Overview

The Southern Regional Child Care Resource Center was established by EIRC in July 1986. As part of the Division of Family Development's Unified Child Care Delivery System the center provides a comprehensive child care resource and referral service in Cape May and Gloucester Counties that: Advise parents of available child care options. Provides information about resources available. Increases public awareness of child care issues. Identifies child care needs and develops child care resources.

For Parents

The resource center provides information regarding child care options available to families, and administers the Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) and New Jersey Cares for Kids (NJCK) Child Care Subsidy Programs. Parents are encouraged to carefully consider these options in selecting a child care setting which best suits their individual family needs. By assisting parents in making an informed choice among child care services, the resource center enables parents to become wiser child care consumers. It is stressed to the parents that the choice of child care rests with them and they are urged to visit the child care setting prior to making an appropriate decision.

For Child Care Providers

The resource center offers training and technical assistance to child care centers, family day care providers, and those interested in becoming child care professionals in family day care, center based care, and/or school aged child care. Assistance is provided in the areas of program, curriculum, licensing, administrative procedures and utilization of community resources. Special emphasis is placed on facilitating collaboration between existing services.

For Employers

Technical assistance and training is offered to businesses and corporation to promote and facilitate development of employer supported child care initiatives.

With the Child Care Community

Through assessment of child care needs, the resource center will work with the child care community in identifying areas where additional resources are needed and assist in facilitating development of those resources.

With the Human Services community

The resource center works supportively with the Human Services Community to address issues concerning children and families.