Summer youth camps who have received their 2023 DOH Youth Camp Certificate and  are participating in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) through DFD for summer 2023 must complete all required CCDBG background checks (CARI and CHRI) and pre-service trainings.

2023 Summer Youth Camp Info Session Recording
 

Department of Health (DOH)

Can camp be year round? 
No, camp may only be held during summer, spring breaks, out of school vacations and holidays.
 
Please clarify that a traditional youth camp is only licensed by NJDOH and does not require any interaction with NJDCF and these CCBDG staff check requirements unless they are dually licensed, because they are providing "child care" to 2.5 year olds and younger or are a subsidy camp especially given there are no Child Care Assistance Program grants available this year?
NJAC 8:25 Youth Camp Safety Standards does allow for the care of children birth to 17 years of age.  However, the regulation for youth camp is not as robust for those 2.5 and younger.  Therefore, we encourage all camps caring for this population aged 2.5 and younger to acquire a child care license through the Department of Children and Families.
 
Since the full fingerprint checks are not yet required for camps that are NOT subsidized. What is REQUIRED for non-subsidized camps for employees for the 2023 season?
Camps not receiving Child Care Assistance Program funding must conduct name background checks in congruence with N.J.A.C. 8:25-3.2(j-k).
 
What are all the guidelines are for having your own swimming pool on camp grounds?
Please refer to Section 9 of N.J.A.C. 8:25 Youth Camp Safety rule requires all swimming and recreational bathing activities be conducted at regulated public recreational bathing facilities who operate pursuant N.J.A.C. 8:26.
 
Our camp offsite has portable toilets but no physical bathroom. Is that going to be an issue with DOH licensing?
Portable toilets are fine, however, you must provide handwashing stations. Please refer to the Department of Health New Jersey Youth Camp Safety Standards, which can be accessed on the NJ DOH website  for further questions.
 
When will we receive our new DOH licenses?
DOH Licenses began being emailed April 1 for all processed applications.  Moving forward please allow 2-3 weeks for license processing.  If you have not received your licenses in the 2-3 week timeframe please email us at [email protected].
 
My soccer camps are held at a college with a swimming pool. The college provides the lifeguards. Do I need a DOH summer camp license?
Yes, you are the camp operator organizing the camp and are required to be licensed by NJ DOH.  The pool is merely an activity that campers may participate in.
 
Will my license be active year round? I see the camp is to operate during non-school hours, yet my specific campers are not school-aged.
No, the DOH youth camp license is currently applicable during the designated summer, spring breaks, holidays and vacations.
 
We are a camp that goes on trips all day. If we have no facility set how does that work with NJ State inspection?
Wherever the campers meet as the base, that is where you want to indicate as your 'camp site' location.  You can also submit an itinerary which we can add to your file regarding your camp locations.
 
Is the requirement for three character references for each staff person new for 2023?  Is this for new hires only for 2023? Does it apply to those who are rehires?
The 3 character check requirement has been in effect since 1993.  The provision is outlined at N.J.A.C. 8:25-3.2(i).
 
Are any interactions with animals considered high risk?
Yes, animals may carry various diseases like salamanders and salmonella.  These types of communicable diseases are monitored.
 
Do the directors need Basic Life Support (BLS) training?
N.J.A.C 8:25 requires the designated health director to be certified pursuant 5.2(a) at a resident camp and 5.2(b) at a day camp.  Additionally, at all camps the health director must be certified in advanced level CPR.  Lastly, in the youth camp safety rule the camp director must provide training to all staff, pursuant N.J.A.C. 3.2(d)1 Basic principles of emergency first aid, blood borne pathogens, infection control, and hand washing practices; daily health surveillance etc.  Please refer to the Current Recognized List of Certification Agencies.
 
Will COVID-19 Tests be provided or will they need to be purchased?
The youth camp program has not received any information from the Communicable Disease Service regarding the availability of free COVID-19 test kits.  If we are contacted about the availability of free COVID-19 test we will post that information on our website.
 
What constitutes an “outbreak” illness concern and how do we report?
An outbreak is defined as an occurrence of disease greater than would otherwise be expected (generally 2 or more individuals infected) at a particular time and place with similar symptoms and exposures.  Immediately notify the Local Health Department of the jurisdiction in which the camp is located. A directory of local health departments can be found at http://localhealth.nj.gov. Camps must also email [email protected]  within 24 hours.
 
If you are American Camp Association (ACA) certified then we do not need a pre-operational inspection?
It is at the discretion of the Local Health Department dependent upon resource availability whether a pre-operational is conducted at an ACA camp.
 
