Thriving by Three Grant Recertification for Year 3 

The Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant for licensed child care centers and Head Start/Early Head Start programs recertification period is fast approaching.
  
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. 

If you did not apply for this grant during the initial application period, you are not able to apply now. Recertification for Year 3 is only available for providers who were approved for Year 1 of the grant and who received Year 2 award.


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 for the Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant was February 15 through April 1, 2024. 


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

 

2/20/25