Background:

Child care subsidies are provided through the Child Care Development Block Grant, a federal program. States are charged with administering the program to help support families with accessible, affordable, quality child care. States vary significantly in how they implement various aspects of the program: income eligibility, subsidy rates, cost burden to families, work requirements, etc. Policy makers and advocates often look to their state’s Child Care Assistance Program as a pathway to improve access to child care for low- and moderate-income families. There is a fair amount of scholarly research and policy analysis on the role that child care subsidies play. In general, research evidence indicates that child care subsidies are associated with increasing maternal employment and improvements in parents’ ability to work.

Goals:

• To acquire a foundational understanding of New Jersey’s Child Care Assistance Program, including its unique features.

• To build relationships among coalition partners and with state leaders.

Guest Speakers:

• Natasha Johnson, Assistant Commissioner, New Jersey Division of Family Development, New Jersey Department of Human Services

• Margaret Milliner, Assistant Director, Child Care Operations, New Jersey Division of Family Development, New Jersey Department of Human Service

Agenda:

• Welcome/opening remarks

• Review of agenda and goals

• Introductions

• Presentation by state leadership

• Q&A and discussion

• Closing and next steps