Thriving by Three Grant Recertification for Year 2 Payment has closed.
The recertification period for the Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant was February 15 through April 1, 2024.
Payment of the Year 3 award is scheduled to occur approximately 12 months after payment of the Year 2 award. In order to receive the Year 3 payment, your program MUST be actively participating in the Grow NJ Kids rating process, have all newly created slots filled and successfully submit the Year 3 Recertification Questionnaire through NJCCIS.
The Year 3 Recertification period will begin in early 2025. 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.
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:
- Complete a Grow NJ Kids Self-Assessment
- Complete a Grow NJ Kids Quality Improvement Plan
- Submit a Grow NJ Kids Rating Readiness form to initiate the rating process
- 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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Recertification Overview PDF | Video
Recertification Questionnaire How-To Video
10/23/24