The Quality Improvement Specialist supports child care centers and family child care providers enrolled in Grow NJ Kids, our state’s quality rating and improvement system. They hold information sessions several times a year and can assist with the enrollment process. They can conduct ITERS-3, ECERS-3 and FCCERS-R program assessments, provide on-site staff coaching and training, and provide technical assistance to support quality improvement. You can reach Jill Sidote, Quality Improvement Specialist, at extension 132 or jsidote@chsofnj.org.
The Infant Toddler Specialist promotes quality care for infants & toddlers throughout the county. They provide technical assistance to all programs serving infants & toddlers and can conduct ITERS-3 assessments to support quality improvement. They inform the early education community about quality initiatives related to infants and toddlers, and provide support for grants related to infant quality, offering up to $10,000 for the expansion of infant and toddler child care. You can reach Karen Fisher, Infant Toddler Specialist, at extension 131 or kfisher@chsofnj.org.
The Family Engagement Specialist supports families through outreach and consumer education utilizing various strategies, community events, focus groups and meetings. They coordinate several Books Balls & Blocks events throughout the year to help families understand their child’s development and to implement developmental screenings. They plan activities designed to facilitate support among parents utilizing the Strengthening Families model. In addition, the Family Engagement Specialist works closely with other agencies throughout Ocean County to identify community resources, promotes public awareness of available services and serves as a resource about community activities and events to other CCR&R staff. You can reach Terence (Teri) Torquato, Family Engagement Specialist, at extension 109 or ttorquato@chsofnj.org.
The Ocean County CCR&R is responsible for overseeing the Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP) for registered family child care providers in Burlington, Camden, Hunterdon, Mercer, and Ocean counties. The CACFP is a federally funded program to assist child care providers in providing healthy and nutritious meals to children in care in a setting which promotes and encourages positive eating habits. Participants in the CACFP are eligible to receive reimbursement for serving nutritious meals and snacks to enrolled children in their care. If you are interested in learning more about the CACFP, please contact Maria Romero by calling (732) 557-9633, ext 170 or via email at mromero@chsofnj.org.
New Jersey’s Shared Services Alliance
The Ocean County CCR&R is part of the New Jersey Shared Services Initiative, which is a statewide effort to connect and support early care and education providers in a collaborative network in 16 New Jersey counties. The Shared Services Alliance is a membership-based organization and offers tailored services to meet the unique needs of their individual communities.
Through this Shared Services Alliance, we work to strengthen our members’ business operations, educational leadership and job quality for licensed child care centers and registered family child care providers.
Members pool resources, share expertise and streamline operations – allowing you to enhance your program’s quality, improve financial sustainability and expand access to affordable, high-quality child care. Ultimately, these efforts ensure better outcomes for children, families and communities.
By becoming a member, you’ll be able to:
- Maximize Limited Resources: Shared services helps child care providers funded by diverse sources (e.g., nonprofits, state- and federally-funded agencies, ) make the most of their limited resources.
- Reduce Administrative Burden: Centralizing tasks allows directors to focus more on delivering high-quality care and education.
- Strengthen Financial Management: Shared services provides expertise and essential tools for budgeting, cash flow management, payroll processing and addressing gaps in directors’ business training. The alliance also equips directors with the skills and systems needed to run financially sustainable programs.
- Enhance Operational Efficiency: Shared services streamlines time spent on facility maintenance, policy development and administrative workflows which allows directors to prioritize program quality.
- Support Staff Recruitment and Retention: Centralized hiring, training and supervision processes help ensure programs can attract and retain qualified staff.
- Improve Program Quality: By alleviating non-educational responsibilities, directors can focus on their passion for early childhood development, benefiting the children and families they serve.
| Join Today!
Contact Lindsay Colavito Shared Service Specialist 732-557-9633 Ext. 3162
If you are looking for more information or need to connect with a Shared Services Alliance in another county, visit the ChildCareNJ.gov Shared Services page. |
Links to Helpful NJ State Resources
The Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development offers a number of resources for child care providers, including funding opportunities, coaching, professional development and more for better quality care.
Grow NJ Kids is New Jersey’s quality rating system, which easily helps families choose high-quality programs right for them and their children. For eligible child care providers, Grow NJ Kids provides training, mentorship and incentives to improve your program for high-quality care.
Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Licensing (OOL)
Child care centers are required by state law to be licensed through the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
NJ Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
The NJEDA creates and allows access to funding opportunities (grants) that may be available for child care providers.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
The CACFP is a federally funded program through the Department of Agriculture. The program helps to provide nutritious foods to child care programs that are eligible for assistance.
Local Resources: CHS of NJ Quality Team
Lisa Lockwood, Quality Manager
732-557-9633 ext. 3142
Theresah Brady, Lead Trainer
732-557-9633 ext. 3131
Megan Brennan, Infant Toddler Support Specialist
732-557-9633 ext. 3131
Jill Sidote, Quality Improvement Specialist
732-557-9633 ext. 3132
Terece Torquato, Family Engagement Specialist
732-557-9633 ext. 3109