Become A Child Care Provider

Child Care Centers

Child Care Centers provide care for six or more children below 13 years of age who attend less than 24 hours a day. Child care centers are required by state law to be licensed.

In-Home Provider

These are individuals who have been evaluated and approved by DFD or its designee to care for the child in their own home for fewer than 24 hours of care per day.

Family, Friend, Neighbor Provider

This provider is an individual who has been evaluated and approved by the NJ Dept. of Human Services or its designee and serves no more than two unrelated children for fewer than 24 hours of care per day.

Registered Family Child Care Provider

This provider is an individual who is registered under the rules of the Family Child Care Provider Registration Act and serves no more than five children at any one time.

Child Care

If you wish to become a child care provider that accepts child care assistance,
you must comply with requirements that can be found HERE.

More information can be found below about becoming a child care provider:

Child Care Centers

Child Care Centers provide care for six or more children below 13 years of age who attend less than 24 hours a day. Child care centers are required by state law to be licensed. Under the provisions of the Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 10:122) every person or organization caring for six or more children below 13 years of age is required to secure a license from the Office of Licensing in the Department of Children and Families unless the program is exempt by law. Please refer to 10:122-1.2(d) for a list of these exemptions.

If you decide to pursue licensure or have any questions, call The Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing 1-877-667-9845 or CLICK HERE TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE.

CLICK HERE to obtain a copy of the Manual of Requirements for Child Care centers.

CLICK HERE to search for licensed child care centers in New Jersey.

Registered Family Child Care Provider

This provider is an individual who is registered under the rules of the Family Child Care Provider Registration Act (see N.J.A.C. 10:126) and serves no more than five children at any one time.

Becoming a registered provider will help you improve your services to children as well as make you eligible for free referrals and technical assistance.

Attend an orientation session and learn more about the registration process. For our scheduled Family Child Care Registration classes offered in English & Spanish, FIND OUR SCHEDULE HERE.

If you live in Morris County and would like more information, contact the Family Child Care Coordinator within our office at 973- 770-5821 or send an email to info@cfrmorris.org.

Below are some important steps you must take:

  • Create an account on NJCCIS (New Jersey Child Care Information System)
  • Two character references
  • Results of a medical examination and tuberculin Mantoux test
  • Disclosures of any criminal convictions
  • Consent forms for Child Abuse Record Information (CARI) background checks for everyone living or working in your home who is 14 years or older.

Attend pre-service training, which covers important health and safety topics, such as:

  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • First Aid
  • Prevention of Infectious Diseases
  • Child Abuse and Neglect, Discipline
  • Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma
  • Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Safe Sleeping Practices
  • Administration of Medication
  • Building and Physical Premises Safety
  • Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials
  • Precautions in Transporting Children (who transport children)
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Prevention of and Response to Emergencies Due to Food and Allergic Reactions
  • Child Growth and Development

During pre-service training, you will also be provided with other important topics to help guide you through the registration process, as well as inform you about important regulations and policies. In addition to pre-service trainings, Child & Family Resources will inspect your home to ensure your home complies with local, state and federal requirements for health, fire and building codes; as well as meets all Family Child Care Registration program requirements and DHS/DFD child care subsidy program requirements.

A registration fee of $25 paid to CFR is required upon issuance of a Certificate of Registration.

CLICK HERE for other FCC resources & business support.

Child & Adult Food Program

Child Care/Adult Food Program (CACFP) plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care and making it more affordable for many low-income families. Each day, 2.9 million children receive nutritious meals and snacks through CACFP.

The program also provides meals and snacks to 86,000 adults who receive care in nonresidential adult day care centers. CACFP reaches even further to provide meals to children residing in emergency shelters, and snacks and suppers to youths participating in eligible afterschool care programs.

The CACFP program is funded by the USDA and reimburses child care providers for a portion of the cost of meals served to the children in your care. Child & Family Resources is the sponsoring organization that makes the CCAFP available to Family Child Care homes in Morris County.

As a Registered Family Child Care provider, you are eligible to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and receive reimbursement for part of the cost of meals served to children in your care.

