One Stop Shop Child Care Resources COVID-19 Information

Child Care Resources of Monmouth County is open and working to support families statewide who must continue to work during COVID-19 (e.g., essential personnel in our hospitals and grocery stores and others whom we depend on at this time) as well as the child care providers who support them.

NEW! COVID-19 Child Care Initiatives

Enrollment-based Payment: DFD will continue to pay providers based on enrollment rather than attendance until further notice (through June 30, 2023). See guidance.

NJ American Rescue Plan Stabilization Grants: The NJ American Rescue Plan (ARP) Stabilization Grant provides financial relief to licensed child care providers and registered family child care providers to support key operating expenses. The grant may be 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 to remain open and operating.

Providers must have been licensed or registered as of March 11, 2021 to qualify and meet the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) health and safety requirements, including trainings and comprehensive background checks, at time of application. These grants are available regardless of whether programs are serving children on subsidy. 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 will be issued from the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD).

Child care center staff are eligible for a $1,000 bonus, if they:
– make $50,000 or less a year;
– were newly hired or are a current employee;
– are responsible for directly working with children (care, supervision or instructing); and
– are registered in the Workforce Registry through NJCCIS (New Jersey Child Care Information System).

Family child care providers may be eligible, if you are:
– a registered Family Child Care Provider;
– in compliance with federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) health and safety requirements (criminal background check and health and safety trainings);
– in good standing with New Jersey’s Registration, Manual of Requirements;
– make $50,000 or less a year;
– open and operating at time of application;
– and have children enrolled.

More information (including recorded webinars) can be found here. A second phase of these grants is open through December 4.

Supplemental Payments: DFD will issue an 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 through December 31, 2023, including infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children enrolled in your program. See guidance.

Waiving Parent Co-Pays: DFD has waived parent co-pays from November 1, 2021 through October 2023.  See guidance.

Should you have any questions, please contact Child Care Resources of Monmouth County at (732) 918-9901.  For questions related to Child Care Tuition Assistance for School-Age Children, please visit https://njccis.com/njccis/home.

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.
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Department of Children and Families, 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

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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?

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!

COVID-19 Infographic for Kids

Recent CDC Guidance

The New Jersey Department of Health is hosting virtual town halls to address facts, fears, and myths regarding the COVID-19 vaccines for New Jersey’s Black, Caribbean and Latinx communities.