New Jersey Child Care State Plan

FFY 2014-2015

New Jersey Division of Family Development

Jennifer Velez Chris ChristieCommissioner Governor

Overview of Child Care and Development Fund Plan

• CCDF is the primary Federal program specifically devoted to providing families with child care subsidy and supports to improve quality. CCDF enables low-income parents and parents receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to work or to participate in education or training programs. Funds also may be used to serve children in protective services. In addition, a portion of CCDF funds must be used to enhance child care quality and availability.

• By statute, Lead Agencies,(Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DFD)) are required to have in place an ACF-approved CCDF Plan, describing how a Lead Agency will implement the provisions of the CCDBG Act and CCDF regulations to be submitted on a biennial basis. [CCDBG 658E; 45 CFR 98.16].

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Key Sections of the Child Care State Plan

• Part 1: Administration

• Part 2: CCDF Subsidy Program Administration

• Part 3: Health and Safety and Quality Improvement Activities

• Appendix 1: Quality Performance Report • Appendix 2: CCDF Program Assurances and Certifications

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Part 1: Administration

•1.2. Estimated Funding

•1.3. CCDF Program Integrity and Accountability

•1.4. Consultation in the Development of the CCDF Plan

•1.5. Coordination Activities to Support the Implementation of CCDF Services

•1.6. Child Care Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan

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Estimated Amount of CCDF Quality Funding

In FFY 2014-2015, the following activities were targeted for quality expansion funds:

•$3.5 million allocated towards the Child Care Resource and Referral agencies.•$2.1 million allocated towards the Parent Education Campaign.•$875,000 allocated towards Child Development Associate (CDA) Assessment Scholarships.

The following activities were targeted for School- Age/Child Care Resource and Referral funds:•$273,000 allocated towards the New Jersey Coalition of School Age Programs(NJSACC).•$142,000 allocated towards the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN).

The following activities were targeted for Infant/Toddler funds:•$329,000 allocated towards the Infant/Toddler Warmline.•$1.5 million allocated towards the First Steps Infant Training Initiative.•$341,000 allocated towards Strengthening Family Associates.

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CCDF Program Integrity and Accountability Activities

• Streamlined the eligibility process and strengthen internal controls using a single eligibility approach. DFD directly contracts with 15 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies to determine eligibility.

• Periodic monitoring of all CCR&Rs and Community Care Voucher Centers (CCVC) are are conducted. – Development of targeted technical assistance and training.– Establishment of policy workgroups in conjunction with CCR&Rs.– Formation of Fiscal Management Team that meets with fiscal officers

quarterly.– Coordination of joint policy reviews to provide policy clarification.– Reformation of CCR&R operational procedures and processes.

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Consultation in the Development of the Child Care State Plan

Consultation in the development of the CCDF Plan include:•State agencies: the State Interdepartmental Agency Committee, which is comprised of local, county Human Service Councils, the Department of Education, Head Start, Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Department of Children and Families.

•Local/private agencies include: the Young Children’s Council, the Statewide After School Network, the New Jersey School Age Child Care Coalition, NJ Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, NJ Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, and Professional Impact of NJ.

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Coordination Activities to Support the Implementation of CCDF Services

DFD coordinates with the following agencies to support the implementation of CCDF Services:•Human Service Advisory Council•New Jersey School Age Child Care•The Accreditation Facilitation Project of New Jersey•NJ Department of Health and Senior Services.•Professional Impact of NJ•Division of Family Development

• Department of Education, Office of Early Care and Education

• NJ Department of Agriculture• Statewide Parent Advocacy Network• Department of Children and Families• Child Care Resource and Referral

agency (CCR&R)• Child Care Workers Union(CCWU)• NJ Department of Human Services

and the Department of Education

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Child Care Emergency Preparedness and Response

• As a result of Hurricane Sandy, the Division of Family Development has convened an emergency preparedness development committee, consisting of partners from various state departments including the Department of Human Services’ central office, Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing, various bureaus within DFD, and key members of county CCR&Rs throughout New Jersey.

• The committee has reviewed each CCR&R emergency preparedness plan. DFD is in the process of developing a state-wide policy and guidance based on ACF-IM-2011-01 memorandum.

• The committee is presently meeting on a quarterly basis until a draft plan and policy are developed.

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Part 2: CCDF Subsidy Program Administration

• 2.1 Administration of the Program• 2.2 Family Outreach and Application Process• 2.3 Eligibility Criteria for Child Care• 2.4 Sliding Fee Scale and Family Contribution• 2.5 Prioritizing Services for Eligible Children and

Families• 2.6 Parental Choice in Relation to Certificates,

Grants or Contracts• 2.7 Payment Rates for Child Care Services

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Administration of the Program

The NJ Child Care Program is administered by:

•21 County Welfare Agencies and Boards of Social Services determine eligibility for families receiving TANF benefits.

• 15 Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies determine eligibility for families not receiving TANF benefits.

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Family Outreach and Application Process

Parents are informed of the availability of child care assistance services under the CCDF through DHS and DFD websites, NJHELPS, 211, TANF offices, other government and state offices, CCR&R agencies, grantees, and through the internet at:

•http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/child/index.html

•Parents can apply for CCDF services at an in-person interview or orientation, by mail, or through an organization contracted by the State.

•CCR&Rs conduct outreach, surveys and send out parent consumer information and materials, and newsletters.

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Eligibility Criteria for Child Care

•Eligibility Criteria Based on Age: – DFD serves children from birth to 13 years. DFD serves children above age 13 but below age 19 who

are defined as special needs individuals, that is, physically or mentally incapable of self-care.

