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.