Lessons learned in engaging and supporting New Jersey’s hard-to-reach child care community

In early 2022, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) received funding from several national associations to support and engage child care providers who were less likely to apply for the stabilization grant funds, including family child care providers, small child care centers, providers who speak a language other than English and faith‐based programs. The goal was to ensure that all child care providers had equitable access to the stabilization grants, supplementing the outreach and support being provided by New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS). ACNJ used a variety of strategies, ranging from informational webinars to one-on-one technical assistance, to reach these providers. The lessons learned from this experience with child care providers were informative, not only in their ability to access the stabilization grants, but to broader issues about how to best support and sustain child care.