The Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant for licensed child care centers and Head Start/Early Head Start programs accepted applications from March through June 2023. The Year 2 recertification period was February 15 through April 1, 2024. The Year 3 recertification period was February 26, 2025 through May 16, 2025.

Payment of the Year 3 award is scheduled to occur 25 months after payment of the initial grant award, however, to remain eligible for payment for Year 3, during Year 2 your program MUST have:

  • Completed a Grow NJ Kids Self-Assessment;
  • Completed a Grow NJ Kids Quality Improvement Plan;
  • Submitted a Grow NJ Kids Rating Readiness form to initiate the rating process; and
  • Have all newly created slots filled by the end of Year 2.

Providers must have a current W-9 dated 3/1/2025 or later on the signature line of the form. W-9 forms must be uploaded into the file cabinet on your provider record in NJCCIS. 

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.
 

Awards are subject to the availability of funds.

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Frequently Asked Questions page

Recertification Year 3 Overview Webinar Video
Recertification Year 3 Questionnaire How-To Video

 

5/20/25