What’s New?

ACNJ #NJVOTES4KIDS Election Guide 2025

Posted on February 28, 2025

Advocates for Children of New Jersey has created an election guide to get voters and candidates to discuss issues facing children and families. Visit our What About the Kids Campaign page to see the candidates running for Governor and the Assembly. As information becomes available, we will post their responses to a questionnaire ACNJ sent to them, stating their position on key issues for New Jersey's children and their social media handles so that you can engage with them during the campaign.

Gov. Murphy Unveils Plan to Expand PreK Access by Amending Sq. Footage Requirement for Child Care Centers

Posted on February 27, 2025

social media- preschool sq ft reg change announcement (1)

Governor Murphy and state leaders heard our calls for action and are taking steps to remove barriers that prevent child care centers from participating in preschool expansion - most notably, the square footage requirement.

Read Gov. Murphy's News Release

In order to partner with school districts, child care providers often had to combine two classrooms into one, find additional space or undergo a lengthy and expensive licensing process before being able to collaborate.

Now, these regulation changes will help more children access quality early learning, preserve infant and toddler slots and support small businesses which are the backbone of thriving communities.

According to Governor Murphy's news release, "[The NJ Department of Education and the Department of Children and Families] have begun the process of amending their respective rules to hold state-funded and licensed child care centers and preschool programs to the same minimum space requirement of 42 square feet of usable space per child. The Administration intends to formally publish the rulemaking proposal for public comment in spring 2025."

We know that universal preschool can only happen with a robust mixed-delivery model that includes strong collaboration between school districts and community-based child care providers. Thank you for your support as we continue to advocate for New Jersey's children and families.

ACT NOW: Protect health insurance coverage for our most vulnerable

Posted on February 24, 2025

Tomorrow, Congress is scheduled to vote on a Budget Resolution that mandates the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to make at least $880 billion in cuts to the federal budget over the next ten years. This can only happen by cutting Medicaid.

Why This Matters:

Federal Medicaid dollars help fund NJ FamilyCare, which provides health insurance coverage for 20% of New Jersey residents. This includes:

🔴 More than 820,000 children, from birth to 18 years old, covered by NJ FamilyCare

🔴 About a third of all births annually

🔴 Youth living in foster care and aging out of foster care

 ACT TODAY!

Your voice matters. Please email and/or call your member of Congress TODAY asking that they VOTE NO on the Budget Resolution. Your action can make a difference in the lives of New Jersey residents.

Thank you for speaking up to protect healthcare for New Jersey's children, families, and our most vulnerable citizens.

CAll NOW!

Use the lookup tool below to find your congressional representative’s office phone number. Once their profile appears, click "details" to view contact information.

When you introduce yourself, mention the town you are calling from. You can use the email message as a script.

Congress already voted on this resolution.

But we must continue the fight to protect healthcare for our most vulnerable who need it.

Click here to sign a petition to tell Congress NO to cuts to Medicaid.