The Registered Family Child Care Providers Grant is no longer accepting applications.

The online application for the registered family child care provider grant is closed. If you have any questions, please send your inquiries to [email protected].

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. 


Registered Family Child Care Provider - Eligibility Summary

Eligible Providers must:

  • Comply with state and federal health and safety requirements for registered family child care providers.

  • Comply with the current family child care registration standards for infant and toddler child care, including, but not limited to, child-to-staff ratios and health and safety standards;

  • Be in good standing (no enforcement action and/or funding misrepresentation investigation or misuse of funds);

  • Use the funds to develop or expand quality child care spaces for infant and toddlers, and

  • Participate or apply to participate in the state's child care quality rating and improvement system, Grow NJ Kids, no later than 12 months after initial grant approval.

 


Registered Family Child Care Provider - Grant Awards (subject to availability of funds)

Year 1
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 provided to a second caregiver, either the alternate provider, substitute or the assistant, as required to meet child/staff ratios under 3A:54-6.2 Manual of Requirements for Family Child Care Registration. 
 
In Year 1, if not already enrolled in, or rated by, Grow NJ Kids, providers must enroll within 12 months.

Applicants must complete a Needs Assessment (a CCR&R Infant/Toddler Specialist will contact the provider to complete this assessment). Based on the results of the assessment, providers may be eligible for a separate one-time grant of $1,200 to purchase additional infant/toddler supplies/equipment/materials or address health and safety violations. The provider does not need to submit a separate application for the one-time $1,200 grant. Payment of the additional one-time $1,200 grant will be made through the Infant/Toddler Specialist Network and will be issued separately from the initial Thriving by Three Grant award.
 
 
Year 2
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, you are eligible to receive $300 per newly created and enrolled slot.
 
Providers who have not yet reached a Grow NJ Kids three-, four-, or five-star rating at the start of Year 2 will receive an additional minimum grant of $1,200 per new infant or toddler slot. $400 from the award must be directed for staff, as required to meet child/staff ratios under 3A:54-6.2 Manual of Requirements for Family Child Care Registration. This will be awarded 12 months following the date of the initial grant award and is dependent on the providers’ enrollment and active engagement in Grow NJ Kids. If the provider is newly enrolled in Grow NJ Kids, they must complete the orientation by the end of Year 2.  
 
 
Year 3
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, you are eligible to receive $300 per newly created and enrolled slot.
 
Providers who have not yet reached a Grow NJ Kids three-, four-, or five-star rating at the start of Year 3  will receive an additional minimum grant of $1,200 per new infant or toddler slot. $400 from the award must be directed for staff, as required to meet child/staff ratios under 3A:54-6.2 Manual of Requirements for Family Child Care Registration. This will be awarded 12 months following the date of the initial grant award and is dependent on the providers’ active engagement in Grow NJ Kids. During the third 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; and

  4. Have all newly created slots filled by the end of Year 3.

 


Registered Family Child Care Provider - Approved Uses of Grant Funds

Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant funds may be spent in the following approved categories:

  • Equipment/furniture, including evacuation cribs, changing tables, strollers, mats, tables, high chairs, rocking chairs, toddler size tables/chairs, outdoor equipment, sinks, refrigerators, etc.

  • Materials/toys/supplies

  • Staff/recruitment/hiring, including advertisement, hiring bonus, salary, etc.

  • Other needs, including professional development, technical assistance – room arrangement/spacing, regulatory technical assistance, quality improvement technical assistance, etc.


To apply, log into your NJCCIS account and navigate to the Grants tab from your Quicklinks panel.

Awards are subject to the availability of funds.
 

Coming Soon! Family Child Care Provider $1,000 Referral Award

The $1,000 Family Child Care Provider Referral Award is separate from the Thriving by Three Grant award. Current family child care providers may refer a person who would like to become a new registered family child care provider. More information will be available soon. 
 

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Frequently Asked Questions page

 

How-To Documents

Submitting an Application Video
Webinar Recording English | en español
Overview PDF English | en español
 

1/19/24