Applicant(s)/Parents Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a New Jersey resident;

• Must meet income requirements and not have assets that exceed $1 million; and

• Must be working full time (30 hours or more a week), attending school full time (12 credits or more), in job training (at least 20 hours a week), or have a full-time equivalent combination of these activities to meet the requirement.

 
Child Eligibility Requirements

• Up to the age of 13, or less than age 19, if mentally or physically incapable of self-care or under protective supervision by the NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P);

• Must be a US Citizen or qualified non-citizen; and

• Must reside with parent(s), or individual(s) acting as parent(s) (in loco parentis).

 
Use our calculator to see if you may be eligible!

As a parent/applicant seeking child care assistance, you will be required to provide proof of income, school/training hours and household size to help determine eligibility. All required documents must be submitted to be considered for assistance.

To get started, you must first complete, sign and submit an application with the required documents to the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency in your county. The application is available to download from the "Documents" section at the bottom of this page.

The CCR&R will review your application within 10 business days of receiving it and determine if you are eligible within 30 calendar days. You will then receive a letter from the CCR&R telling you if you are eligible, not eligible or if additional information is needed.

Experiencing homelessness and needing child care services is a challenge. We make it easier for you to receive help paying for child care even if you don’t have all of the required documents. If you lack a fixed and adequate nighttime residence, you would meet the definition of homeless.

Specifically that means living in:

• Shared housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
• Motels, hotels, or campgrounds because you don’t have alternative accommodations;
• Emergency or transitional shelters;
• Locations not designed or intended for human sleeping, such as park benches; or
• Cars, parks, public spaces, bus or train stations, or abandoned buildings.

If you are facing one of these situations and are unable to provide the necessary documents with your application, you may have up to six months to submit the required paperwork. During this time, your family can start receiving child care assistance. Contact your CCR&R for help or you can call the Child Care Helpline at 1-800-332-9227. 

Once you have been found eligible for child care assistance, you are approved for 12 months of child care. From the date you were approved, you have 60 days to start using your child care benefits

Payments will be made directly to your approved provider as indicated on your Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement (PAPA).

If you have not already chosen an eligible, quality child care provider, it is important to find one that meets your child care needs. You can use your benefits at any of the following types of programs that are approved by the state and that participate in CCAP, including:

• Licensed Child Care Centers (including before- and after-school care)
• Registered Family Child Care Providers
• Approved Home Providers (In-Home and Family, Friend and Neighbor)
• Summer Youth Camps

Here are some things to think about when choosing a child care provider:

• Plan for the full year of child care. Your child care needs may be different in the summer than during the school year.
• Be sure to get a schedule of the days that your provider will be closed since you will need to make other arrangements.
• Child care benefits cannot pay for religious instruction.
• Review all of your provider’s policies and make sure that you understand their rules on different situations and your rights and responsibilities, such as late pickup and termination of services.
• Payments will be made directly to your provider as indicated on your Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement (PAPA).
• Providers all charge different rates. Make sure you know what your provider charges and what CCAP will cover on your behalf. If your provider’s cost of care is more than the maximum allowable rate the state will pay, you will have to pay the difference.
• Ask about additional fees (e.g., field trips and late fees) as CCAP benefits may not be sufficient to cover anything additionally charged by providers.
• Know that you can choose another provider at any time; however, you must notify your CCR&R and your current provider 10 calendar days before the change.
• Payments cannot be made to two providers for the same period of service.
• Ask about providers who meet higher-quality standards (like Grow NJ Kids).

Download a printable checklist to use when looking for a child care or early learning program.
 
For more information on different types of providers, visit our Types of Care page. 
 
Use our Search feature to find eligible providers in your area and view inspection reports, or you can contact your CCR&R for help selecting a provider.

In New Jersey, all child care and early learning programs that accept, or wish to accept, child care assistance payments must comply with the requirements set forth by the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act. These requirements define health and safety standards, including comprehensive criminal background checks, training and monitoring and annual inspections.
 
In addition to all of the federal CCDBG requirements, child care providers receiving payment through CCAP must be licensed or registered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Licensing (OOL), approved by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family Development (DFD) or certified by the Department of Health (DOH). These include child care centers, home-based providers (family child care providers and approved homes) and summer youth camps.

Programs that are license exempt, such as public and charter schools or faith-based organizations, must become licensed and must comply with CCDBG requirements in order to receive payments through CCAP.
 
The DCF Office of Licensing inspects every licensed child care center annually to enforce health, safety and educational program requirements. 

