Office for Children
Mission Statement:
Strengthening Bergen County Families, connecting them with quality, inclusive childcare, and supporting the childcare community with education and training.
Services
For Families
- Resource and Referral Agency for Bergen County
- New Jersey Cares for Kids (NJCK) Subsidy Program
- Work First New Jersey (WFNJ)
- Family Engagement
For Child Care Providers
Updates and News
The next Directors’ Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 23rd from 9:00am-10:00am virtually on Zoom. Please register on NJCCIS, or contact nmelendez@co.bergen.nj.us. Hope to see you there!
Child Care Market Rate Survey for 2023
The New Jersey, Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, Office of Child Care Operations (DHS/DFD/OCCO) is required by the Federal Government to conduct a Child Care Market Rate Study for 2023. The data collected by this survey will provide valuable information related to child care market prices, expenses associated with the implementation of health, safety, and staffing requirements, and the cost of higher-quality care. DHS/DFD/OCCO will use the data collected through this process to inform policy and budget planning for the State’s child care assistance program. Child care provider participation is critical. For the Center-Based Programs Survey, click here. For the Family Child Care survey in English and Spanish, click here.
Provider Notice from DFD on Health and Safety Training Requirements (issued 05/04/2023)
Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant
New Jersey Bill S2476 was signed into law in June 2022, establishing an infant and toddler child care grant program, known as Thriving by Three.
To support this, New Jersey has committed $28 million to strengthen and increase high-quality child care services and programs for our most vulnerable young children. A total of $20 million was allocated to the Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD) and $8 million to Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to implement the Thriving by Three (TBT) Grant Programs, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing (OOL).
The Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant will help support the development and creation of infant and toddler slots and provide technical assistance to providers for the expansion of child care spaces.
The Thriving by Tree Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant is now accepting applications from licensed child care centers and Head Start/Early Head Start programs.
This grant offers providers an initial grant award in year 1 of $3,000 for each new infant or toddler slot. Years 2 and 3 provide the opportunity to apply for an additional $1,200 per infant and toddler slot.
A Thriving by Three Grant for registered family child care providers will be available later this year.
For eligibility information, an overview video and more details on this grant, visit the ChildCareNJ.gov Thriving by Three Grants page.
Division of Family Development
The DHS/DFD Policy of payment based on enrollment rather than attendance for children in the Child Care Assistance Program has been extended through June 2023.
New website by the State of New Jersey designed to help residents, small businesses, nonprofits and local governments replace or rebuild damage due to storms and to prepare for future storms: DisasterHelp.nj.gov
Attendance and Enrollment Study
The Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development will launch a Child Care Enrollment Study Form to collect attendance for a study comparing the costs of enrollment vs. attendance-based assistance programs.
- Provider Notice for the Attendance and Enrollment Data Collection Study
- Provider Notice for the Attendance and Enrollment Data Collection Study (Spanish)
- DFDI Program Instruction 22-03-05
Grow NJ Kids tiered reimbursement now includes Family Child Care Providers (FCCs)
- Division of Family Development Instruction sheet and new rates
- Letter to Family Care Providers announcing new rates for Quality
2022-2023 Covid-19 Family Differential Payment Extended Through December, 2023
Links
- NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development Website
- Grow NJ Kids Website
- Searching for Child Care
- Licensed Child Care Center Explorer
- Head Start and the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center Website
- Is Your Child Ready to Stay Home Alone? View guidelines and things to consider in making this difficult decision.
Tell Us Your Story About Child Care
Please take a moment and share your story with us through this form.
Contact Us
Julie O'Brien
Director
Office for Children
One Bergen County Plaza • 2nd Floor • Hackensack, NJ 07601-7076
Phone: 201-336-7150
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Call for an appointment.
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