TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey will begin the process next month of reopening applications for its Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), allowing a limited number of new children to enroll beginning in January, Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman announced Wednesday.
The reopening is expected to extend assistance to about 75,000 children. Because funding remains limited, applications will first be offered to families who fall into state-designated priority groups and who complete a registration form in December. These groups include families with children experiencing homelessness, children with special needs and households with very low incomes. Not all eligible families who register will receive assistance.
“For most New Jersey families, child care isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. The child care assistance program is a vital economic lifeline that helps pay for high quality early childhood education and allows parents to continue their careers,” Adelman said. “That is why reopening applications to maximize utilization for this program is so important. We encourage families to complete the registration form as soon as it becomes available.”
Residents will submit basic information through an online registration form at ChildCareNJ.gov and will later be alerted when they can complete the full application.
Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz called the reopening an important step for families and the broader child care system. “Today’s decision to reopen the Child Care Assistance Program to new applicants is a significant victory for the vitality of our families, our early childhood workforce, and our state,” she said. “Child care is not just a service; it is a central cog in the system that supports our labor force, children’s academic attainment, and broader economic development.”
Deputy Commissioner for Social Services Michael J. Wilson said the reopening prioritizes families most in need. “Child care is an essential expense that families cannot avoid, and we recognize the strain that it can place on household budgets,” Wilson said. “By prioritizing the most vulnerable, we are ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most.”
State lawmakers also lauded the decision.
“The cost of child care continues to rise, but thanks to the tireless work of the advocates, elected leaders, parents, and Governor Murphy, this restoration will bring relief to more working families and their children,” said Sen. Angela McKnight.
Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez said reliable child care is a key factor in household stability, while Assemblywoman Shanique Speight called the announcement “an important and welcomed step toward stabilizing New Jersey’s child care system.” Sen. Britnee Timberlake said reopening CCAP “ensures that there is a lifeline for working class parents striving to stay employed while raising young children.”
CCAP provides financial assistance to income-eligible families who are working, in school or in job training. The program stopped accepting new applications on Aug. 1, 2025, due to limited funding, though families already enrolled continued receiving support.
Families can review eligibility criteria at ChildCareNJ.gov, where they can also find their local Child Care Resource and Referral agency for guidance. Additional resources, including Head Start and free preschool programs for three- and four-year-olds, may also be available.
Since 2018, the Murphy administration has directed more than $1 billion in new funding to child care programs. Despite this, officials say increased enrollment and unfunded federal policy changes have contributed to a funding gap.
More information and updates are available at www.ChildCareNJ.gov.