For more information about the Child and Adult Food Program, please contact our office at (973) 770-5821.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the bases of race, color, national origin, age. disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parent status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To file a complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form or write a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Family, Friend, Neighbor Provider

Under eligbile child care subsidy programs, funded by the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DFD), clients may choose Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) child care for their children. This allows families to choose relatives or non-relatives to care for their children.

FFN providers must be selected by a client who is eligible and receiving child care subsidies under an eligible child care assistance program. FFN providers will then be paid for providing child care under these programs after meeting the following provider requirements – DOWNLOAD FLYER.

In-Home Provider

These are individuals who have been evaluated and approved by DFD or its designee to care for the child in their own home for fewer than 24 hours of care per day.

For more information about becoming an In-Home Provider, please contact tour office at (973) 770-5821.

Improve Your Program’s Quality:

Grow NJ Kids

Grow NJ Kids is a rating and improvement system designed to assess child care and early learning programs, provide training and incentives to improve them, and communicate their level of quality to the public. VISIT WEBSITE.

Any program regulated by the State of New Jersey will be eligible to participate, including:

  • Child Care Centers
  • Family Child Care Programs
  • School District Preschool Programs
  • Preschools
  • Head Start Programs

Grow NJ Kids is a state-sponsored initiative to raise the quality of child care and early learning throughout New Jersey. Grow NJ Kids gives child care and early learning programs resources to assess and improve their programs, while providing parents with information that allows them to evaluate the quality of programs and make the best choices for their child. The goal is to create a system that encourages ongoing improvement.

Search for Grow NJ Kids Rated Programs

All Grow NJ Kids business is conducted in the New Jersey Child Care Information System (NJCCIS). To enroll in Grow NJ Kids you must have a NJCCIS account. You can submit a Grow NJ Kids enrollment request using these instructions. (Enrollment instructions will pop up as a PDF)

CLICK HERE for a short video on how Grow NJ Kids works.

DOWNLOAD ENROLLMENT FORM

Infant Toddler Specialist Network

The NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DFD) funds the Infant Toddler Specialist Network through Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies serving every county. Infant Toddler Specialists work with child care professionals (registered family child care providers and child care center staff) to:

  • Strengthen the quality of infant and toddler care – to offer a setting that best promotes the healthy development of New Jersey’s youngest children.
  • Support age-appropriate activities and approaches to learning and child development
  • Offer suggestions and strategies to meet common challenges
  • Expand the availability of infant and toddler care in every community
Mother with Infant

The infant and toddler specialist is for early care providers interested in establishing, improving and expanding services to infants and toddlers. These services include:

  • Professional Development: Topics are delivered by specialized trainers to present best practice standards in infant and toddler brain development. Education enables providers to work toward the NJ Infant/Toddler Credential.
  • Technical Assistance & Consultation: The Infant Toddler Specialists serve a mentor to new and experienced early educators. Services provided include: telephone and on-site support, site observations, assessments, and development of a plan of action.
    Resources & Materials: Child & Family Resources has a resource library where early care providers can access education in the form of DVDs, videos, equipment and other essential learning materials.
  • Community Partnerships: Community and statewide organizations are stakeholders committed to improving the quality of life and early education for young children. These groups include Child Care Aware of New Jersey (CCANJ), the Coalition of Infant/Toddler Educators (CITE), NJ Workforce Registry, the NJ Association of Infant Mental Health( NJAIMH), NJ Early Intervention System (NJEIS), health care organizations, higher education, government, business, local school districts, parents and others.

For more information about the Infant Toddler Specialist, click here or contact our at office at (973) 601-6144 (attach ITS flyer here)

Accreditation

Achieving accreditation involves extensive self-study and validation by professionals outside the program to verify that quality standards are met. Research has demonstrated that accreditation positively impacts early and school-age care program quality, including benefits to children, families, and staff.

  • NAEYC works together with program staff across the country to implement best practices and develop a consistent understanding of how to achieve and maintain high quality.
  • NECPA encourages early care programs seeking to improve or receive recognition of their high quality care, to enroll for NECPA Accreditation. NECPA accredits all types of programs; center-based, family home, ministry or faith-based, and university centers, among others. NECPA does not require a specific curriculum type to become accredited, all forms of care are welcome!