Posted on November 12, 2021
On Wednesday, November 10th, Advocates for Children of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families held a 2021 Virtual Fall Forum to discuss advances in DCF’s strategic goals and provide status updates on vital initiatives like the Pritzker grant, race equity, universal home visiting, school-linked services, child care, CSOC rates and mitigating ACEs.
Posted on November 9, 2021
Despite strong support from child care providers, parents and lawmakers, Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed A4746/S3947, which would require the state to make child care subsidy payments based on child enrollment, rather than attendance. Read Governor's statement.
Advocates for Children of New Jersey is very disappointed with the decision. Since learning about this legislation, ACNJ has advocated vigorously along with child care providers, parents and lawmakers. For child care providers, enrollment-based payment provides a critical source of reliable funding to help stabilize programs accepting children of eligible low-income families. During COVID, this temporary measure proved to be the most important policy action to sustain and stabilize New Jersey's child care system. The public health crisis has only magnified the inherent instability of the attendance payment structure and making this policy permanent would have resolved this longstanding problem.
Read about the difference between enrollment vs attendance and how this helps the child care system.
We recognize that New Jersey has made significant investments in our state's child care system, but the increased costs of doing business, such as cleaning and staffing costs to ensure the safety of children and employees, and a growing staffing crisis, caused by programs’ inability to pay competitive wages, keeps this vulnerable industry in jeopardy.
The veto message does recommend extending this payment policy for an additional six months, which continues this temporary support to child care providers, but a long-term payment solution is needed. The conditional veto requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a one-year study to compare the costs of payments based on attendance versus enrollment and make recommendations for a more stable approach. ACNJ urges DHS to complete the study as soon as possible and include potential alternatives to ensure the long-term stability of the child care system.
Child care is essential, not only for working families, but to the recovery and growth of New Jersey’s economy. This bill took an important step forward in providing stability to this critical system, treating child care as the public good it is.
ACNJ commends the sponsors of this legislation, Senator Vitale, Assemblywoman Mosquera and Assemblywoman Lopez, for their leadership in supporting child care and the children and families it cares for and educates.
Posted on November 1, 2021
Invite Your County and Town Reps to Learn How to Maximize ARPA Funds for Kids!
Posted on December 10, 2021
On November 19th, the United States House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act which will provide $400 billion for child care and preschool—the largest federal investment of its kind. The funding will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for New Jersey’s children, families and educators by:
The bill is now before the United States Senate and every vote counts! We need to urge New Jersey’s U.S. Senators to support the Build Back Better Act and its unprecedented investments!
Take Action!
Your advocacy is critically needed NOW! Please email Senators Menendez and Booker and urge them to vote for the Build Back Better Act and its unprecedented investments in children, working families and the early learning workforce!
Posted on October 29, 2021
Tell Your Members of Congress to Get the Job Done!
On Thursday, President Biden announced a final framework for his Build Back Better bill, which will provide transformative change for our nation’s children and families. The bill is described as the most important federal legislative win for children since the 1960s and 1970s, when Medicaid, TANF and Food Stamps (SNAP) became law.
Highlights of the bill include:
View White House fact sheet on how the Build Back Better framework will benefit New Jersey.
The next step is for the bill to pass both Houses of Congress. The President is urging Congress to move quickly on this bill and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
And we all need to do the same!
Tell your members of Congress to support the Build Back Better bill so that all children and families can benefit from high quality preschool AND child care!
