Office for Children

 

5 children color

Mission Statement:

Strengthening Bergen County Families, connecting them with quality, inclusive childcare, and supporting the childcare community with education and training.

Updates and News

The next Directors’ Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 20th 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.

Grow NJ Kids tiered reimbursement now includes Family Child Care Providers (FCCs)

2022-2023 Covid-19 Family Differential Payment Extended Through December, 2023

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

Email Office for Children

Office Hours: 

Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Call for an appointment.

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