Applicant(s)/Parents Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a New Jersey resident;

• Must meet income requirements and not have assets that exceed $1 million; and

• Must be working full time (30 hours or more a week), attending school full time (12 credits or more), or in job training (at least 20 hours a week).

 
Child Eligibility Requirements

• Up to the age of 13, or less than age 19, if under the NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency’s protective supervision or mentally or physically incapable of self-care;

• Must be a US Citizen or qualified non-citizen; and

• Must reside with parent(s), or individual(s) acting as parent(s) (in loco parentis).

 
Use our calculator to see if you may be eligible!

As a parent/applicant seeking child care assistance, you will be required to provide proof of income, training/school hours and household size to help determine eligibility. All required documents must be submitted to be considered for assistance.

To get started, you must first complete, sign and submit an application with the required documents to the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency in your county.

The application is available to download from the "Documents" section at the bottom of this page.

Experiencing homelessness and needing child care services is a challenge. We make it easier for you to receive help paying for child care even if you don’t have all of the required documents. If you lack a fixed and adequate nighttime residence, you would meet the definition of homeless.

Specifically that means living in:

• Shared housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
• Motels, hotels, or campgrounds because you don’t have alternative accommodations;
• Emergency or transitional shelters;
• Locations not designed or intended for human sleeping, such as park benches; or
• Cars, parks, public spaces, bus or train stations, or abandoned buildings.

If you are facing one of these situations and are unable to provide the necessary documents with your application, you may have up to six months to submit the required paperwork. During this time, your family can start receiving child care assistance. Contact your CCR&R for help or you can call the Child Care Helpline at 1-800-332-9227. 

Once you have been approved for child care assistance, you are eligible for 12 months of child care benefits. From the date you were approved, you have 60 days to start using your child care benefits

Payments will be made directly to your approved provider as indicated on your Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement (PAPA).

If you have not already chosen an eligible, quality child care provider, it is important to find one that meets your child care needs. You can use your benefits at any of the following types of programs that are approved by the state and that participate in CCAP, including:

• Licensed Child Care Centers

• Registered Family Child Care Providers

• Approved Home Providers (In-Home and Family, Friend and Neighbor)

• Summer Youth Camps

 
Here are some things to think about when choosing a child care provider:

• Plan for the full year of child care. Your child care needs may be different in the summer than during the school year.

• Be sure to get a schedule of the days that your provider will be closed since you will need to make your own alternate care.

• Child care benefits cannot pay for religious instruction.

• Review all of your provider’s policies and make sure that you understand their rules on situations such as late pick-up of your child(ren), termination of services and substitute care arrangements.

• Payments will be made directly to your approved provider as indicated on your Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement (PAPA). Providers all charge different rates. Make sure you know what your provider charges and what CCAP will cover on your behalf. If your provider’s cost of care is more than the maximum allowable rate the state will pay, you will have to pay the difference.

• Ask about additional fees (e.g., field trips and late fees) as CCAP benefits may not be sufficient to cover anything additional charged by providers.

• Know that you can choose another provider at any time; however, you must notify your CCR&R and your current provider 10 calendar days before the change. Payments cannot be made to two providers for the same period of service.

 
Download a printable checklist to use when looking for a child care or early learning program.
 
For more information on different types of providers, visit our Types of Care page. 
 
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.

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.

Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s Quality Rating Improvement System, is an initiative to raise the quality of child care and early learning across the state. Programs who choose to participate are provided with training along with on-site quality improvement technical assistance and access to information on the most current evidence-based practices.

For parents, Grow NJ Kids helps you select a quality provider so you can make the most of your child’s early learning opportunities. To find a Grow NJ Kids rated or participating program near you, visit our Search page. 

Within 10 calendar days of receiving approval for child care assistance, you must complete and sign the following agreements with your chosen child care provider(s):

• Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement (PAPA)

• e-Child Care Parent/Provider Responsibilities and Agreement

 
Your PAPA will need to include:

• Name and address of your provider;

• The start and end date of child care services; Days and hours care is needed;

• The state's CCAP payment rate; and

• Your copayment amount, which is your share of the cost of child care (please note that copays have been suspended through June 30, 2024).