•Eligibility Criteria Based Upon Work, Job Training or Educational Program:– Families shall be eligible for Child Care services to the extent such services are necessary to accept

employment, remain employed, and/or participate in a work activity. Full-time employment means for initial child care eligibility is defined as employment that totals 30 or more hours per week. For redetermination purposes, full-time employment is employment that totals 25 or more hours per week.

•Eligibility Based Upon Receiving or Needing to Receive Protective Services:– Child Protective Services(CPS), shall constitute services on behalf of any child, under age 19,

considered at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; or found to be abused, neglected, exploited or abandoned, as identified by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), or failure on part of parents or others responsible for meeting at least the minimum needs of the child, as identified by DCP&P. The term, unless otherwise specified, includes services to children in out of home settings, such as foster care.

•Eligibility Based Upon Income– Entrance level income for Child Care is based on 200% of the 2011 Federal Poverty Index(FPI), and

the exit level is based on 250% of the 2011 FPI. (Updates expected effective 7/1/13).

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Sliding Fee Scale and Family Contribution

Family Cost Sharing – The statute requires that the family contribute to the cost of care on a sliding fee basis.

•Families eligible to receive child care services must contribute toward the cost of child care services except as in Child Protective Services (CPS). This fee is termed a co-payment.

•The number of care hours for child care is either full time or part time.

•In no case shall the co-payment exceed the cost of care.

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Prioritizing Services for Eligible Children and Families

By statute, States must give priority to children with special needs and to children from very low-income families.

Priority populations are:Children with special needs - has been identified through a written referral from a county welfare agency; DCF, legal, medical or social service agency; emergency shelter, or public school;

•Children – At-Risk (under Child Protection Services). •Children in Families with income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Index, as determined by family size.

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Market Rate Survey

• The Department of Human Services’(DHS) Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) worked with the Division of Family Development (DFD) and New Jersey’s Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) to conduct New Jersey’s child care market rate survey. The Department distributed surveys to licensed child care centers. CCR&Rs were contacted to provide information about family providers. Responses were received from 1,491 out of 3,743 qualifying child care centers and summarized by CCR&Rs for 2,243 registered family child care providers.

• Findings are provided in the 2013 Market Rate Survey included as an attachment to the FFY 2014-2015 plan.

• New Jersey utilizes the information from the Market Rate Survey as one consideration used to establish the rates that providers will be reimbursed for child care costs and any potential cost of living adjustments. Payment rates used for subsidy reimbursements in New Jersey are less than the current market rates for some categories of care.

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Goals for the Next Biennium

Goal 1- To implement the QRIS system, NJ Grow Kids, statewide.

Goal 2- To continue to serve all children without creating a waiting list.

Goal 3- To increase children’s access to a higher quality of care.

Goal 4- To support child care providers move towards higher standards of care.

Goal 5- Integrate professional development workforce system with QRIS, Grow NJ Kids.

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Part 3 Health and Safety and Quality Improvement Activities

3.1 Activities to Ensure the Health and Safety of Children in Child Care

3.2 Establishing Voluntary Early Learning Guidelines3.3 Creating Pathways to Excellence for Child

Care Programs through Program Quality Improvement Activities

3.4 Pathways to Excellence for the Workforce- Professional Development Systems and

Workforce Initiatives

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Activities to Ensure the Health and Safety of Children in Child Care

• The Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers N.J.A.C. 10:122 and the Manual of Requirements for Family Child Care Registration N.J.A.C. 10:126 serve as the CCDF health and safety requirements for Licensed Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Providers.

• In New Jersey, the Office of Licensing (OOL) sits under the Department of Children and Families and is the regulatory agency that oversees, collects licensing data on health and safety, such as information on licensing suspension and revocations; child care injuries; and child care fatalities.

• OOL, CCR&R and DFD work closely together and coordinated efforts to ensure the health and safety of children in child care settings.

• Efforts are underway to enhance data collection, automation of processes, expedition of Health and Safety information, and licenses and certification status during the next reporting cycle.

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Creating Pathways to Excellence through Program Quality Improvement Activities

• Summer 2013 – DFD in collaboration with Department of Education (DOE) will be implementing a summer pre-school enrichment program and school-age summer camp.

• In the Fall of 2013, DFD will begin to test drive the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS), Grow NJ Kids, in four counties statewide.

• Grow NJ Kids is a collaborative interdepartmental (Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Department of Children and Families, and Head Start) quality initiative to systemically assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early care and education.

• NJ DFD just endorsed the Infant/Toddler Standards and plans to incorporate it in NJ’s quality initiatives.

• Spring 2013, NJ DFD sponsored Curriculum Training, Formative Environmental Assessments.

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Professional Development Systems and Workforce Initiatives

• DFD contracts with Professional Impact NJ (PINJ) to establish a comprehensive statewide early childhood professional development infrastructure and workforce data system.

• Core elements of the workforce data system are to:Store workforce and program data;Record and track work experience, training and education;Provide information on professional development opportunities and scholarships.

• Core elements of the infrastructure are:NJ Registry Career LatticeCore Knowledge and Competencies Career PathwaysCredentials

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Additional InformationFor additional information about Child Care in New Jersey visit:http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/child/

Written testimony may also be sent to Office of Policy, Research and Reporting by mail, email, or fax until Monday, June 17, 2013 by close of business. The fax number is 609-588-7240. The mailing address is DHS Division of Family Development, Office of Policy and Standards Development, PO Box 716 (or Old Building 3 for courier purposes), Trenton, NJ 08625-0716 Attention: Candice Covington-Thomas,

By e-mail to: candice.covington-thomas@DHS.STATE.NJ.US

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