Posted on July 1, 2026
ACNJ applauds New Jersey's FY27 investment in the Child Care Assistance Program while calling for continued action to make child care affordable for every working family.
Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) applauds Governor Mikie Sherrill and the New Jersey Legislature for including $582 million for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in the FY2027 budget, including an $18 million increase that will help the program serve an estimated 77,500 children and extend assistance to approximately 2,500 additional families.
Read the full breakdown of what's in the state budget for NJ children and families
The Child Care Assistance Program helps eligible working families with children from birth through age 13—and through age 19 for children with disabilities—afford child care, before- and after-school programs, and summer care while parents work, attend school, or participate in job training. At a time when schools are closed for the summer, this investment provides a critical lifeline that helps working parents remain employed while ensuring their children have access to safe, reliable, and enriching care.
"During an extraordinarily challenging budget year with many competing priorities, New Jersey's leaders recognized that investing in working families is investing in the state's future," said Winifred Smith-Jenkins, Ed.D., Director of Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy at Advocates for Children of New Jersey. "This investment will help thousands of families afford the care they need so parents can work and children can thrive. We are grateful to Governor Sherrill and the Legislature for making this commitment.
"But we also know the work is far from over. Far too many working families earn too much to qualify for assistance but far too little to afford the high cost of child care, which now exceeds the cost of rent, a mortgage payment, or in-state college tuition in many New Jersey communities. Families do their part every day by working, raising children, and contributing to their communities. Public policy should help remove barriers—not create them. Strengthening New Jersey's investment in the Child Care Assistance Program will help more working families afford child care, remain in the workforce, and build greater economic stability."
Less than a year ago, New Jersey was forced to freeze enrollment in the Child Care Assistance Program because available funding could no longer meet demand, leaving eligible families without the support they needed. The FY2027 investment restores stability to the program and reflects months of advocacy by parents, providers, business leaders, legislators, and child advocates across the state.
As co-chair of the Start Strong NJ campaign, ACNJ will continue advocating for policies that expand access to affordable child care, strengthen the early childhood workforce, and build a sustainable financing strategy so every working family can access the care they need.
