health-and-safety-posting-inspection-reports

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency does not post full monitoring and inspection reports that include all areas of compliance and non-compliance for licensed centers, license-exempt family child care providers, license-exempt in-home providers, and out-of-school programs, as required by 98.33(a)(4). (Plan Question 5.5.4a). Please note the Lead Agency has an approved waiver for portions of this requirement through December 31, 2024. • The Lead Agency monitoring and inspection reports do not contain all the required elements, specifically, corrective action taken by the State and child care provider, and a minimum of three years of results where available, as required by 98.33(a)(4). (Plan Question 5.5.4b) Overall Target Completion Date: 07/31/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 DHS/DFD has been working with essential government partners to collaborate and coordinate efforts to discuss necessary changes to the inspection reports. 07/31/2026 DHS/DFD is progressing with key activities, including the redesign of the four provider type monitoring reports (Center, Family Child Care, Family, Friends, and Neighbor, and Youth Camps) to track compliance, non-compliance, and corrective actions, which are currently in progress and expected to be completed soon. System changes are underway in New Jersey’s Child Care Information System (licensing) to ensure all required standards are included and monitored, as well as have the necessary coding to meet CCDF requirements. Inspectors will be scheduled to be trained on the new monitoring reports, and information capture for public posting. COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECK:5 YEAR RENEWAL Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency does not conduct all background checks every 5 years, as required by 98.43(d)(2)(ii). (Plan Question 5.7.17) Overall Target Completion Date: 07/31/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 The National Center on Subsidy Innovation and Accountability (NCSIA) facilitated a virtual technical assistance (TA) session from September 18￿20, 2024, with New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Health, Department of Children and Families (DCF), and NCSIA staff. The TA session assisted New Jersey staff in identifying areas of challenge and mapping the Lead Agency's comprehensive background check process. 07/31/2026 DHS/DFD has been working with essential government partners to collaborate and coordinate efforts to enact regulatory changes. 2 New Jersey will issue updated notices to all the eligible providers, draft policy, and provide technical assistance to service vendors responsible for managing and overseeing the criminal background checks process. Policy will outline the following: • The scope of required checks (state, federal, fingerprinting and registries). • A timeline for periodic checks (every five years as per CCDBG). • Procedures for tracking and securely storing background check results. • Disqualification criteria based on CCDBG and state guidelines. • Clear process for resolving disputes related to background check results. 07/31/2026 3 Implement Provider Tracking Mechanisms: Create an IT solution that will centralize the background check processes, to include, • Maintain accurate records of all childcare staff, including the dates of initial and subsequent background checks. • Develop tools to help childcare staff track their compliance and due dates for rechecks. 07/31/2026 4 Monitor Compliance: Regularly review compliance rates and address gaps or delays in the background check process. 07/31/2026