The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders last night voted to authorize a pilot program with Community Coordinated Child Care of Union County (CCCC) to serve those who don't meet eligibility for State subsidized child care with affordable child care. The pilot program, which is scheduled to start in June and end in December, will assist approximately 40 families with up to 25% of the cost of child care, and is targeted toward low income working parents, or those in school full-time who do not receive other child care subsidies to secure child care for children up to 12 years of age, or children with a documented “special need” up to age 18. Please note the program is expected to be set up within the next few weeks, and additional information will be forthcoming from the County and CCCC in Rahway on how and when to sign up.
The program will permit families living on low income, or suffering from catastrophic illness, homelessness, domestic violence crises to access child care for pre-school before/after school and summer camp. Under the terms of the $50,000 contract with CCCC, the organization will also assist parents with inquiries, screens, maintain all records and documentation and refer them to licensed child care providers in the geographic location that is preferred. (Please note CCCC will not directly administer child care, but rather serve to process and refer parents.)
“We are excited to partner with Union County in helping parents and families obtain affordable, quality child care,” said Pat Mennuti, CCCC Executive Director. “Child Care provides a great start to a successful future for many children.”
Community Coordinated Child Care of Union County is a not for profit agency, whose goal is to meet the wide range of needs families face as they raise young children.
As part of its mission, the organization believes all families should have good child care that they can afford. CCCC works with parents, community, business, and government, and helps parents find services to help them. The agency helps the early childhood centers and family child care providers by giving training and other help to improve their programs.