About Us: History 

• In the 1970s the 4Cs Agencies began in Passaic, Bergen, Camden, Morris, Somerset and Union.
• These agencies were created to assist families to find quality care that was accessible and affordable.

• 1978 - These Agencies grew and took on additional responsibilities such as Family Child Care Networks and sponsored the Child Care Food Program.
• 1980 - Some agencies added local County subsidy programs to their responsibilities.

• This Act created a statutory body called the New Jersey Child Care Advisory Council.
• The Council was charged with providing advice and recommendations on child care needs, priorities, programs, and policies to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, the Director of the Division of Youth and Family Services and the Director of the Division of Women.
• In 1986 Request for Proposals were sent out to fund three regional offices in the State of NJ and one Clearinghouse.
• In 1986 three Regional Offices were funded and the Department of Human Services decided to place the Clearinghouse within the Division of Youth and Family Services.

• Three Regional Offices were selected; Passaic (North), Union (Central) and Gloucester (South).
• The Northern Regional Passaic utilized local R&Rs in Bergen and Morris.
• The Central Regional Union utilized local R&Rs in Somerset ad Essex.
• The Southern Regional utilized Gloucester, Camden and Atlantic.
• Each Regional was responsible for R&R services in the counties where none existed.

• Coordinate statewide activities of the CCR&R system and provide technical assistance to the Regionals.
• To analyze and interpret data collected by the regional and local R&Rs.
• To serve as a link to the CCR&R systems throughout the USA.

• Coordinate the resource & referral services in their region and work closely with the local R&Rs to identify and meet the child care needs in their areas.
• To serve as the local R&R in their county.
• Provide services in those counties where no R&R exists.
• Submit regular reports on R&R services to the Clearinghouse.

• Provide resource & referral services in their county or counties
• Respond to information & referral calls, request for technical assistance and training information.
• Identify child care service needs.
• Develop child care resources.
• Promote public awareness of child care issues.
• Submit regular local reports on child care services to the Regional.

• In 1987 regulations for Family Child Care were enacted.
• NJ implemented a Voluntary Registration Program for interested caregivers to care for up to five children in the home.
• These regulations were to be evaluated after three years.
• In 1988 the Office of Child Care Development was established to serve as an advisor to the commissioner of Human Services on child care issues.
• The Office of Child Care Development was to oversee the Department of Human Services major child care initiatives such as the Clearinghouse and Child Care Resource and Referral in NJ.

• The REACH Program was enacted in 1987 and began in three counties, then expanded to ten counties by 5/88 and then 11 more counties by 1989.
• Lead Agencies (R&Rs) were selected in each county to provide child care referrals and counseling services.

• In 1989 the Department started the process for Block Grants which provided funding for two major voucher programs. "At Risk Child Care" for the working poor and the Child Care Development Block Grant for those attending school or at a higher income and DYFS Child Protective Cases.

• In 1991 Commissioner Alan Gibbs established an Ad Hoc Child Care Resource & Referral Working Group to review the current status of the CCR&R System including the identification of the funding sources and services performed by the existing agencies. The working group was to review the monitoring and evaluation procedures used by the State. This group was made up of employers, parents, Local R&Rs, Regional R&Rs and staff from the State Department of Human Services.
• The overall goal of this group was to develop a comprehensive set of CCR&R operating guidelines.
• The operating guidelines were called Core Services…
  • Advocacy
  • Assembly & maintenance of database
  • Coordination of training
  • Date collection and analysis
  • Information & referral
  • Resource Development
  • Technical Assistance to all providers

• Guidelines for counselors to be developed
• Establish adequate funding for CCR&R services
• Identify sources of funding for CCR&R agencies
• Strategies be developed to inform the child care community about the CCR&R roles and functions

• Conflict of Interest
• Detailed information on identified core services
• Identify CCR&R services that the state will purchase and determine a level of service

• In 1993 North Jersey 4C's proposed to the state that each county receive $25,000 to operate their local R&R. Under the regional model some local R&Rs received as little as $2,000 to operate their R&R services in their county. Regional R&Rs lost funding in 1995. The funding from the regionals was spread over all 21 counties.

• Many counties had multiple agencies providing the R&R services for different programs.
• 10 counties had 1 agency for all 4 services
• 9 counties had 1 agency for 3 services and 1 agency for 1 service
• 2 counties had 1 agency for 2 services and 2 agencies for 1 service
• All programs FDC, Welfare Reform, CARES and CCR&R services were put out to bid.
• One single Unified Agency in each county was selected to perform all services.

• Administration of Comprehensive Voucher Program
• Registered Family Child Care Services
• Child Care Resource and Referral Services
• Development of Community Work Experience Program slots in centers
• Child Care Resource Development

• In 1996 the NJ Department of Human Services awarded a planning grant to NJACCRRA with CCCC of Union County as lead agency.
• In 1998 NJDHS awarded a 5 year grant to Kean University partnering with NJACCRRA to implement the plan: NJ Sows the Seeds for Growth: A 5-year Plan for a Early Care and Educational Professional Development System.

• All 21 counties have a Unified Child Care Agency (UCCA). Each UCCA offers the four services:
  • Family Day Care Registration,
  • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
  • NJ Cares for Kids Voucher Program (TANF)
  • CCR&R Services