The Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant is now accepting applications
from licensed child care centers and Head Start/Early Head Start programs! 


Overview
New Jersey Bill S2476 was signed into law in June 2022, establishing an infant and toddler child care grant program, known as Thriving by Three. To support this, New Jersey has committed $28 million to strengthen and increase high-quality child care services and programs for our most vulnerable young children. A total of $20 million was allocated to the Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD) and $8 million to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to implement the Thriving by Three Grant programs, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing (OOL).
 
The Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant will help support the development and creation of infant (under 18 months old) and toddler (18 months to 2 ½ years old) slots and provide technical assistance to providers for the expansion of child care spaces.
 
The first Thriving by Three Grant will be open to licensed child care centers and Head Start/Early Head Start programs. An online application is scheduled to launch by late March. A Thriving by Three Grant for registered family child care providers will be available later this year.
 
 
Licensed Center Eligibility Summary
Eligible programs must:

  • Comply with state and federal health and safety requirements for child care centers;
  • Comply with current child care licensing standards for infant and toddler child care, including, but not limited to, class size, child-to-staff ratios and health and safety standards;
  • Be in good standing (no enforcement action or fraud and/or funding misrepresentation investigation or misuse of funds);
  • Complete an online application, which providers must identify a capacity need to develop slots or expand infant and toddler slots; and
  • Participate or apply to participate in the state’s child care quality rating and improvement system, Grow NJ Kids, within six months of grant approval. A Grow NJ Kids rating provides a higher rate of state payment for children participating in the Child Care Assistance Program.
 
 
Licensed Center Grant Awards (subject to availability of funds)
Year 1 Initial Grant Award
This initial award is available to all eligible providers. 
 
Approved providers will receive an initial minimum grant award of $3,000 per new infant or toddler child care slot created, of which $1,000 must be directed for teacher-related expenses (i.e., bonus or incentive). 
  • Providers must commit to creating a minimum of four slots.
  • If not already enrolled in, or rated by, Grow NJ Kids, providers must enroll within six months of grant award.
 
 
Year 2 Renewal
Additional funds are contingent on providers’ active engagement in Grow NJ Kids. During the second year, providers must:
  1. Complete a Grow NJ Kids Self-Assessment
  2. Complete a Grow NJ Kids Quality Improvement Plan
  3. Submit a Grow NJ Kids Rating Readiness form to initiate the rating process
  4. Have all newly created slots filled by the end of Year 2

 
Year 2 Award
Providers who have not yet reached a Grow NJ Kids three-, four-, or five-star rating at the time of Year 2 renewal will receive an additional minimum grant of $1,200 per infant or toddler slot which $400 must be directed for teacher-related expenses (i.e., bonus or incentive). This will be awarded 12 months following the date of the initial grant award.
 
If you are already rated three-, four-, or five-stars in Grow NJ Kids at the start of Year 2 you are not eligible for the $1,200 per slot grant award, however, to support and promote equitable access to high-quality programs you will receive $200 per infant or toddler slot created.
 
 
Year 3 Renewal
Additional funds are contingent on the provider actively participating in the Grow NJ Kids rating process and by having all newly created slots filled. 
 
Year 3 Award
Additional minimum grant of $1,200 per infant or toddler slot (awarded 24 months following the date the initial grant award), of which $400 must be directed for teacher-related expenses (i.e., bonus or incentive).
 
If you are already rated three-, four-, or five-stars in Grow NJ Kids at the start of Year 3 you are not eligible for the $1,200 per slot grant award, however, to support and promote equitable access to high-quality programs you will receive $200 per infant or toddler slot created.
 

Log in to your NJCCIS account and navigate to the Quicklinks on your provider record and click the "Add New Thriving by Three (TBT) Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant" button.

 

Important: Based on availability of funds, additional funds may be available to help support eligible providers increase infant/toddler slot and capacity.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions page

Thriving by Three Licensed Centers Overview  PDF  |  Video
Submitting an Application Video

 



3/20/23