NJ's COVID-19 Child Care Tuition Assistance Program Open

NEW JERSEY – Applications are now open for the new COVID-19 child care tuition assistance program to help families with child care costs as schools open remotely, according to New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson.

“The Murphy Administration is committed to helping working families during this incredibly challenging time by providing support to help address the unanticipated child care costs families face as schools open remotely or with hybrid schedules,” Johnson said. “Many working families are struggling to work-from-home or be at essential jobs while their children are attending school remotely. This new program is here to help and we encourage eligible families to apply.”

The $150 million program will provide child care tuition assistance to New Jersey families with incomes up to $75,000 that are in need of either full or part-time child care due to their child’s remote learning schedule.

Families can apply for this assistance by completing the online application at www.ChildCareNJ.gov. Those applying will need proof of income and a notice or announcement from their child’s school of a remote learning schedule.

Tuition assistance will be available through Dec. 30, for eligible residents with school-age children, five to 13 years old.

Families may submit applications and Human Services will provide the tuition assistance to eligible participants until funding is exhausted. Recipients will be eligible for either full- or part-time support based on their families’ needs.

To learn more and apply visit www.ChildCareNJ.gov .

The tuition assistance is part of $250 million plan announced last month by Governor Murphy to support working families and child care.

As part of that plan, the Department is also providing state child care subsidies for families with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty line during the school day for children aged 5 to 13 through Dec. 30. Families that currently receive state child care subsidies for before and after school care for school age children are being contacted directly to identify their needs during the school day.

Child care providers will be paid the subsidy rate for school-age children based on the hours of care needed.

Human Services is also supporting child care centers that make it a priority to serve children receiving the child care subsidy by providing supplemental payments of $75 per subsidy-eligible child, per month, including infants, toddlers, and school-age children to providers through the end of the year.

And Human Services is making funding available to licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers in New Jersey that are open or will open by October 1st to manage added operational costs due to new COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. These funds will be available to nearly 6,000 child care providers in New Jersey with increased COVID-related costs, such as purchasing PPE and other supplies and materials, cleaning and sanitation, and other operational needs related to COVID-19 that are eligible expenses for the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Funds will be available through an application process that will open in the upcoming weeks through the New Jersey Child Care Information System (NJCCIS).

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