Invest in the child care workforce to ensure access to high-quality care and education for working families.
There's less than two weeks left until Governor Murphy and the legislature finalize the state FY2025 budget and we're urging lawmakers to pass a resolution aimed at providing child care for child care workers.
Legislators: join in co-sponsoring budget resolution number 4342, sponsored by Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, and budget resolution number 4326, sponsored by Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, to support investments ($35 million) in New Jersey's essential child care workforce in the state budget.
This funding would establish a pilot program to expand eligibility for child care subsidies to educators and staff who typically do not qualify. The benefit would help offset out-of-pocket costs for child care staff and incentivize them to remain in the field. Retaining these essential workers and strengthening the workforce is vital to ensuring New Jersey’s child care system is strong and stable.
Steering Towards a Brighter Future: Invest in NJ's Child Care Infrastructure
Just like our roads and railways, New Jersey’s child care infrastructure needs to be well-funded. Our state legislature must prioritize investment in child care and its workforce to promote:
- quality early care and education;
- support for working families; and
- a prosperous future for our children and economy.
New Jersey's child care system is in a crisis. Parents are struggling to access affordable child care, hindering their ability to get to work consistently, and limiting children's access to quality early education. The state's investment is crucial to strengthening the system and ensuring families can access quality options.
New Jersey needs a budget that includes funding for the child care infrastructure to support child care providers who educate young children, support families, and play a crucial role in New Jersey’s economy. Child care is everyone’s business!