If our camp is held at a school and we cannot schedule an inspection until the school year has ended, but camp begins right after the school year what do you suggest we do?
The pre-operational inspection with your local health official is mainly comprised of a desk audit to look over policies and procedures.  Schedule your pre-op and let them know the location of your camp site.  Your operational inspection happens during the summer, so the camp will be in full operations by the time that inspector comes for their unannounced visit.
 
Is there a list of high-risk activities available?
No.  The Youth Camp Safety rule lists a few activities such as swimming, archery, horseback riding, rock-climbing, but it is the responsibility of the camp operator to think about the age and ability of their camp population to make a decision of high-risk activities.  The certificate is $50.00 for day and $100.00 for resident.
 
Could you clarify what the guidelines are for “minimal recreation component” in order to not qualify as a summer camp?
Minimal Recreation Component, refers to sedentary activities like gaming, coding, reading, etc.
 
Do we get our inspector ahead of time?
Camps must contact their local health authority to conduct the pre-operational inspection.  Your operational inspection is conducted by the NJDOH-Youth Camp Safety Project who is the licensing authority.  We do assign your operational inspector at the time of application processing.
 
If we are running a camp with a swim component but the pool we use is at an outside facility like a private school that provides their own lifeguards, will that be regulated or because we are operating that camp with the swim component as part of our registration fee, we would still need to regulate our camp with NJ DOH?
If your camp offers high-risk activities like swimming you are required to register.  Visit our website or email us at [email protected].

CARI (Child Abuse Record Information)

Which staff need to complete a CARI check?
Staff and volunteers working in a camp that has received their 2023 DOH Youth Camp Certificate and participates in the Child Care Assistance Program must complete CARI checks.
 
Is the CHRI and CARI process the same for international staff?
Yes, they must comply with all CCDBG requirements if the youth camp will be participating in the Child Care Assistance Program for the 2023 summer camp season. 

How often do the CARI checks need to be completed?
CARI checks must be completed once every three years. If an applicant has completed a CARI check for a CCDBG provider in the past three years, the CARI check can be used on file for your camp. All staff and volunteers who have not completed a CARI check within the past three years for a CCDBG provider must complete a CARI check.
 
Is a CARI check required if the camp is also a licensed child care program and all staff/current employees have already completed these for OOL?
Please refer to the 2023 Summer Youth Camp Child Care Assistance Program Requirements document, Section B for dual summer camps guidance. If you still have questions, contact the Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD), Office of Child Care Assistance Program at [email protected] or (609) 588-7500 to determine the appropriate procedure for participation in the NJ Child Care Assistance Program for summer 2023.
 
Where do I find CARI results?
CARI results are available in the CARI Portal for your summer camp. For assistance with the CARI Portal, please visit the CARI Portal Help page.

Who needs to create the CARI account?
The summer youth camp operator/director is required to set up the CARI account. Staff and volunteers working in a camp that is participating in the Child Care Assistance Program for summer 2023 must complete CARI checks.
 
Do all camps need to run fingerprints and CARI checks or only if are receiving grants from the state?
There is no grant available for the 2023 summer season. Summer youth camps who plan to participate in the Child Care Assistance Program through DFD for summer 2023 must complete all required CCDBG background checks (CARI and CHRI) and pre-service trainings.

CHRI (Criminal History Record Information)

Does my camp need to complete a CHRI check (including fingerprinting)?
Summer youth camps who plan to participate in the Child Care Assistance Program through DFD for summer 2023 must complete all required CCDBG background checks (CARI and CHRI) and pre-service trainings.
 
Who needs to complete the CHRI check (including fingerprinting)?
Summer youth camps who are participating in the Child Care Assistance Program for summer 2023 must ensure staff and volunteers who are 18 years of age or older complete the fingerprint based CHRI check. If your camp is not participating in the Child Care Assistance Program, the fingerprint based CHRI check does not need to be completed according to CCDBG regulations.
 
Regarding fingerprint checks, if an employee will be turning 18 right before the time of employment or during employment, should we run the check before they start working while they are still 17?
Applicants who are turning 18 may not be fingerprinted until they are 18 years old. In anticipation of a staff or volunteer turning 18 years of age, you may choose to schedule an appointment that occurs after the staff or volunteer has turned 18 years of age.
 
Is the CHRI and CARI process the same for international staff?
Yes, they must comply with all CCDBG requirements if the youth camp will be participating in Child Care Assistance Program for summer 2023. 

We did fingerprinting for our summer camp staff in 2022, is it compulsory we do another fingerprint check this year?
If the staff/volunteer(s) completed the fingerprint background check within the past five years using your camp's specific fingerprint form, they do not need to redo the fingerprint background check. New staff/volunteer(s) who have not been fingerprinted specifically for your camp must be fingerprinted using your camp's specific fingerprint form. The fingerprint based CHRI check is valid for a period of five years from the fingerprint date as long as the staff/volunteer remains employed at the same camp.
 
