Camp Application

The NJ Department of Health Youth Camp Safety Project is accepting and processing youth camp applications. For more information, visit the NJ Department of Health website. You must do this before you apply to accept NJ Child Care Assistance Program payments. 


Accepting Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Payments

The federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization Act increases the health and safety requirements for all child care and early learning settings that accept child care assistance payments, including youth camps. These provisions include pre-service trainings, comprehensive criminal background checks, written policies and procedures, and inspections and monitoring.
 
Summer youth camps interested in receiving funds through the Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD) Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) are required to comply with the requirements below. These requirements apply to current and prospective staff including volunteers, and individuals who have unsupervised access to children.

You must have a New Jersey Child Care Information System (NJCCIS) account. If you already have an account, you can login to your NJCCIS account and complete the 2024 DFD Youth Camp Acknowledgment Form. 
 
If you do not have a NJCCIS Account – STOP! You must contact your Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency and they can provide you with information on how to register and get started.
 
In addition to a completed Acknowledgment Form, all summer youth camps must:

  • Comply with the Youth Camp Safety Standards (N.J.A.C. 8:25) and have a 2024 Youth Camp Certificate of Approval on file;
  • Comply with CCDBG Health and Safety Requirements (45 CFR 98) detailed below.
  • Complete the pre-service trainings and comprehensive criminal background check for all Youth Camp Directors/Operators, eligible staff and any volunteers supervising children.
 

Required Documentation

  • Youth Camp Certificate of Approval 2024
  • Signed Youth Camp Acknowledgment Form 2024
  • INDENTOGO Criminal Background Check Forms 
  • Child Abuse Record Information (CARI) Form
 These forms can be accessed and uploaded through NJCCIS.  
 

Comprehensive Criminal Background Checks

All current and prospective employees ages 18 and older, including volunteers, and any individuals who have unsupervised access of children must complete a Criminal History Record Information Check (CHRI). This check includes searches of the FBI fingerprint database, and state and National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC) National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR).
 
A Child Abuse Record Information Check (CARI) must also be completed by staff. This child abuse and neglect background check determines whether a person has any substantiated incidents of child abuse or neglect.
 

Pre-Service Health and Safety Trainings

Youth camps staff must complete the 10-hour pre-service health and safety trainings. Trainings are free and offered online through www.NJCCIS.com. Staff/providers also must comply with all Department of Health requirements and regulations.

New Staff
  • Health, Safety, and Child Growth and Development and Mandated Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting: Basic Requirements for Licensing (10-hour module – overview of the required CCDBG health and safety topics)
  • Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR Training
Existing Staff

Starting with the 2024 season all returning staff members must complete 4 hours of annual in-service training, consisting of:
Mandatory Health, Safety, and Child Growth and Development Refresher training – 2 hours;
and

Pre-Service Orientation Training offered by the Camp Director – 2 hours
or  
A combination of Professional Development Trainings through the NJ Workforce Registry equivalent to 2 hours


Profesional Development Training
Available Now: 
  • Supporting Dual Language Learners and Building Cultural Responsiveness – 6 hours

Launching April 2024:

  • The School Age Child Development Part 1 and Part 2 – 3 hours each (English Only)
  • Child Abuse and Neglect and Mandated Reporting Refresher – 1 hour

Courses are offered through the NJ Workforce Registry in NJCCIS through the Learning Management System (LMS). 

All completed training certificates must be uploaded to your Professional Development and Certifications profile in NJCCIS for NJ Workforce Registry verification.

 

Unannounced Inspections and Monitoring

Summer youth camps receiving funds through the NJ Child Care Assistance Program will be inspected by the New Jersey Department of Health to ensure compliance with the state and federal requirements. 

 

Resources

2024 Summer Youth Camp Webinar PDF | Video 

Contact Info

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
Website | Email
1-609-588-7500 | 1-800-332-9227

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

 



3/27/24