Registered family child care providers and approved home providers (In-Home and Family, Friend and Neighbor) are inspected annually by the CCR&Rs. 

Summer youth camps must register annually with the Department of Health (DOH), Public Health and Food Protection Program. Inspections of summer youth camps are conducted by both the DOH and local departments of health. 
 
Use our Search feature to find eligible providers in your area and view inspection reports, or you can contact your CCR&R for help selecting a provider.

Grow NJ Kids, NJ’s Quality Rating Improvement System, helps raise the quality of child care and early learning across the state. Programs that choose to participate receive resources that help them raise their quality and continuously improve their programs.

For parents, Grow NJ Kids helps you choose a quality provider so you can make the most of your child’s early learning years.

To find a Grow NJ Kids rated or participating program near you, visit our Search page. 

Once you are approved for child care assistance, your CCR&R will send you the following documents:

• Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement (PAPA)
• e-Child Care Parent/Provider Responsibilities and Agreement

You must complete, sign and return these agreements within 10 calendar days. If you need additional time, you must contact your CCR&R.

Your PAPA will need to include:

• Name and address of your provider;

• The start and end date of child care services; Days and hours care is needed;

• The state's CCAP payment rate; and

• Your copayment amount, which is your share of the cost of child care.

The PAPA also provides important information about CCAP program rules and your rights and responsibilities. It tells you about the reasons your CCAP benefits could be terminated or how you could become ineligible for the program (e.g., if you did not follow the program rules or if your family's income exceeds program requirements).
 
It is very important that you complete and return the PAPA to your CCR&R within 10 calendar days. You will need to complete a separate PAPA for each child receiving child care assistance.
 
The e-Child Care Parent/Provider Responsibilities and Agreement covers your responsibilities, the providers’ responsibilities and e-Child Care policies and rules. You must sign this document agreeing to use the e-Child Care daily attendance system — either through the Point of Service (POS) electronic swipe machine or the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system — depending on what type of system your provider uses. Please note that use of the e-Child Care attendance system is suspended through June 30, 2025. However, you need to have a signed e-Child Care Parent/Provider Responsibilities and Agreement for every provider you are using.
 
Before payment for your child's care can start, both you and your provider must sign the PAPA and the e-Child Care Agreement. If you don’t return the required paperwork and documents within 10 calendar days, you will lose your benefits and will need to restart the application process. If you need additional time to sign the agreements, you can contact your CCR&R and request an extension.
 
Reminder: If you have more than one provider (e.g., a summer youth camp and a before/after care provider) you will need to complete separate agreements for each provider.

The state has set rates for what it pays for child care assistance. These rates vary depending on several factors including the age of the child and the type of provider. Your benefit may cover the entire cost for your child’s care, however, if your provider charges more than what the state covers, you are responsible for paying the difference.

CCAP payments are made directly to your chosen child care provider.
 
Payment will begin on the date listed on your signed Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement (PAPA) and e-Child Care Agreement. If your child is already receiving care with a provider prior to your approval for assistance, you are responsible for payment of any services before CCAP approval with that provider.
 
Payment cannot be issued to a provider whose License, Certificate of Registration or Approval is revoked, suspended or expired, or if there is an imminent health or safety danger. In the event, your provider is not eligible to provide services, you will be contacted by your CCR&R and they will help you find alternative child care.
 
There may be other fees your child care provider charges for specific purposes (e.g., field trips and late fees). You are responsible for paying these fees.

Please note that your child care provider will begin collecting copayments from you starting August 1, 2024.

If you are a family receiving child care assistance through New Jersey’s Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, federal law requires families to share in the cost of child care using a sliding fee scale (meaning cost is adjusted depending on your income). This fee is known as copayment or copay. 

Copayments had been temporarily suspended since the onset of, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic due to the availability of additional federal funding. That funding is no longer available, and federal law requires families receiving child care assistance to share in the cost of child care by making copayments, with limited exceptions.

Copays are resuming and your child care provider will begin collecting copayments from you starting August 1, 2024.

What factors are considered when determining the copayment amount?
Copayment amounts are based on the household’s income, family size, hours of care (part- time or full-time), and number of children receiving services through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
 
What are the copayment percentages?
The copayment percentage ranges from 2% to 5% and is based on three income level thresholds. Copayments are assessed only on the first and second child (there is no copayment for any additional children). The copayment for part-time care is half the amount of full-time care.
 
