The Christie administration announced that 43 child care facilities and 122 children using those services are benefiting from more than $300,000 in Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funding in superstorm Sandy-impacted counties.
Administered through the Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development, the grants cover subsidies to families whose child care was disrupted as a result of damage or displacement, storm-related building renovation and repair, and replacement of supplies and materials.
“After the storm, so much was uncertain for families who were displaced or who needed immediate home repairs,” Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez said. “Maintaining or securing safe child care was an essential element in their recovery. It allowed parents to get back to work faster, manage meetings with insurance companies and contractors, and know that their child was restarting a stable routine.”
The initiatives were made available for impacted families and child care programs in the nine most heavily affected counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union.
Applications were accepted through May 16.
“Nearly 50 child care centers experienced damage as a result of superstorm Sandy. Some had to close temporarily to make repairs and restock supplies that were destroyed. This funding helped get them back in business, providing continuity for their employees and the children they serve,” Velez said.
To date, grants totaling $199,500 have been awarded to 43 child care centers in eight counties. Thirty of the centers were located in the hardest-hit counties: Ocean, Monmouth and Union.
Vouchers totaling $122,386 were given to 78 families for children whose child care was interrupted due to relocation after the storm, or the temporary or permanent closure of a facility because of the storm.
SSBG provided funding only if expenses were not reimbursed through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance, a Small Business Loan, under a contract for insurance, self-insurance or any other disaster relief funding.

