Child Care in New Jersey
(El Cuidado Infantil En New Jersey)

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) regulates child care in New Jersey, monitoring licensed child care centers and family day care homes that are voluntarily registered with the state.

The DCF Office of Licensing inspects every licensed child care center annually to enforce health, safety and educational program requirements.

For inspection records or
other information on a specific child care center,
call the Office of Licensing toll-free:
1-877-667-9845 or
click here to visit the Office of Licensing website

Registered family day care homes are monitored by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, which are community-based organizations contracted by the state in each county. These agencies work with the DHS Division of Family Development to administer child care subsidies, provide resource and referral services, raise the quality of child care operations, and promote the development of additional child care capacity.

For child care resources in your area, call the
Child Care Help Line of New Jersey at
1-800-332-9227

> Child Care Eligibility Application Forms are now available online!

Information for Parents/Consumers

• Choosing Quality Child Care
• State Subsidies for Child Care
• Child Care Resource & Referral Centers

Assistance to Child Care Providers

• General Information
• How to Start a Child Care Business
• Abbott FAQs 2008-2009
• General Abbott Provider Letter - 2008

Copay Schedules:

• For Family Size 2 to 7 - Page 1 (.pdf)
• For Family Size 8 to 12 - Page 2 (.pdf)
  

SFY 2009 Maximum Child Care Payment Rates (Excel)

• Regulatory Standards
• Contacts for Funding and Support Services

Center Based Care (CBC) Contract

• Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan, Final FFY 08/09 (.pdf)
• Child Care Rates (2006 Child Care Market Rate Survey) (.pdf)

Helpful Child Care Resources

• National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC)
  Toll-free Number: 1-800-616-2242
  Website address: http://nccic.org
  Answers questions and provides free information resources on child care and other early education programs, funding sources, licensing regulations and program start-up. Resources are available in English and Spanish. NCCIC's State Profiles provide child care data and contact information for each State.

• Child Care Aware
  Toll-free Number: 1-800-424-2246
  Website address: www.ChildCareAware.org/en
  Operates a national toll-free information line and website providing child care information and other parenting resources to families, in English and Spanish. Connects families to local child care experts - child care resource and referral agencies that assist families in finding child care and provide training and other support for providers.