Important Information and Community Resources
 

The New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD) works in partnership with service providers and other state and municipal agencies to help families’ access quality programs and services. You can find many of these programs on the DHS website Opens in new window. Links to more support services and resources are below.
 
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY 1-877-294-4356 to access any hotline: (voice callers use 7-1-1 NJ Relay)

NJ 2-1-1
Just dial 2-1-1 or www.nj211.org Opens in new window
2-1-1 is a convenient way to assist individual’s access information or self-screen for many of programs supported by DHS/DFD. It will prompt you to answer a few questions about your household, income and other expenses which will then identify other programs for which you may qualify.

Affordable Care Act
1-800-318-2596 or www.healthcare.gov Opens in new window
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides affordable health insurance for millions of New Jerseyans. Click here for more information on the Affordable Care Act Opens in new window.

Child Care Help Line
1-800-332-9227
Connects families to the local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies to help families determine if they are eligible for New Jersey’s Subsidy Program, find and locate quality child care services and other child care options.

Child Support Hotline
1-877-NJ KIDS1 (1-877-655-4371) or www.nj.gov/education/ Opens in new window
The focus of the Division of Early Childhood Education (DECE) is to enhance social, emotional, physical, and academic development of New Jersey's children -- preschool through third grade -- by providing leadership, resources, and professional development in support of high-quality early childhood programs within a comprehensive, collaborative program.

Early Intervention Services (Birth to Age Three)
1-888-653-4463 or www.nj.gov/health/fhs/eis/for-families/ Opens in new window
The New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS), under the Division of Family Health Services, for infants and toddlers, birth to age three, with developmental delays or disabilities, and their families.

Early Intervention Services (Over Age Three)
1-800-322-8174 or www.nj.gov/health/fhs/eis/for-families/ Opens in new window
New Jersey Early Intervention System Project Child Find Opens in new window – Assists families of preschoolers ages 3 through 5 concerned about their child’s development.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Federal: 1-800-929-1040 / State: 1-888-895-8179 or www.NJEITC.org Opens in new window
EITC - is a federal and state tax credit benefit for individuals and families who earn low-to moderate incomes in NJ.

Families First Discovery Pass
www.FamiliesFirstDiscoveryPass.com Opens in new window
State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission have partnered with the NJ Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (DOH) to launch New Jersey’s Families First Discovery Pass program. This program provides families and individuals enrolled in state assistance programs with free or highly discounted admission to arts and history organizations, venues, and programs – both in-person and virtual. The Families First Discovery Pass Program offers broad access to cultural experiences for New Jersey residents and helps cultural organizations engage new audiences with the goal of building long-lasting relationships. Residents who receive benefits through SNAP, WFNJ, Child Care Subsidy and/or WIC are eligible for free or steeply discounted cultural programs throughout the state.

Family Help Line 
1-800-THE KIDS (1-800-843-5437)
24 hours a day - 7 days a week
If you're feeling stressed out, call the Family Help Line and work through your frustrations before a crisis occurs. You'll speak to sensitive, trained volunteers of Parents Anonymous who provide empathic listening about parenting and refer you to resources in your community.

Head Start
https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices Opens in new window
The Office of Head Start (OHS) promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through local programs. Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 5. Use the link above to locate Head Start near you.

Home Visitation Services
609-888-7400 or http://www.state.nj.us/dcf/families/early/visitation/ Opens in new window
Home Visitation provides helpful information and support to pregnant woman, new mothers or fathers, or other caregivers in the comfort and privacy of their home to ensure that babies and young children grow up healthy, happy and safe.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
http://idea.ed.gov Opens in new window
Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families can receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) can receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
1-800-510-3102 or http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/hea.html Opens in new window
The Home Energy Assistance Program helps very low-income residents with their heating and cooling bills, and makes provisions for emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance within the Home Energy Assistance Program.

NJ FamilyCare 
1-800-701-0710 (TTY: 1-800-701-0720) or www.njfamilycare.org Opens in new window
New Jersey's publicly funded health insurance program - includes CHIP, Medicaid and Medicaid expansion populations. That means qualified NJ residents of any age may be eligible for free or low cost health insurance that covers doctor visits, prescriptions, vision, dental care, mental health and substance use services and even hospitalization.

NJHelps
www.njhelps.org Opens in new window
This site will help to see if you are eligible for food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance (WFNJ/TANF or WFNJ/GA), and health insurance (NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid). From there you can apply for services or learn about additional resources.

NJ Parent Link
www.njparentlink.nj.gov Opens in new window
The focus of NJ Parent Link is to meet the information and resource needs of expectant parents, families with young children (newborns to children entering kindergarten) and professional stakeholders vested in the health and well-being of New Jersey's children and families. Parenting and support resources for families with older children, school aged to young adulthood, are also available.

NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (NJ SNAP)
1-800-687-9512 or www.NJSNAP.gov Opens in new window
NJ SNAP is New Jersey's supplemental nutritional assistance program that can help low-income families buy the groceries they need to eat healthy. To apply online visit https://oneapp.dhs.state.nj.us

NJ SNAP-Ed
www.NJSNAP-Ed.gov Opens in new window
NJ SNAP-Ed, a part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is a nutrition and fitness education program aimed at teaching NJ residents how to make healthy, budget-friendly food choices and lead more active lives.

Ready.gov
https://www.ready.gov/kids Opens in new window
Disasters happen everywhere, and every member of the family can prepare. Preparedness for the future starts today. Whether you’re a kid or teen yourself, a parent or loved one, or work with youth, Ready Kids has tools and information to help before, during and after disasters.

Right from the Start NJ
https://rightfromthestartnj.org Opens in new window
Right From the Start NJ is a public awareness campaign created to educate the public at large and New Jersey policy makers about the critical importance of the early years of child development, from birth to three.

Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN)
1-800-654-SPAN or www.spanadvocacy.org Opens in new window
SPAN is an independent organization committed to empowering families as advocates and partners in improving education, health, and mental health outcomes for infants, toddlers, children and youth.

Social Service for the Homeless (SSH)
www.nj.gov/humanservices/dfd/programs/ssh Opens in new window
Provides assistance to New Jersey residents who are at risk of homelessness, but are ineligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families welfare, General Assistance welfare or Supplemental Security Income.

Women Infants & Children (WIC)
www.NJ.gov/health/fhs/wic/
WIC is a preventive public health nutrition program that provides nutrition and breastfeeding education, nutritious foods, and improved access to regular health care and social services to low and moderate-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and young children with, or at risk of developing nutrition-related health problems.

Work First New Jersey (WFNJ)
1-800-792-9773 or www.nj.gov/humanservices/dfd/programs/workfirstnj Opens in new window
The state's welfare reform program provides temporary cash assistance and many other support services to families through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and to individuals and couples with no dependent children, through the General Assistance (GA) program.


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