The Application for Licensed Child Care Centers and Head Start/Early Head Start is Closed.
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 online application for the
registered family child care provider grant will be available on November 1, 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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Thriving by Three Licensed Centers Overview PDF | Video
How-To Documents
Submitting an Application Video
Capacity Change Request Process
New Space Request Process
Age Change Request Process
10/23/23