DFD Policies
DFD Child Care Initiatives (Including COVID-19 Initiatives)
NJ American Rescue Plan Stabilization Grants: The NJ American Rescue Plan (ARP) Stabilization Grant provided financial relief to licensed child care providers and registered family child care providers to support key operating expenses. The grant were used for wages and benefits, insurance, rent, mortgage, utilities, cleaning and sanitizing, professional development related to health and safety, mental health services, and other operational expenses. Providers must have been licensed or registered as of March 11, 2021 to qualify and in compliance with the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) health and safety requirements, including trainings and comprehensive background checks, at time of application. These grants were available regardless of whether programs were serving children on subsidy. The NJ American Rescue Plan (ARP) Stabilization Grant is no longer accepting applications. For more information, click here.
$1,000 Hiring and Retention Bonus Grant: Funded with the Child Care Revitalization Fund signed into law by Governor Murphy and the American Rescue Plan, hiring and retention grants were issued from the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD). Child care center staff and registered family child care providers were eligible if they earned $50,000 or less per year. The application for hiring and retention bonus grants is now closed.
The FY2024 NJ State Budget enacted for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 included the following extensions of DFD assistance:
Enrollment-based Payment: DFD will continue to pay providers based on enrollment rather than attendance
Waiving Parent Co-Pays: DFD has waived parent co-pays. See guidance.
Supplemental Payments: DFD’s additional supplemental payment (family differential) of $300 per subsidy-eligible child for full-time care, or $150 for part-time care per subsidy eligible child, including infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children enrolled in your program. See guidance.
Should you have any questions, please contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency. For questions related to Child Care Tuition Assistance for School-Age Children, please visit https://njccis.com/njccis/home.
DFD Child Care Grant Opportunities
Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant. The Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant supports the development and creation of infant (under 18 months old) and toddler (18 months to 2 ½ years old) slots and provides technical assistance to providers for the expansion of child care spaces. As of July 2023, this program is no longer accepting grant applications. Stay tuned for additional information should funding become available. More information is available here.
NJEDA Child Care Facility Improvement Program Grant
The New Jersey Economic Development Authorities (NJEDA) Child Care Facility Improvement Program provides grants of $50,000 to $200,000 to NJ child care centers for facility improvements to enhance the quality of programs. Eligible applicants are center-based child care providers licensed by the Department of Children & Families as of June 4, 2021 and must have enrolled at least 1 child receiving assistance through NJ Department of Human Services’ Child Care Assistance Program in the past year. For more information on this grant and to apply, visit the NJEDA website.
Dept. of Children and Families & Dept. of Human Services, Division of Family Development
Guidance for Child Care During COVID-19
- Extension of Enrollment-based Payments for Subsidy (FY24 NJ State budget)
- Return to Normal Policies (with some exceptions, May 19, 2022)
- COVID-19 Family Differential Payments Extension (Supplemental per child payments extension per FY24 NJ State budget)
- Rate Increases and Family Co-pay Waivers (extension per FY24 NJ State budget)
- NJ DCF COVID-19 Exec Directive Child Care Standards for Child Care Centers (May 26, 2021)
- NJ Department of Health COVID-19 Guidance for Re-opening Child Care (May 26, 2021)
- Extension of COVID-19 Child Care Initiatives through June 30, 2021 (DFD, February 19, 2021)
- DCF COVID-19 Web Page
- Frequently Asked Questions FAQs during the Public Health Emergency (December 21, 2020)
- Emergency Child Care Important Information and Resources
- CDC Use of Cloth Face Coverings DIY instructions (CDC, May 29, 2020)
- CDC Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting and Re-opening Decision Tool (CDC)
Child Care Provider Resources
NJ EDA Child Care Facilities Grants
For the latest information on the NJ Economic Development Authority (NJ EDA) Child Care Facilities Improvement program, which provides grants to child care providers, click here.
