Types of Child Care

New Jersey funds free preschool programs referred to as the state’s Preschool Expansion program. The preschool programs provide a full-day program to all 3- and 4-year-olds who live in those districts and choose to enroll. Additionally, some private child care centers and Head Start programs contract with school districts to deliver educational preschool services. 

Download a list of state-funded preschool programs, by county and district, for the 2024-2025 school year. 

For additional information, contact your school district or visit the NJ Department of Education's Early Childhood Education website.

Head Start and Early Head Start are free, federally-funded programs that provide comprehensive early learning and childhood development services. Early Head Start programs support pregnant women and families with children younger than age 3 years. Head Start programs serve children between 3 and 5 years old. Early Head Start and Head Start programs may be located in child care centers or family child care homes through agencies in local communities.

Families with incomes below the poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services. Children from families experiencing homelessness and families receiving public assistance such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are also eligible. Foster children are eligible regardless of their foster family’s income.
 
To apply for Head Start and Early Head Start, contact the program serving your community. Your local program will provide the required forms and answer your questions. They will also tell you what documents you should bring with you to apply.

Find a Head Start or Early Head Start Program Near You!


If you receive NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, your child may be categorically eligible (this means they're automatically eligible based on income level) for Head Start or Early Head Start services!
 
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In-Home Providers
An in-home provider is an individual who comes to your home to care for your child(ren). This may be just for an evening or as a full-time care arrangement. 
 
If you are receiving benefits through the Child Care Assistance Program, and choose this type of care, you must use an approved home in-home provider. The selected individual is required to meet health and safety standards, including training, comprehensive criminal background checks, monitoring and annual inspections. They can serve no more than two unrelated children for fewer than 24 hours of care per day, in the in the child’s home. Children must be 13 years old or younger (unless there is a verified disability that qualifies a child to receive care up to the age of 19). 

A family child care provider cares for no more than five non-resident children, 13 years old or younger, at any one time in the provider's home.

Providers may choose to become voluntarily registered through their Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency. Registered providers are required to meet health and safety standards, including training, comprehensive criminal background checks, monitoring and annual inspections and staffing requirements. To use your CCAP benefits with a family child care provider, the provider must be registered.

Child care centers provide care for six or more children, under 13 years old, for less than 24 hours a day. They are licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Licensing (OOL). Child care centers are required to meet health and safety, program and staffing requirements. To use your CCAP benefits at a child care center, the program must be licensed. 

If you only need before- and/or after-school care, you can use an eligible school-age program licensed through New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing that accepts CCAP payments.

Summer youth camps are licensed under the Youth Camp Safety Act of New Jersey and possess a certificate issued by the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH). Inspections of summer youth camps are conducted by both the DOH and local departments of health. Summer youth camps provide services wholly or in part for recreational and educational purposes to five or more children up to the age of 18.
 
They operate for a period or portion of at least two days or more during the same week and include at least one high-risk activity during the operation period. An activity is considered high-risk if it exposes a camper to a serious injury because of the inherent nature of the activity and always requires a high degree of adult supervision.
 
If you are using benefits through the Child Care Assistance Program, you must use a summer youth camp that has been evaluated and approved by DFD or its designee. CCAP will pay for children 13 years old or younger (unless there is a verified disability that qualifies a child to receive care up to the age of 18). CCAP will not pay for residential (sleepaway) summer youth camps. 

There are other types of care available that you may want to consider. However, unless the provider complies with NJ Child Care Assistance Program  (CCAP) and Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act rules and regulations, you cannot use CCAP benefits at these providers.

These are facilities that are deemed exempt from licensing regulation and not regulated by the Department of Children and Families’ Office of Licensing (DCF/OOL), including, but not limited to:

• Programs operated by local public school districts;

• Private or charter schools which are solely run for educational purposes offering elementary education in grades kindergarten through 6th, 7th or 8th and their kindergarten, pre-kindergarten or a child care center are an integral part of the private educational institution or system; and

• ​Faith-based organizations.

For a full list of programs that are exempt for licensure, view the NJ DCF Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers, Section 3A:52-1.3 Programs exempt from licensure.

​The CCAP will not pay for care at a license-exempt provider.