Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is taking aim at Governor Phil Murphy over the state’s abrupt suspension of new applications for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), calling it a “shameful failure of leadership” that will leave thousands of New Jersey families without access to affordable child care.
The New Jersey Department of Human Services recently announced that, effective Friday, August 1, it will stop accepting new CCAP applications due to limited funding. Only applications received or postmarked by Thursday, July 31, will be processed. Officials also warned that “additional funding is not anticipated for the foreseeable future,” making the freeze indefinite.
Ciattarelli said the funding crisis was entirely avoidable.
“Governor Murphy has ballooned the state budget by 70%—$23 billion—since taking office, wasting money on his far-left agenda,” Ciattarelli wrote in a social media post Tuesday. “Now the victims of his mismanagement are working families who rely on child care to survive. This is unacceptable.”
CCAP provides financial assistance for child care to low- and moderate-income families across New Jersey. With the application freeze, many parents will be forced to find alternative—and likely more expensive—solutions, or risk leaving the workforce entirely.
In Ocean County, the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey processes CCAP applications, while in Monmouth County, it falls to Child Care Resources of Monmouth County. Both agencies are reportedly overwhelmed with last-minute applications as the deadline approaches.
Ciattarelli also blasted his opponent, Mike Sherrill, for supporting Murphy’s budget, warning that under continued Democratic leadership, “millions of dollars will continually be wasted on a liberal agenda while programs like CCAP are gutted.”
He pledged to make funding for child care and CCAP a top priority if elected governor.
Critics warn the freeze could have cascading effects on employment, early childhood development, and family stability.
“This isn’t a partisan issue,” Ciattarelli said. “This is a basic failure to protect working families—and children are paying the price.”
Key Deadlines:
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Application Deadline: Must be received or postmarked by Thursday, July 31
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Ocean County: Apply through the Children’s Home Society of NJ
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Monmouth County: Apply through Child Care Resources of Monmouth County
With no additional funding on the horizon, the pressure is on lawmakers—and candidates—to address the crisis before more families are left without support.
Over 4000 childcare centers in NJ count on this funding. Didn’t we learn how important they are from the covid shutdown. Further the state should raise the income eligibility to 300% of federal poverty level.