Posted on March 13, 2026
Key Investments for Children and Families in the FY 2027 New Jersey Budget
Governor Mikie Sherrill has released her proposed FY 2027 New Jersey budget, which includes significant investments in programs that support children, families, and communities across the state. From maternal health and early childhood care to education and youth mental health services, the proposal reflects a continued commitment to strengthening the systems that help children and families thrive.
Below is a closer look at several key areas that impact children and families.
Maternal and Infant Health
Governor Sherrill has expressed her commitment to improving maternal and infant health outcomes and reducing long-standing racial disparities in care. These investments aim to strengthen the perinatal workforce, translate data into action, and expand support for families during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Key initiatives include:
- Continued support for the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, which works to reduce maternal mortality, lower infant mortality rates, and address racial disparities in outcomes.
- Cross-agency coordination to strengthen collaboration across programs serving pregnant individuals and newborns.
- Statewide expansion of Family Connects NJ, with an additional $12.8 million to ensure the nurse home visiting program is available in all 21 counties beginning in 2027. Family Connects provides voluntary nurse visits to families shortly after birth, offering health assessments, postpartum support, and connections to additional services when needed.
Child Care and Early Education
Governor Sherrill emphasized the importance of affordable child care remaining a central focus of the proposed budget. These investments aim to help working families access care while strengthening early learning opportunities for young children.
Key proposals include:
- $18 million increase in child care assistance, expanding eligibility and helping 2,500 more families afford care.
- $582 million in state funding for child care assistance, projected to support care for approximately 77,500 children statewide.
- $1.4 billion in Preschool Education Aid, a 9% increase over FY 2026, helping nearly 300 districts continue to provide state-funded preschool programs.
These investments recognize that affordable child care and high-quality early learning programs are essential for children’s development and for supporting parents’ ability to work.
Education and Academic Supports
The budget also proposes historic investments in K–12 education aimed at improving student outcomes and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education.
Key highlights include:
- $12.4 billion in school formula aid, the largest amount in state history.
- $15 million investment in high-impact tutoring, expanding support to nearly 100 additional school districts and reaching 13,500 more students.
- Continued investments in evidence-based strategies to strengthen literacy, math skills, and student learning recovery.
These initiatives focus on helping students accelerate learning and close achievement gaps.
Youth Mental Health and Family Supports
The budget also prioritizes protecting children and strengthening services that support youth mental health, health care access, and food security.
Key investments include:
- $513.5 million in funding for the Children’s System of Care, which supports behavioral health services for children and youth.
- $39 million for school-based mental health services.
- $33 million for a new youth mental health initiative, SPARK (School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids), to expand mental health support in K–12 schools.
- $500,000 to establish a Social Media Research Center studying the effects of digital technology on youth mental health.
Additional family supports include:
- Health coverage for approximately 850,000 children through NJ FamilyCare.
- Free school meals for nearly 21,000 students through the Working-Class Families Anti-Hunger Act.
- $7.2 billion in state funding for Medicaid to support health care access statewide.
