What’s New?

FY 2023 Budget Hearings

Posted on March 21, 2022

It's budget time! Speak up on behalf of NJ children.

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly Budget Committees have scheduled their hearings on the Governor's proposed FY 2023 Budget. These hearings provide stakeholders with a forum to speak up on issues impacting children and their families. Read ACNJ's summary on budget highlights for kids and families.

Children need your voice to be heard!  Below are the hearing dates and times. The hearings will be conducted remotely without the possibility of in-person attendance. If you wish to register to testify, click on the Senate or Assembly hearing links below.

Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

Wednesday, March 29, 2022 @ 10:00 AM   Register
Thursday, April 21, 2022 @ 10:00 AM   Register

Assembly Budget Committee

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 @ 9:30 AM   Register

Welcome Legislators and Tell Them It’s Time to Get the Job Done!

Posted on February 7, 2022

We can't go back! Let's ensure all families have access to high-quality child care. Send a welcome message to your state legislators and tell them it's time to invest in our youngest learners. Share with them ACNJ's newest report "Pennies to the Dollar: The Investment Gap for New Jersey's Earliest Learners" and the NJ Spotlight Op-ed "The Future of Infant-Toddler Child Care After Covid-19" by Dr. Taryn Morrissey and Cecilia Zalkind.

During this legislative session, ACNJ is calling on the state to:

  • Improve access to infant/toddler care by increasing the number of available child care programs;
  • Expand child care assistance for parents of very young children; and
  • Support the child care workforce, who have historically been underfunded and underappreciated
reimagine-child-care

Share with Legislators ACNJ president’s Op-ed supporting legislative bills to invest in child care.

Posted on April 21, 2022

It's time to address the long-time child care crisis in New Jersey.  The pandemic didn’t create it – it exposed it.

Let's urge legislators to support Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz's comprehensive package of bills that would help parents, strengthen programs and support staff. One bill, S-2476 (pending introduction), incentivizes the development of child care for infants and toddlers, the most difficult for families to find.

Share the op-ed authored by ACNJ President Cecilia Zalkind describing this historic proposal.

The package comes with a $360 million price tag. But we need to tell state leaders that this is an investment we cannot afford not to make.

Read the Op-Ed

New Jersey's commitment to children has led to extraordinary advances, putting the state ahead of the rest of the country and most importantly, improving the lives and well-being of newborns and preschool-age children.

But we are still missing the babies.

Let's make some noise for child care  and take a moment to send a message to your state leaders that this is a critical investment for children, families and for our economy.

During this legislative session, ACNJ is calling on the state to:

  • Improve access to infant/toddler care by increasing the number of available child care programs;
  • Expand child care assistance for parents of very young children; and
  • Support the child care workforce, who have historically been underfunded and underappreciated
reimagine-child-care

Stand up for #HomeVisiting this week!

Posted on March 21, 2022

HomeVisitation_Running_on_Empty

Join us from March 21st - 25th in highlighting the critical importance of evidence-based, voluntary home visiting programs. ACNJ and our home visiting partners will participate in virtual visits with members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation to discuss and advocate for these critical services that support new parents and families with young children. The National Home Visiting Virtual Summit, from March 22nd - 24th, will bring together supporters and decision-makers across the county to collaborate on advancing the home visiting field.

You can help strengthen the advocacy efforts happening this week by amplifying #HomeVisitingisEssential on social media. Visit our social media platforms daily and share our posts. Follow us on social media: