4cs Of Passaic County Inc

HELP FAMILIES GET QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION THAT IS ACCESSIBLE, AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT - ALL QUALITY ACTIVITIES ALIGN WITH, SUPPORT, AND HELP SUSTAIN QUALITY EFFORTS REQUIRED BY THE CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CCDBG), GROW NJ KIDS, AND OTHER DFD FUNDING EFFORTS. GUIDING PRINCIPLES, THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY DFD, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, SOUND FISCAL AND PROGRAMMATIC ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS, EQUITY AND ACCESS TO SERVICES, COORDINATION, AND LINKAGES OF SERVICES ACROSS PROGRAMS AND WITH KEY PARTNERS AT FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS, AND PROGRAM GUIDANCE AND CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT CCDBG/ CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES.

CHILDCARE ADMINISTRATION: 4CS IS THE DESIGNATED CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCY FOR PASSAIC COUNTY AS CONTRACTED BY THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF FAMILY DEVELOPMENT (DFD). A PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF 4CS IS TO ASSESS THE APPLICANT FAMILY'S ELIGIBILITY TO DETERMINE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR CHILDCARE NEEDS. DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021, 4CS ENCUMBERED AND PAYMENTS WERE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF ALL ELIGIBLE PASSAIC COUNTY FAMILIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $43,155,539, REPRESENTING SERVICE TO 8,435 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING: OUR CENTER FOR CHILD CARE CAREERS ENHANCES THE AGENCY'S MISSION BY MENTORING, TEACHING, OFFERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNICATING ABOUT EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION CONCERNS, SUCH AS HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE, CHILDREN'S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT, AND RAISING SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN THROUGH INCREASING THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF PARENTS, HEAD START PROVIDERS, CHILDCARE CENTERS, FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, FAMILY-FRIEND-AND-NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS, AND DIRECTORS. LAST YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 1,439 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THESE TRAININGS AND MORE THAN 400 CHILDCARE CENTER STAFF AND FAMILY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WERE REPRESENTED. THE PROVIDER SERVICES MAINTAINS LISTS OF AVAILABLE AND APPROVED PROVIDERS AND CENTERS, MONITORS THE PROVIDERS AND CENTERS, ASSISTS WITH CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM REFERRALS, DONATES BOOKS AND SUPPORT ITEMS, AND HOLDS APPRECIATION EVENTS.

THE AGENCY REALIZES THAT THE SUREST WAY TO HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE IS THROUGH THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF BOTH THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES. CONFERENCES AND TRAINING ARE OFFERED ON A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF TOPICS. THE CENTER FOR CHILD CARE CAREERS IS A NJ LICENSED VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, WHICH OFFERS COURSE WORK FOR THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL, WHICH INCLUDES A SUPERVISED STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ON THE CURRICULUM FOR THE CDA. A LAB COURSE IS OFFERED TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN COMPLETING COURSE WORK FOR THE CDA CREDENTIAL.THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP) IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM (USDA) THAT PROVIDES HEALTHY MEALS AND SNACKS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS RECEIVING DAY CARE. ON ANNUAL BASIS, THE AGENCY MANAGES THIS FOOD REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE NEW JERSEY STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM SERVES MORE THAN 3,700 CHILDREN, RANGING FROM INFANCY TO AGE 13, AND PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY 187,398 MEALS ANNUALLY.FINALLY, 4CS ADVOCATES FOR EFFECTIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN THE COUNTY AND BEYOND, WHICH INCLUDES SERVING AS CHAMPIONS FOR THE CHILDCARE WORKFORCE FOR RATES THAT COVER THE COST OF CARE AND EDUCATION SUPPORT TO PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING, ALL BASED ON THE LATEST BRAIN RESEARCH AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT PEDAGOGY.