The New Jersey Shared Services Initiative is a statewide effort to support early care and education providers through collaborative alliances. Typically housed within Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies, these alliances are membership-based organizations offering tailored services to meet the unique needs of their communities. Services are offered to licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers (services are provided in Spanish as well). 

Each of the 16 current Shared Services Alliance partners works to strengthen its members' business operations, educational leadership and job quality. By pooling resources, sharing expertise and streamlining operations, alliances empower providers to enhance program quality, improve financial sustainability and expand access to affordable, high-quality child care. Ultimately, these efforts ensure better outcomes for children, families and communities.

The overarching goal of the NJ Shared Services Alliances is to enhance business and educational leadership across participating sites by creating systems enabling members to share staff, resources and information effectively.
 
All 16 Shared Services Alliances in New Jersey offer:

• Assistance with county-based shared services coordination.
• Development of statewide shared tools and resources.
• Training and guidance to improve program operations.
• Encouragement of collaboration and alignment with the NJ ECE Shared Services Platform provided by NJAEYC.

Joining the Shared Services Alliance can have numerous benefits for early care and education centers, enabling them to streamline administrative processes, reduce costs and focus on delivering high-quality programming, all while leveraging the expertise and resources of other like-minded and programmed organizations. Shared Services can help child care providers to:

• Maximize Limited Resources: Shared services help child care programs funded by diverse sources—nonprofits, state- and federally-funded agencies, etc.—make the most of their limited resources.
• Reduce Administrative Burden: Centralizing tasks allows directors to focus more on delivering high-quality care and education.
• Strengthen Financial Management: Shared services provide expertise and tools for budgeting, cash flow management, and payroll processing, addressing gaps in directors' business training.
• Enhance Operational Efficiency: Shared services streamline facility maintenance, policy development, and administrative workflows, freeing directors to prioritize program quality.
• Support Staff Recruitment and Retention: Centralized hiring, training, and supervision processes help ensure programs can attract and retain qualified staff.
• Improve Program Quality: By alleviating non-educational responsibilities, directors can focus on their passion for early childhood development, benefiting the children and families they serve.
• Empower Directors with Business Tools: Shared services equip directors with essential skills and systems for running financially sustainable programs, ensuring families have continued access to reliable child care options.