I am a licensed child care center, do I use the fingerprint form for my center or do I use a camp form?
You must use the fingerprint form that is specific to your youth camp. Please refer to the 2023 Summer Youth Camp Child Care Assistance Program Requirements document, Section B for dual summer camps guidance. If you still have questions, contact the Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD), Office of Child Care Assistance Program at [email protected] or (609) 588-7500 to determine the appropriate procedure for participation in the NJ Child Care Assistance Program for summer 2023.
 
What is the code for the fingerprinting on the IdentoGO form?
Camps who are participating in the Child Care Assistance Program have a unique fingerprint form, only available to them. Your form can be found in your New Jersey Child Care Information System (NJCCIS) youth camps record, under Provider Admin and then Mail-In Forms.
 
Where do we get that number to put on our form?
The contributor case number on your camp's fingerprint form will be pre-filled. The contributor case number is a prefix of CM3384 followed by your camp's DOH ID with no extra digits. For instance if your DOH Camp ID is 15, the contributor case number should read CM338415. This form will only be available to youth camps who are participating in the Child Care Assistance Program for summer 2023.
 
I was not aware that there is no charge for fingerprinting for camp staff.  Is this only for camps that are applying for grants or can anyone who runs a state certified summer camp access this form?
The IdentoGO fingerprint form is to be used only by youth camps who are participating in the Child Care Assistance Program. The New Jersey Youth Camp Safety Standards outline acceptable ways summer camps who are not participating in the Child Care Assistance Program can conduct criminal history background checks.

Where are disqualifying offenses listed?
Please visit our Child Care Assistance Program Provider Overview page to view the disqualifying offenses as specified by CCDBG.

Where do I find the results from any of the background checks for myself or my counselors.
To retrieve fingerprint results, please visit the Fingerprint Approval Retrieval Application (FARA) page for information regarding using the FARA system to retrieve fingerprints. If questions still remain, please email [email protected] for assistance.
 
Since the full fingerprint checks are not yet required for camps that are NOT accepting Child Care Assistance Program payments, what is REQUIRED for these camps?
Please refer to the Department of Health New Jersey Youth Camp Safety Standards, which can be found on the NJ DOH website.
                                
Do all camps need to run fingerprints and CARI checks or only if are receiving grants from the state?
There is no grant available for the 2023 summer season. Summer youth camps who have a DOH Summer Youth Camp Certificate for the 2023 season and are participating in the Child Care Assistance Program through DFD for summer 2023 must complete all required CCDBG background checks (CARI and CHRI) and pre-service trainings.

Required Training

Who needs to complete the required trainings?
Summer youth camps who have received their 2023 DOH Youth Camp Certificate and are participating in the Child Care Assistance Program through DFD must complete all required CCDBG background checks and trainings. Visit the ChildCareNJ.gov Required Training page for more information. For more information and for links to take these required trainings, visit our Provider Training page. 
 
What are the required trainings?
If you have a DOH Summer Youth Camp Certificate for the 2023 season and are participating in the Child Care Assistance Program through DFD, you are required to comply with the following CCDBG pre-service health and safety training requirements:

  • Health, Safety, and Child Growth and Development/Mandated Reporting: Basic Requirements for Licensing
  • First Aid and CPR Training based on New Jersey’s Youth Camp Act standards

 For more information and for links to take these required trainings, visit our Provider Training page. 

Are the First Aid and CPR training free of charge?
These are not free. Please reach out to your county's Child Care Resource and Referral agency for help finding approved First Aid and CPR training. 

Has the 10-hour Health, Safety, and Child Growth and Development/Mandated Reporting: Basic Requirements for Licensing training been updated to be more camp relevant?  
The training is the same for all child care providers who must comply with CCDBG.

If a camp is providing Red Cross First Aid and CPR do they still need to take the pre-training?
First Aid and CPR training is one component of the trainings that are required. The other required trainings can be viewed at the following link: https://www.childcarenj.gov/Providers/CCAP/SummerYouthCamps


If you have a question that was not covered in the FAQ, please contact:
 
Department of Health, Youth Camps and Public Recreation
Website | Email

Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, Office of Child Care Operations
Website | Email
1-609-588-7500 | 1-800-332-9227

Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing
Website | Email
1-877-667-9845 | 1-609-248-3458
 
Department of Human Services, Office of Program Integrity & Accountability
Employment Controls and Compliance Unit
System Helpdesk: [email protected] | General questions: [email protected]

4/21/23