 
The PAPA also provides important information about CCAP program rules and your rights and responsibilities. It tells you about the reasons your CCAP benefits could be terminated or how you could become ineligible for the program (e.g., if you did not follow the program rules or if your family's income exceeds program requirements).
 
It is very important that you complete and return the PAPA to your CCR&R within 10 calendar days. You will need to complete a separate PAPA for each child receiving child care assistance.
 
The e-Child Care Parent/Provider Responsibilities and Agreement covers your responsibilities, the providers’ responsibilities and e-Child Care policies and rules. You must sign this document agreeing to use the e-Child Care daily attendance system — either through the Point of Service (POS) electronic swipe machine or the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system — depending on what type of system your provider uses. Please note that use of the e-Child Care attendance system is suspended through June 30, 2024. However, you need to have a signed e-Child Care Parent/Provider Responsibilities and Agreement for every provider you are using.
 
Before payment for your child's care can start, both you and your provider must sign the PAPA and the e-Child Care Agreement. If you don’t return the required paperwork and documents within 10 calendar days, you will lose your benefits and will need to restart the application process. If you need additional time to sign the agreements, you can contact your CCR&R and request an extension.
 
Reminder: If you have more than one provider (e.g., a summer youth camp and a before/after care provider) you will need to complete separate agreements for each provider.

The state has set rates for what it pays for child care assistance. These rates vary depending on several factors including the age of the child and the type of provider. Your benefit may cover the entire cost for your child’s care, however, if your provider charges more than what the state covers, you are responsible for paying the difference.

CCAP payments are made directly to your chosen child care provider.
 
Payment will begin on the date listed on your signed Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement (PAPA) and e-Child Care Agreement. If your child is already receiving care with a provider prior to your approval for assistance, you are responsible for payment of any services before CCAP approval with that provider.
 
Payment cannot be issued to a provider whose License, Certificate of Registration or Approval is revoked, suspended or expired, or if there is an imminent health or safety danger. In the event, your provider is not eligible to provide services, you will be contacted by your CCR&R and they will help you find alternative child care.
 
There may be other fees your child care provider charges for specific purposes (e.g., field trips and late fees). You are responsible for paying these fees.

The Division of Family Development has instituted Temporary COVID-19 Family Differential Payments to support Child Care Assistance Program families using licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers with the cost of child care. These Family Differential Payments provide up to $300 for full-time care, or $150 for part-time care, per eligible child, per month on top of the child care assistance rate paid by the state on behalf of the family. This payment goes directly to your child care provider and they will apply the money towards reducing or eliminating the difference between what they charge and what the state pays for care. Your provider also may use these payments to cover any balances due to them or to cover any other costs or fees. Please note that these payment will continue through June 30, 2024. 

Some families eligible to receive child care assistance are required to share the cost of child care, known as a copayment or copay. Copay amounts are determined by family income, family size and the hours of care needed. Copays are separate from other fees. If a copay is assessed, that amount will be listed on your PAPA.
 
Please note that all copays are suspended through June 30, 2024.

If you need to change your child care provider, you are required to notify your current provider and your CCR&R as soon as possible (but no less that 10 calendar days) before making the change.
 
You will receive a new PAPA (Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement) and e-Child Care Parent/Provider Responsibilities and Agreement to sign with your new provider. Once the new forms have been approved, your CCR&R will let you know what date you can start care with the new provider.
 
Before you begin care with your new provider, you must honor all contract agreements with the previous provider, including proper notification requesting the end of child care and payment in full of everything you owe.
 
If you change child care providers without approval from your CCR&R, you need to pay for the full cost of the service until you receive the start date on your new final PAPA and e-Child Care agreements.

Your family and/or a specific child can be terminated from the NJ Child Care Assistance Program if:

• Your family's income exceeds 85% of the State Median Income for your family size. View the Income Eligibility Chart.

• You no longer reside in New Jersey.

• Your child no longer lives with you.

• You stop using child care.

• You failed to comply with program rules.

You will receive a Families First card in the mail. Your card is mailed in a plain, white unmarked envelope with a PO Box address from Lexington, KY.
 
PLEASE DO NOT THROW YOUR CARD AWAY.
 
