In New Jersey, all child care and early learning programs that accept, or wish to accept, child care assistance payments must comply with the requirements set forth by the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act. These requirements define health and safety standards, including comprehensive criminal background checks, training and monitoring and annual inspections.
In addition to all of the CCDBG requirements, child care providers receiving payment through CCAP must be licensed or registered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Licensing (OOL), approved by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD) or certified by the Department of Health (DOH). This includes child care centers, school-based programs, summer youth camps and home-based providers, such as family child care providers and approved homes. Programs that are license exempt, such as public and charter schools or faith-based organizations, must become licensed and must comply with CCDBG requirements in order to receive payments through CCAP.
The DCF Office of Licensing inspects every licensed child care center annually to enforce health, safety and educational program requirements.
Registered family child care providers and approved home providers (In-Home and Family, Friend and Neighbor) are monitored and inspected by the CCR&Rs.
Summer youth camps must register annually with the Department of Health (DOH), Public Health and Food Protection Program. Inspections of summer youth camps are conducted by both the DOH and local departments of health.
Use our Search feature to find eligible providers in your area and view inspection reports, or you can contact your CCR&R for help selecting a provider.