NJ Child Care 'Crisis': $1.1M From Congress To Help Morristown Nonprofit Fight Issue

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Forty-six percent of New Jerseyans live in a child care "desert," according to research from the Center for American Progress. But Morristown-based nonprofit United Way of Northern New Jersey will receive $1.1 million from the $1.5 trillion federal omnibus spending bill — signed into law Tuesday — to fight the issue.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill submitted 10 community projects from the 11th Congressional District for the House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2022 bill. Her submissions included the expansion of United Way's United In Care project. The program aims to rebuild New Jersey's early education and care sector after it lost 71 percent of family child care providers, according to Sherrill's office.

Related article: What $178 Million In Federal Money Will Do In New Jersey

"As a working mother of four, I know how important it is to have access to high-quality and affordable child care," Sherrill said in a news release. "And, as parents and child care providers across NJ-11 will tell you, the pandemic only made the situation more challenging. New Jersey now has some of the lowest rates of availability in the nation."

Child care deserts are areas with little to no licensed child care capacity, according to the Center for American Progress. About half the country had too few licensed child care options in 2018, the think tank says.

The United In Care project aims to advance a data-driven approach to reversing the state's growing child care "crisis," according to United Way. The endeavor launched during the pandemic, when New Jersey risked losing more than half its child care supply, according to the nonprofit.

The pilot project is working to increase the availability and affordability of quality child care for people who struggle to afford the basics. United In Care also sets out to improve the quality of life of child care workers — many of whom fit into that economic category.

Central to the project’s approach is creating regional alliances between a licensed child care center and up to 10 registered home-based child care providers. Through these alliances, businesses share resources, expertise and technical supports, helping to maintain and expand the existing child care infrastructure.

United In Care established an alliance with three child care deserts across New Jersey: Hudson County, Warren County and Gloucester/Camden Counties.

The federal money will also support the formation of a dedicated shared-services alliance within the 11th District, which includes portions of Morris, Essex, Sussex and Passaic Counties. United In Care is in discussions with a Parsippany-based child care center to serve as its anchor institution. Recruitment of home-based providers will follow shortly, with help from the state’s referral agency, Child & Family Resources.

"We are so grateful for Congresswoman Sherrill’s commitment to addressing the child care crisis that existed in this country long before the pandemic brought it into the spotlight," said Kiran Handa Gaudioso, CEO of United Way of Northern New Jersey. "This infusion of funding will deliver critical resources to financially strapped families and struggling child care providers in northern New Jersey."

United In Care has accomplished the following it the short time since its launch, according to United Way:

• Providing tuition assistance so 31 children could attend quality child care programs their parents could not afford on their own.
• Funding training, staffing and tuition assistance at two centers so 33 children with disabilities could attend summer programs during the pandemic.
• Distributing $100,000 worth of personal protective equipment and 10,000 COVID-19 rapid at-home test kits to child care providers and families.
• Providing critical technology, professional development and business support to help child care providers increase enrollment and revenue while increasing quality and strengthening sustainability.

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