You must hold onto this card even though at this time, you do not need to activate or create a PIN number. Please note that use of the e-Child Child Attendance system has been suspended through June 30, 2024. Both the Point of Service (POS) electronic swipe machine and the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system have been temporarily deactivated, which means you do not need to use your Families First card to check your child in and out of care.
The Division of Family Development is required to monitor child attendance by verifying children are enrolled and receiving child care services. Your provider will be taking daily attendance.
 
DID YOU KNOW: Your Families First electronic benefits card can be used to receive free or highly discounted admission to arts and history organizations, venues and programs. For more information and a list of participating organizations visit the Families First Discovery Pass website. 

Immediately report any of the following to your CCR&R:

• Your child no longer lives with you.

• You moved to a different county or state.

• You no longer need child care assistance.

• You want to change providers (report to CCR&R and current provider 10 days prior to change.) It’s important to make sure the new provider is eligible to receive payment through CCAP before changing providers.

• Your family’s income exceeds 85% of the State Median Income. View the Income Eligibility Chart.

Once every 12 months, you will be asked to complete an Application for Redetermination. You will need to provide updated information about your child care needs, income and employment, school or job training.
 
If at redetermination your income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) you will remain eligible for child care assistance as long as all other eligibility requirements continue to be met. If your income exceeds 250% of the FPL, but remains below 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) families will be granted one year of additional child care assistance. View the Income Eligibility Chart.
 
If you do not provide the required information, you will no longer be eligible to receive child care assistance.
 
Upon receipt of your redetermination paperwork, your CCR&R will review your application and notify you if child care assistance has been approved and will continue for the next 12 months or if you have been found ineligible.

Your Rights

When you apply for the New Jersey Child Care Assistance Program, and while you are receiving benefits, you are entitled to certain information and services.

• You have the right to choose a Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD) eligible licensed child care center, registered family child care provider, approved home provider (in-home or family, friend or neighbor provider), school-based program or a summer youth camp.

• You have the right to visit your child any time she or he is in the provider’s care.

• If at any time you are dissatisfied with your current provider, you have the right to choose a new provider.

• If it becomes necessary to terminate your benefits, your CCR&R will provide notice 10 days before the effective date of the termination of your child care assistance. This termination notice will be submitted to you and all child care providers providing services to your family.

• You have the right to a CCR&R case review or a DHS/DFD administrative review (appeal) regarding any decision that results in the denial or termination of your child care assistance, as long as that decision is not due to the availability of funding.

• You have the right to make a complaint or discuss areas of concern by calling the Child Care Helpline 1-800-332-9227.

If your child care services are negatively affected by a CCR&R action, such as denial or reduction of child care benefits, termination of child care assistance or you are required to repay any child care benefits, you may request a CCR&R case review and/or an administrative review.
 
If you wish to request a case review before the CCR&R Review Committee, please contact your CCR&R within 10 calendar days of receiving the notice or letter about the action.
 
You also may request an administrative review by the Division of Family Development’s Bureau of Administrative Review and Appeals (BARA). You can request this without a CCR&R case review, or if you are not satisfied with the decision of the CCR&R Review Committee.
 
Submit your request, along with copies of all documentation concerning the action, to:
Bureau of Administrative Review & Appeals
Division of Family Development
PO Box 716
Trenton, NJ 08625-0716
 
Administrative review requests must be submitted within 90 calendar days of you receiving the notice or letter about the action.
 
If child care assistance to your family is terminated or you are disqualified from receiving benefits from CCAP, payments to your child care provider will end on the effective date of the termination and/or disqualification and will not continue during the appeal and review process.
 
If the outcome of the CCR&R case review and/or the BARA administrative review is in your favor, services will be restarted or resumed as long as funding is still available.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
 
If you have a concern or complaint about your child care provider, you have the right to file a complaint with the Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing by calling 1-877-667-9845 or online. Complaints may be made anonymously.
 
If you have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse should, you should immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR) at 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). A concerned caller does not need proof to report an allegation of child abuse and can make the report anonymously.

Parent Brochure
(info for before you apply for benefits)
English | En Español

Parent Handbook
(info for when you've been approved for benefits)
English | En Español

Application Documents
Documentation Checklist | Lista de documentación
Application | Aplicación

Additional Forms
Statement of Incapacity

Other Information
Income Eligibility Schedule
Maximum Child Care Payment Rates