Ocean CCR&R Programs
About Ocean Child Care Resource & Referral
The focus of CHS of NJ’s Ocean County office is on early care and education. Our staff of dedicated professionals is here to assist you with any early care information you may need, from the different types of care available, to becoming a professional in the field of child care. We offer a variety of programs that can help make a difference in your life and in the lives of children. Our services are inclusive, nondiscriminatory culturally sensitive and are provided professionally with integrity and compassion. Our services are confidential and most are free.
The federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization Act of 2014 increases the health and safety requirements for all child care and early learning programs that accept child care subsidies.
All teaching staff, providers, caregivers and individuals responsible for the direct care and supervision of children must complete health and safety trainings.
All staff working in center based programs must complete training to meet the CCDBG reauthorization requirements for health and safety.
All providers (FCC and FFN) must complete training to meet the CCDBG reauthorization requirements for Health and Safety. The total number of training hours for Home Based Programs is twelve (12) hours plus CPR and First Aid Training.
Please note: Only the health and safety training courses linked to below or the courses offered through your CCR&Rs will be counted towards your required training hours for DFD’s Subsidy Assistance Program Health and Safety Requirements.
Please review the documents provided to be directed to the required trainings.
New Jersey Cares for Kids program helps low and middle income families pay for the cost of child care if they are eligible. Parents must work at least 30 hours per week in a full-time or two part-time jobs, attend college or a training program full-time, or hold a part-time job and a part-time school schedule equaling full time. Parents pay a portion of the child care cost, based on their income and family size, NJCK pays the balance up to the state maximum. For more information contact Stephanie Claus via telephone at (732) 557-9633, Ext. 110 or via e-mail at 
if the parent’s last name begins with the letters A through L; Contact Jessica Sandford via telephone at Ext. 166 or via e-mail at 
if the parent’s last name begins with the letters M-Z. Please see PDF in forms area for income guidelines from the Department of Human Services.
Click here for the New Jersey Cares for Kids Application Cover Letter.
Click here for the New Jersey Cares for Kids Application.
We offer a free and confidential child care referral service utilizing our extensive database of child care available in Ocean County. In addition to referrals, we offer brochures containing checklists to help you make an informed decision about child care. For more information contact Deb Pavan via telephone at (732) 557-9633, Ext. 105 or 
This agency does not license, endorse or recommend any specific provider. It is the responsibility of the parent to meet with providers in order to determine the child care arrangements which best suits his/her needs. Click here for the Request for Child Care Referral form.
CHS is the sponsoring agency for the N.J. Department of Children & Families Office of Licensing for family child care registration. A trained caregiver provides care in a private residence for 5 or fewer children at one time. Our agency conducts inspections as well as curriculum and program observations. Providers must attend eight hours of pre-service training. For more information about this program, please contact Heidi Sloan via telephone at (732) 557-9633, Ext. 103 or via e-mail at 
. Click here for more information about regulations for Family Child Care Registration.
Kinship is a subsidy offered through the New Jersey Cares for Kids program that helps relatives who have custody of a relative’s child(ren) pay for child care. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, etc. may be able to receive assistance through this program. To receive an application for this program, see the alpha breakdown for the NJCK child care subsidy; for program information contact Kathy Ruddy via telephone at (732) 557-9633, Ext. 133 or via e-mail at 
Click here for the Kinship Child Care Subsidy Application Cover Letter.
Click here for the Kinship Child Care Subsidy Application.
Families who are receiving public assistance through the Work First NJ program are eligible to receive help paying for child care while working or participating in an approved job or training activity. Child care assistance may continue for up to two years after the participant is employed and no longer receives public assistance. This child care is known as Transitional Child Care (TCC). If still eligible, the parent is automatically enrolled in the NJCK program following WFNJ benefits. Parents must be referred to our agency by the Ocean County Board of Social Services. For more information, call Sara Lemig at (732) 557-9633, Ext. 101 or via email.
Parent Education
The Parent Education Campaign serves parents in our subsidy programs as well as other parents utilizing any of our services. Brochures on early childhood topics along with what to look for in choosing quality child care are distributed throughout the county via pediatricians’ offices, the Ocean County Health Department, all branches of the library and at community outreach events. Our website includes an array of parenting materials. For more information call Deb Pavan at (732) 557-9633, Ext. 105 or via email .
The NJ Strengthening Families Initiative (NJ SFI) is an approach to preventing child abuse and neglect by strengthening families through early care and education. The fundamental principle is that five protective factors contribute towards family resiliency and strength. Through seven key strategies, centers can become well positioned to help families build these protective factors that have proven to be effective in preventing child abuse and neglect. For more information, please contact Karen Fisher at Ext. 131 or via email 
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Complaints Against a Child Care Center
A complaint involving a child care center that does not involve the suspected abuse of neglect of children is handled by The NJ Department of Children & Families, Office of Licensing. The toll free number is 1 (877) 667-9845.
