Emergency and Disaster Child Care Policy
Child and Family Resource Services (CFRS)
Norwescap Child and Family Resource Services (CFRS) is the designated Child Care Resource and Referral Agency for Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren Counties, by the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development.
Our mission is to empower families and the community through enhancing the quality and accessibility of early education and by providing information and resources to community services.
Services:
- Administer the childcare subsidy programs in Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren Counties
- Enhance the quality of early education programs through quality initiatives and professional development
- Provide development and education information to families.
- Provide free and confidential referrals for families to early education programs. Child development and other information as well as community resources are also provided to empower families.
- Register family childcare providers
Childcare Subsidy
To expand access to high-quality childcare and early childhood education programs for low-income families, Norwescap CFRS administers Federal, State and private funds to subsidize childcare expenses for Hunterdon Sussex and Warren Counties.
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Childcare Subsidy
- Eligibility is determined by County Social Services
- NJCK (New Jersey Cares for Kids) Childcare Subsidy
- Eligibility is based on state income guidelines and includes activity requirement:
- Working 30 hours per week; or
- Taking 12 college credits; or
- Attending 20 hours per week training or technical school; or
- Combination of the above to equal full-time participation
- (Alternate requirements for families experiencing homelessness)
- Eligibility is based on state income guidelines and includes activity requirement:
- Possible County and/or alternate funding
Applications for Child Care Subsidy:
Hunterdon County Application: English / Spanish
Sussex County Application: English / Spanish
Warren County Application: English / Spanish
Quality Initiatives/Professional Development
- Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s Quality Rating Improvement System, is New Jersey’s program to raise the quality of child care and early learning across the state. New Jersey is one of many states to participate in a Quality Rating Improvement System. http://www.grownjkids.gov/
- Norwescap’s Quality Improvement Specialists provide the first phase of technical assistance to help improve program quality and navigate through the Grow NJ Kids process.
- For parents, it provides information on selecting a quality provider to help them make the most of their child’s early learning opportunities.
- Norwescap Infant/Toddler Specialists provide technical assistance and training to all programs serving infants and toddler.
- Norwescap CFRS offers professional development opportunities to early childhood professionals in Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren Counties. CFRS offers a variety of topics tailored to the needs of individual providers. All workshop sessions include hands-on activities with experienced childcare experts. Professional development opportunities are listed on NJCCIS.com.
Referrals to Early Education Programs/Community Resources/Child Development Information
There is so much to think about when choosing child care in New Jersey. Balancing location cost, quality and just feeling good about the child care provider can make this important decision challenging. New Jersey’s child care program, under the Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development can provide families with valuable information in making an informed decision. http://www.childcarenj.gov/
Norwescap CFRS offers families individualized support through:
- Free and confidential referrals to regulated early education and community resources
- Child Care referrals available 24 hours a day online
- Childcare specialists are available by phone or in-person during business hours to provide referrals to child care, community resources and information on child development and parenting
- Available Childcare Options include all regulated care at Licensed Childcare Centers, Registered Family Childcare Providers, Head Start Programs, School-Age Childcare Programs, Nursery and Pre K Programs, and Summer Camps
- Outreach events to connect families with resources and each other. Events Books Balls & Blocks– which assists families in completing children’s developmental screenings and connecting with resources
Norwescap does not endorse or recommend any individual childcare provider; we strongly encourage families to visit and assess each program/provider prior to a final selection of a provider. We will provide families with information and resources in finding quality child care that best meets their needs.
Online Searches: https://orm.naccrraware.net/orm/ormLogin.action?uid=VH8T9O9GZ8XUVJ4
Registered Family Childcare Providers
Registered Family Childcare providers care for no more than five children at any one time in their own home. In Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren Counties, Norwescap CFRS provides the free training, support and technical assistance to become registered. An initial, renewal or temporary Certification of Registration will be issued when a provider demonstrates that standards have been met as outlined in the Manual of Requirements. https://www.nj.gov/dcf/providers/licensing/laws/FCCmanual.pdf
Registered providers are also eligible to free referrals from CFRS, support in meeting quality standards and funding may be available towards quality program enhancements and professional development. Subsidy funding may also be utilized in the following settings:
- Family Friend, Neighbor Providers: These are providers who have been evaluated an approved by the Division of Family Development (DFD) through CFRS and serve no more than two unrelated children for fewer than 24 hours of care per day.
- In-Home: These are providers who have been evaluated and approved by DFD through CFRS to care for the child in their own home for fewer than 24 hours per day.
For more information on completing the application, training, background checks and home inspection required to become registered, please e-mail us at cfrs@norwescap.org or call your local office.
Complaints or concerns about a Registered Family Childcare Provider in Hunterdon, Sussex or Warren County can be emailed to cfrs@norwescap.org or called in to the local CFRS office. All complaints about Registered Family Childcare Providers may be made anonymously.
Inspection reports are now available online: https://childcareexplorer.njccis.com/portal/
Licensed Childcare Information
Complaints or concerns about a Licensed Childcare Center should be submitted to the Office of Licensing at (877) 667-9845. Complaints may be made anonymously.
Childcare inspection reports are now online: The New Jersey Department of Child and Families has created a searchable online database of nearly 4,000 state licensed childcare centers, enabling parents to search for centers and access a center’s state inspection report. https://childcareexplorer.njccis.com/portal/
Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD) is responsible for promoting safe, affordable and accessible high-quality childcare services in New Jersey.
Additional Resources:
Child Care in New Jersey (link to http://www.childcarenj.gov )
Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s Quality Rating Improvement System, is New Jersey’s program to raise the quality of child care and early learning across the state. (link to http://grownjkids.gov)
Head Start (link to https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/)
Child Care Explorer (link to https://data.nj.gov/childcare_explorer )
For community resources including SNAP, WIC and others: https://www.nj211.org/
Manual of Requirements for Licensed Centers: https://www.nj.gov/dcf/providers/licensing/laws/CCCmanual.pdf
Manual of Requirements for Registered Family Child Care Providers: https://www.nj.gov/dcf/providers/licensing/laws/FCCmanual.pdf
Home Visiting Services: https://www.nj.gov/dcf/families/early/visitation/
New Jersey Early Intervention Services: https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/eis/for-families/when/
New Jersey Children’s System of Care: https://www.nj.gov/dcf/providers/csc/
Grant Providers: https://www.childcarenj.gov/Providers/Grants
COVID-19: https://www.childcarenj.gov/COVID19
In New Jersey, any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse should immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR). If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 as well as 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.
***ALL LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS WILL BE EMAILED A MARKET RATE STUDY***
The New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, Office of Child Care Operations (DHS/DFD/OCCO) is required by Federal law to conduct a Child Care Market Rate Survey for 2021.
Beginning August 1, 2021 DHS/DFD/OCCO will be emailing a survey to ALL Licensed Child Care Centers throughout the State from the email address DFD-MarketRateStudy@dhs.nj.gov. Participation in this survey is critical for the State of New Jersey to help inform policy recommendations for setting Provider payment rates for the Child Care Subsidy Program.