- DCF COVID-19 Web Page
- Extension of Enrollment-based Payments for Subsidy (per FY24 NJ State budget)
- COVID-19 Family Differential Payment Extension (Supplemental per child payments extension per FY24 NJ State budget)
- Rate Increases and Family Co-pay Waivers (per FY24 NJ State budget)
- NJ DCF COVID-19 Executive Directive Child Care Standards (May 2021)
- NJ Department of Health COVID-19 Guidance for Reopening Childcare (May 26, 2021)
New Jersey Child Care Information System (NJCCIS)
- Available Child Care Grants
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Recertification Process for NJ ARP Stabilization Grants began in December 2022
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Additional Support Available for Child Care Providers
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Child Care Professional Development Registry
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And more!
Parent Resources
- Div. of Family Development (DFD) Parent Resource Page
- Toll-free Hotlines/Helplines
- NJ COVID-19 Family Fact Sheet (Contact #s for Assistance)
- Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, COVID-19 Update (School-age Tuition Assistance Program for families with income of $150,000 or less) (October 1, 2020)
Talking About COVID-19 with Children (CDC Suggestions)
- Messages for Parents, School Staff, and Others Working with Children (CDC)
- CDC Checklist for Parents
- Answering toddler questions – why are people wearing masks? (Zero to Three)
- COVID-19 Resources for Parents 24/7 in Multiple Languages (Parenting for Lifelong Health)
Community Resources
- SAMHSA Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (English) (Spanish)
- Sesame Street in Communities (Health Emergencies Web Page and Kids Support) (English) (Spanish)
- CDC Guidance for Schools and Child Care
- CDC Supplemental Guidance for Schools and Child Care that Remain Open
New Jersey Department of Health
Health Insurance Resources
The American Rescue Plan makes health care coverage more affordable! If you do not currently have health insurance or, have health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey, you may be able to get free or greatly reduced cost health coverage. Read our one pager to learn more!
- American Rescue Plan Health Insurance One Pager (August 29, 2022)
Small Business Relief for Child Care Providers
Child Care Providers
For the latest information on small business relief, make sure to check out the following resources from Child Care Aware of New Jersey:
Need Help with Rent Payments?
- NJ Department of Community Affairs Emergency Rent Assistance Program Flyer
- NJ Department of Community Affairs Emergency Rent Assistance Public Notice
- Emergency Rent Assistance Portal to Submit an Application
NJ Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development
Division of Unemployment Insurance
- Unemployed? Apply for unemployment compensation here.
- Congress increased funding and expanded the safety net due to COVID-19. The self-employed and individuals working in faith-based organizations are now eligible for unemployment compensation through a new federal program! Apply through the Division of Unemployment Insurance. It’s a one-stop shop!
- COVID-19 Scenarios & Benefits Available, NJ Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development. (English) (Spanish)
Tax Relief
Small Business Administration Help
- SBA COVID Business Relief Options
- SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), including up to $10,000 in emergency grants (Apply through SBA link)
Need Help Reviewing Business Options?
- Business Resources for Early Education Providers Addressing COVID-19 (web site)
- Find your local Small Business Development Center or local Women’s Business Center. Free help!
Health Insurance Resources
The American Rescue Plan makes health care coverage more affordable! If you do not currently have health insurance or, have health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey, you may be able to get free or greatly reduced cost health coverage. Read our one pager to learn more!
- American Rescue Plan Health Insurance One Pager (August 29, 2022)
NJ COVID-19 Information HUB
- Have questions about COVID-19? Use the NJ COVID-19 Information Hub to find quick answers to questions such as
- How can I protect myself from COVID-19/novel Coronavirus?
- What are the “stay at home” rules in New Jersey? What businesses are closed?
- Where and how do I get tested for COVID-19 in New Jersey? Who should get testing?
- Has the deadline for filing taxes been extended?
- What types of benefits or assistance are available to me during the coronavirus outbreak?
- Am I eligible for any unemployment benefits if my work has been negatively impacted by COVID-19?
- What housing and rental assistance and mortgage relief is available for New Jerseyans? What if I’m getting evicted or in foreclosure?
State announcements, services, and assistance are available through the COVID-19 hub. Try it!