Complaints Against a Child Care Provider in Ocean County, NJ
The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey is responsible for registering and monitoring family child care providers in Ocean County, NJ. A complaint that is not child abuse or neglect involving a registered child care provider will be investigated by our agency. To discuss or register a complaint, contact our Program Administrator at (732) 557-9633, Ext. 101. You are entitled to any results of an investigation as long as they are categorized as “open for public inspection.” If you remain anonymous, you will need to call our agency for the outcome. If you give your name, you should be aware that under New Jersey’s Right-to-Know Law, it is included in our records which are open for public inspection.
If a complaint investigated by our agency is substantiated, the registered family child care provider will receive any technical assistance and/or additional home visits necessary to help the provider come into and remain in compliance.
CHS is the sponsoring agency for the N.J. Department of Children and Families Office of Licensing for family child care registration. A registered provider provides care in a private residence, for 5 or fewer children at one time. Our agency conducts inspections as well as curriculum and program observations. Providers must attend eight hours of pre-service training as well as CPR and First Aid.
A child care center means any home or facility maintained for the care, development and supervision of six or more children under 13 years of age. For further information on licensing requirements, click here.
Most preschools are licensed by the state of New Jersey as child care centers. However, there are those that are operated by public school districts or religious organizations that are exempt from licensure. Parents seeking part-time care might choose a nursery school program. They usually run the same as a school year, operating nine months out of the year. The curriculum may vary.
These are programs for children who need care before and after their school day. Programs may be found at child care centers, family child care homes or specific sites.The programs may offer activities, snack, homework assistance, free play, and outdoor play. Click here for more information from NJ School Age Care Coalition.
Daily child care programs, specifically designed for school age children, are offered throughout the summer season at a variety of sites. Community centers, child care centers, family child care homes, schools, and religious organizations offer camp programs. The NJ Dept of Health & Senior Services issues Health & Safety certificates to those programs that don’t fall under the Office of Licensing requirements for a child care center. Be sure the program you select has a variety of age appropriate activities, plenty of materials and a qualified staff. Camp programs may charge additional fees for field trips or special events.
Head Start is a national program that provides comprehensive developmental and social services to low-income children and their families. This program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration of Children and Families.
Participants in either the TANF/Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) or New Jersey Cares for Kids (NJCK) program have the option of selecting a friend or relative to care for their children. Our agency, after clearance of a Child Abuse Record Information (CARI) check by the State of New Jersey, will conduct a DHS/DCF Health & Safety Inspection and provider interview. When these things have been completed satisfactorily, WFNJ and NJCK funding can pay the amount specified by the state to that provider for child care services. The providers cannot be referred by our agency to any other parent or be paid to watch children from other families while they are being paid through the subsidy programs.
Our staff will also inform you about additional requirements for e-ChildCare which pertain to these arrangements.
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- CCDBG Flyer Notice English-Spanish
- FINAL Summer Youth Camp Flyer 3.9.18
- NJ Child Care Subsidy Youth Camp Registration Form CC-211
- DHS DFD Child Care Subsidy Provider Licensing Policy Clarification
- CCDBG Overview
- Provider Memo
- ECC Payment Discrepancy Form Amended (1-26-2015)
- Echildcare Attendance Policy Reminder
- Provider Forum June 30, 2014
- Provider Forum ECC June 30, 2014
- E-Child Care Letter to Providers 05/11
- E-Child Care Letter to Parents 04/11
- E-Child Care Letter to in-home Providers 03/11
- E-Child Care Letter to Providers 02/11
- Mandatory items for Parents to Remember
- For more information about Earned Income Tax Credit For Tax Year 2017 please visit www.njeitc.org
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Training Schedules
Our training program offers Continuing Education Credits, approved by The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition, www.cdacouncil.org. We offer classes for those pursuing their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential and assist family child care providers with accreditation through the National Association for Family Child Care, www.nafcc.org. We offer training and technical assistance to licensed centers pursuing accreditation through The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), www.naeyc.org. We are also registered with The NJ Department of Education, Professional Development Provider Registration System that allows us to administer training clock hours to public school teachers.
1433 Hooper Avenue
Suite 340
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 557-9633
Maureen Lawrence
Director of Ocean County Child Care Resource & Referral
(732) 557-9633 x108
Para inormación sobre nuestra agencia en español, llamar 732-557-9633 y esperar a escuchar la opción #4 o email 
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