Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey?s Quality Rating Improvement System, is New Jersey?s program to raise the quality of child care and early learning across the state. Grow NJ Kids gives both child care and early learning programs resources to assess and improve their programs, while providing parents with information that allows them to evaluate the quality of programs and make the best choices for their child. Programs participating in Grow NJ Kids are assigned a dedicated Technical Assistance Specialist that provides coaching and consultation related to the Grow NJ Kids standards of quality. In addition, programs participating in Grow NJ Kids have access to hundreds of training and professional development offerings and incentives, such as free classroom and curriculum materials. Ultimately, the goal of Grow NJ Kids is to create a standard way to look at child care and early learning, providing families with an objective rating system.
Shannette Taylor staylor@ulohc.org 201.451.8888 ext 178
Infant and Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN), The ITSN is a program offered through the county-based
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&Rs) agencies. The goals of the ITSN are to improve the quality of infant and toddler care across the state and to increase the availability of quality early care and education programs for families with infants and toddlers. Through this program, Infant Toddler Specialists work with child care professionals to:
More information is available on Child Care Aware of New Jersey's website.
Sharon Wise swise@ulohc.org 201.451.8888 ext 209
Shared Services Alliances, Implemented through the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies, Shared Services Alliances are county-based, membership organizations dedicated to advancing high-quality early care and education through resource sharing, capacity building and community partnerships. By pooling resources and expertise, the Alliances aims to strengthen member organizations, improve job quality and increase financial sustainability, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for children and families.
More information and links to individual county Alliance websites are available on our
Shared Services Alliances page.
Qien Porter qporter@ulohc.org 201.451.8888 ext 114