Copayments are assessed at three different income thresholds:

1. At or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

2. Income at 101% up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

3. At or above 201% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

Copayment percentages are as follows: 

Family income at or below 100% FPL

Family income of at least 101% and up to 200% of FPL

 
Family income is 201% of FPL or greater

How can I calculate my copayment to know the exact amount I have to pay?
There are several ways to help you understand and determine your copayment amount.

• Your copayment amount will be automatically calculated for you and printed on your PAPA issued by your local CCR&R.

• You can contact your local CCR&R.

• You can estimate your copayment by multiplying your monthly income by the above percentage that applies to your situation.

• You can review the Copayment Schedule.

Important Reminder – copayments are based on household income, family size, hours of care (part-time or full-time), and number of children receiving assistance (whether 1 or 2).

Why might I still owe money to my provider after I pay my copayment?
The state has set payment rates for the Child Care Assistance Program. These rates vary depending on several factors including the age of the child and the type of provider (whether you are using a licensed child care center or a registered family child care provider) and whether the provider meets Grow NJ Kids high-quality standards.
 
The state rate may cover the entire cost of your child’s care. However, if your provider charges more than what the state covers, you are responsible for paying the difference. This is called an overage. This overage is separate from the copay and other fees your child care provider charges for specific purposes (e.g., field trips and late fees). You are responsible for paying these fees directly to your provider.
 
In certain situations, if your child care provider charges more than the state payment rate, they may choose not to charge you the overage or otherwise negotiate a lower rate. 
 
When am I responsible for paying my copayment amount to my provider?
Starting August 1, 2024 – you will have to directly pay your copayment to your provider.
 
How often do I have to pay a copayment?
You are responsible for paying your copayment for the time period indicated on your PAPA. Please discuss with your provider to determine the frequency at which your copayment is due, such as weekly, monthly, etc.

What are some examples of copays and overage amounts?
To give you an example, first, we need to determine the type of setting, for example whether you are using a licensed child care center, registered family child care provider or approved home (in home or family, friends and neighbor) and then locate your income level on the Income Eligibility Chart. Once you’ve determined the type of child care facility and your income level based on your family size, you can calculate the copayment you’ll be required to pay by reviewing the Copayment Schedule.

Example One
There is one parent and one child in the family, for a family size of two. Let’s assume your family earns an income of $31,000 a year, or $2,583 a month (family income between 101% and up to 200% of FPL). The one child is in full-time care, so you’ll be required to pay 2% of your annual gross income, which equals a total yearly copayment of $620. This would be divided monthly, so your monthly copayment to your provider would be $51.57. 

Example Two
There are two parents with two children, for a family size of four. Let’s assume your family earns a gross income of $61,000 a year, or $5,083 a month (family income between 101% and up to 200% of FPL). One child is in full-time care and one is in part-time care. You’ll be required to pay 2.5% (2% first child and .5% second child) of your annual gross income, which equals a total yearly copayment of $1,525. This would be divided monthly, so your monthly copayment to your provider would be $127.09. 

 
Example Three
There are two parents with three children, for a family size of five. Let’s assume your family earns a gross income of $91,000 a year, or $7,583 a month (family income above 200% FPL). Three children are in full-time care, you’ll be required to pay 5% (3% first child, 2% second child, 0% third child) of your annual gross income which equals a total yearly copayment of $4,550. This would be divided monthly, so your monthly copayment to your provider would be $379.19.

 
*For all three examples, we used the licensed child care provider rate.
 
In certain situations, the child care provider may offer discounted rates for siblings and also may waive the overage amount or otherwise negotiate a lower rate. The Child Care Assistance Program does not provide services to negotiate the overage, that is the responsibility of the family and the child care provider.

If you need to change your child care provider, you are required to notify your current provider and your CCR&R as soon as possible (but no less than 10 calendar days) before making the change.
 
You will receive a new PAPA (Parent/Applicant and Provider Agreement) and e-Child Care Parent/Provider Responsibilities and Agreement to sign with your new provider. Once the new forms have been approved, your CCR&R will let you know what date you can start care with the new provider.
 
Before you begin care with your new provider, you must honor all contract agreements with the previous provider, including proper notification requesting the end of child care and payment in full of everything you may owe.
 
If you change child care providers without approval from your CCR&R, you need to pay for the full cost of the service until you receive the start date on your new final PAPA and e-Child Care agreements.

Your family and/or a specific child can be terminated from the NJ Child Care Assistance Program if:

• Your family's income exceeds 85% of the State Median Income for your family size. View the Income Eligibility Chart.

• You no longer reside in New Jersey.

• Your child no longer lives with you.

• You stop using child care.

