Murphy Administration: Increased Child Care Rates Now in Effect & First Child Care Improvement Grants Awarded

First Lady Murphy and Commissioner Johnson Announce Investments to Help Working Families

Feb. 6, 2019

(TRENTON) – New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy and Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson today announced the Murphy Administration’s increased child care subsidy rates have taken effect and the first child care center improvement grants stemming from its investment in quality child care have been awarded.

The increased rates and child care center grants are part of the Murphy Administration’s new investments in child care to help more families find services they need and to advance quality child care.

“I am thrilled that through this $38 million investment, more and more families will be able to afford quality child and infant care programs,” First Lady Murphy said. “As we work towards a healthier future for every mother, every baby, and every family in New Jersey, we must ensure that our working families can access the best quality care for their children.”

“Giving working families the peace of mind that comes from quality child care is part of building a stronger and fairer New Jersey for everyone,” Commissioner Johnson said. “Under the leadership of Governor Murphy and First Lady Murphy, we are boosting early childhood development and increasing access to quality, affordable child care for families. This is vital for hard-working parents – and helps families thrive.”

The Murphy Administration is using $30 million to boost child care subsidies that help families with lower incomes who are working, in school or in training programs afford child care.  It’s also using $8 million for grants to expand infant care and improve child care programs.

The rate increase took effect this week. The highest rate increase is for infant care.  Infant care subsidy rates increase by 25 percent – from $724 per month to $904 per month.  Toddler rates increase 6 percent – from $717 per month to $761 per month – and pre-school rates increase 10 percent, from $585 per month to $645 per month.

Payment rates increase further for programs that are rated by Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s quality rating improvement system for child care programs. For instance, infant care rates increase to at least $1,012 per month for Grow NJ Kids three-star rated programs.

In the first phase of grants, the Department has awarded 20 grants totaling about $200,000. Receiving grants are:

• Wilbert F. Mays SDA School in Bergen County;
• Kiddie Academy of Delran in Burlington County;
• East Orange Community Charter School in Essex County;
• James Daycare Center in Essex County;
• Madrasatu Ahlis Sunnah (Islamic Day School) in Essex County;
• Marion P Thomas Charter School-ES in Essex County;
• Marion P Thomas Charter School-Select Academy in Essex County;
• Our Lady Help of Christians School in Essex County;
• Robert Treat Academy at Jackie Robinson Campus in Essex County;
• Robert Treat Academy at Stephen N Adubato Campus in Essex County;
• Saint Philips Academy in Essex County;
• St. Michael School in Essex County;
• Urban League of Essex County Child Development Center in Essex County;
• Glassboro Child Development Center-Main in Gloucester County;
• Kiddie Corner 15^th Street in Hudson County;
• KIDS CONNECT in Morris County;
• Mud Pies Learning Center of Totowa in Passaic County;
• Noble Leadership Academy in Passaic County;
• Somerset Community Action Program in Somerset County; and
• Joseph H. Firth Youth Center in Warren County

For more information on the grants, please visit http://www.childcarenj.gov/Providers/Grants.

About 5,000 child care providers in New Jersey participate in the New Jersey’s child care subsidy program, which serves approximately 100,000 children per year.  The New Jersey child care subsidy program is funded through the federal Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and state appropriations.  This new funding is a result of increases in the CCDF.