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JUNE 21, 2021, is Child Tax Credit Awareness Day

Posted on June 21, 2021

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Beginning July 15, nearly all families who have filed their tax returns will begin receiving child tax credit (CTC) payments. They will receive one per month. For each of their qualifying children age 5 or younger, most parents will receive $300 per month in July, August, September, October, November and December for a total of $1,800. For each of their qualifying children ages 6 to 17, most parents will receive $250 each month for a total of $1,500.

The payments should appear in your bank account automatically. However, because the IRS relies on tax returns to determine the eligibility, some people may fall through the cracks, such as low-income households that did not have to file tax returns. There’s a special website for parents and caregivers who are eligible, but who did not file taxes last year. It’s called the Non-filer Sign-up Tool.

National Kids Count Report: NJ Families Still Struggling to Provide Basic Needs Due to COVID

Posted on June 21, 2021

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Today, as the federal government launched a new website and other resources explaining the new child tax credit, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released a 50-state data report that argues for making the expansion permanent. The 2021 KIDS COUNT® Data Book details how challenges remain as New Jersey slowly reopens and shows signs of recovery from the pandemic. The report of recent household data analyzes how families have fared between the Great Recession and the COVID-19 crisis, showing that Garden State families with children required urgent attention long before the pandemic.

Cynthia Rice Testimony before the Dept. of Human Services on the CCDF Plan

Posted on June 4, 2021

June 3, 2021
Testimony at the Department of Human Services Public Hearing on New Jersey’s CCDF Plan
Cynthia Rice, Advocates for Children of NJ Senior Policy Analyst

ACNJ senior policy analyst, Cynthia Rice, speaks on this historic opportunity to change New Jersey’s child care paradigm now and in the future with the use of the American Rescue Plan Funds.

Through its webinars, town halls and surveys, ACNJ has heard first-hand from hundreds of New Jersey child care providers and parents on how COVID-19 has affected child care programs and families needing care for their children and what is needed to strengthen the current system. The testimony highlights two overarching themes that became clear during these many discussions. Click on the download button below to view testimony.

Also, you can read a blog from Ceil Zalkind, ACNJ President/CEO on the opportunities of the American Rescue Plan for child care.

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