school vacations and the summer months. In some communities, local school districts operate SACC programs or contract with a community based provider for such services.

Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care (FFN)
Some families whose care is paid for with a child care subsidy may choose an individual to provide care for their children who meets training and health & safety requirements set by the state. FFN care is limited to the care of one family or no more than two unrelated children. FFN homes are approved and monitored by CCR&Rs.

Summer Camps
Summer camps are overseen by the NJ Department of Health. Summer camp programs are offered full or part time through a wide variety of options.  Care can be selected in a traditional camp setting, a licensed child care center, sports program, or an academic program.​