NJ Reopens Child Care Assistance Applications

By Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor

December 2, 2025

New Jersey’s child care assistance program is accepting new applications following months of campaigning by advocates who said more parents need the assistance, a move state officials said should extend aid to 75,000 children.

Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said opening the program to new applicants comes with the goal of allowing applications for new children in January. Families who fall into the program’s priority groups and who complete registration in December will have the first chance to apply, she said.

“For most New Jersey families, child care isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Adelman said in a statement. “The child care assistance program is a vital economic lifeline that helps pay for high-quality early childhood education and allows parents to continue their careers. That is why reopening applications to maximize utilization for this program is so important.”

The program aims to help parents afford child care if they are working, in school, or in job training. Because of a $30 million funding gap that state officials attribute to increasing enrollment and shifting federal policy, the program paused applications in August. Copays for families enrolled in the program also rose after lawmakers passed a budget without enough money to cover the program’s operating costs.

Earlier this month, advocates sent a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy, Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, and legislative leaders urging them to increase funding for the program in the short term and to find a permanent solution to ensure child care is more affordable.

The first priority groups include families with children from households with very low income or who are experiencing homelessness, and families with children who have special needs. Not everyone who falls into these groups will be granted assistance.

According to 2024 U.S. Department of Labor data, families in New Jersey spend 7% to nearly 20% of their median family income on child care services. In some counties, that’s more than $16,000.

Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) commended the state’s decision to reopen the program to new applicants, calling it a “victory for the vitality of our families, our early childhood workforce, and our state.”

“Child care is not just a service; it is a central cog in the system that supports our labor force, children’s academic attainment, and broader economic development,” she said in a statement.

Families can sign up for texts or email alerts to learn when applications open on the state’s website. Registration forms will be available beginning in December.

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