• You failed to comply with program rules.

You will receive a Families First card in the mail. Your card is mailed in a plain, white unmarked envelope with a PO Box address from Lexington, KY.
 
PLEASE DO NOT THROW YOUR CARD AWAY.
 
You must hold onto this card even though at this time, you do not need to activate or create a PIN number. Please note that use of the e-Child Child Attendance system has been suspended through June 30, 2025. Both the Point of Service (POS) electronic swipe machine and the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system have been temporarily deactivated, which means you do not need to use your Families First card to check your child in and out of care.

The Division of Family Development is required to monitor child attendance by verifying children are enrolled and receiving child care services. Your provider will be taking daily attendance.
 
DID YOU KNOW?: Your Families First electronic benefits card can be used to receive free or highly discounted admission to arts and history organizations, venues and programs. For more information and a list of participating organizations visit the Families First Discovery Pass website. 

Immediately report any of the following to your CCR&R:

• Your child no longer lives with you.

• You moved to a different county or state.

• You no longer need child care assistance.

• You want to change providers (report to CCR&R and current provider 10 days prior to change.) It’s important to make sure the new provider is eligible to receive payment through CCAP before changing providers.

• Your family’s income exceeds 85% of the State Median Income. View the Income Eligibility Chart.

Once every 12 months, you will be asked to complete an Application for Redetermination. You will need to provide updated information about your child care needs, income and employment, school or job training.
 
If at redetermination your income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) you will remain eligible for child care assistance as long as you continue to meet all other eligibility requirements. If your income exceeds 250% of the FPL, but remains below 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) families will be granted one year of additional child care assistance. View the Income Eligibility Chart.
 
If you do not provide the required information, you will no longer be eligible to receive child care assistance.
 
Your CCR&R will review your redetermination paperwork and notify you if child care assistance has been approved and will continue for the next 12 months or if you have been found ineligible.

Your Rights

When you apply for the New Jersey Child Care Assistance Program, and while you are receiving benefits, you are entitled to certain information and services.

• You have the right to choose a Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD) eligible licensed child care center, registered family child care provider, approved home provider (in-home or family, friend or neighbor provider) or summer youth camp.

• You have the right to visit your child any time she or he is in the provider’s care.

• If at any time you are dissatisfied with your current provider, you have the right to choose a new provider.

• If it becomes necessary to terminate your benefits, your CCR&R will provide notice 10 days before the effective date of the termination of your child care assistance. This termination notice will be submitted to you and all child care providers providing services to your family.

• You have the right to a CCR&R case review or a DHS/DFD administrative review (appeal) regarding any decision that results in the denial or termination of your child care assistance, as long as that decision is not due to the availability of funding.

• You have the right to make a complaint or discuss areas of concern by calling the Child Care Helpline 1-800-332-9227.

If your child care services are negatively affected by a CCR&R action, such as denial or reduction of child care benefits, termination of child care assistance or you are required to repay any child care benefits, you may request a CCR&R case review and/or a DFD administrative review (appeal).
 
If you wish to request a case review before the CCR&R Review Committee, please contact your CCR&R within 10 calendar days of receiving the notice or letter about the action.
 
You also may request an administrative review by the DFD’s Bureau of Administrative Review and Appeals (BARA). You can request this without a CCR&R case review, or if you are not satisfied with the decision of the CCR&R Review Committee.
 
Submit your request, along with copies of all documentation concerning the action, to:
Bureau of Administrative Review and Appeals
Division of Family Development
PO Box 716
Trenton, NJ 08625-0716
 
Administrative review requests must be submitted within 90 calendar days of you receiving the notice or letter about the action.
 
If child care assistance to your family is terminated or you are disqualified from receiving benefits from CCAP, payments to your child care provider will end on the effective date of the termination and/or disqualification and will not continue during the appeal and review process.
 
If the outcome of the CCR&R case review and/or the BARA administrative review is in your favor, services will be restarted or resumed as long as funding is still available.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
 
If you have a concern or complaint about your child care provider, you have the right to file a complaint with the Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing by calling 1-877-667-9845 or online. Complaints may be made anonymously.
 
If you have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse should, you should immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR) at 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). A concerned caller does not need proof to report an allegation of child abuse and can make the report anonymously.

Parent Handbook
(info for when you've been approved for benefits)
English | En Español

NJ Child Care Assistance Program Application 
English | En Español

Additional Forms
Statement of Incapacity

Other Information
Income Eligibility Schedule
Maximum Child Care Payment Rates
Copayment Schedule