Department of Children and Families
Office of Licensing
INFORMATION TO PARENTS
Under provisions of the Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 10:122), every
licensed child care center in New Jersey must provide to parents of enrolled children written
information on parent visitation rights, State licensing requirements, child abuse/neglect reporting
requirements and other child care matters. The center must comply with this requirement by
reproducing and distributing to parents this written statement, prepared by the Office of Licensing,
Child Care & Youth Residential Licensing, in the Department of Children and Families (DCF). In
keeping with this requirement, the center must secure every parent’s signature attesting to his/her
receipt of the information.
* * * * *
Our center is required by the State Child Care Center Licensing law to be licensed by the Office of
Licensing, Child Care & Youth Residential Licensing, in the Department of Children and Families
(DCF). A copy of our current license must be posted in a prominent location at our center. Look
for it when you’re in the center.
To be licensed, our center must comply with the Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers
(the official licensing regulations). The regulations cover such areas as: physical environment/lifesafety;
staff qualifications, supervision, and staff/child ratios; program activities and equipment;
health, food and nutrition; rest and sleep requirements; parent/community participation;
administrative and record keeping requirements; and others.
Our center must have on the premises a copy of the Manual of Requirements for Child Care
Centers and make it available to interested parents for review. If you would like to review our
copy, just ask any staff member. Parents may secure a copy of the Manual of Requirements by
sending a check or money order for $5 made payable to the “Treasurer, State of New Jersey”, and
mailing it to: NJ Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing, Publication Fees, PO
Box 657, Trenton, NJ 08646-0657.
We encourage parents to discuss with us any questions or concerns about the policies and
program of the center or the meaning, application or alleged violations of the Manual of
Requirements for Child Care Centers. We will be happy to arrange a convenient opportunity for
you to review and discuss these matters with us. If you suspect our center may be in violation of
licensing requirements, you are entitled to report them to the Office of Licensing toll free at 1 (877)
667-9845. Of course, we would appreciate your bringing these concerns to our attention too.
Our center must have a policy concerning the release of children to parents or people authorized
by parents to be responsible for the child. Please discuss with us your plans for your child’s
departure from the center.
Our center must have a policy about administering medicine and health care procedures and the
management of communicable diseases. Please talk to us about these policies so we can work
together to keep our children healthy.
Our center must have a policy concerning the expulsion of children from enrollment at the center.
Please review this policy so we can work together to keep your child in our center.
Parents are entitled to review the center’s copy of the Office of Licensing’s Inspection/Violation
Reports on the center, which are issued after every State licensing inspection of our center. If
there is a licensing complaint investigation, you are also entitled to review the Office’s Complaint
Investigation Summary Report, as well as any letters of enforcement or other actions taken against
the center during the current licensing period. Let us know if you wish to review them and we will
make them available for your review.
Our center must cooperate with all DCF inspections/investigations. DCF staff may interview both
staff members and children.
Our center must post its written statement of philosophy on child discipline in a prominent location
and make a copy of it available to parents upon request. We encourage you to review it and to
discuss with us any questions you may have about it.
Our center must post a listing or diagram of those rooms and areas approved by the Office for the
children’s use. Please talk to us if you have any questions about the center’s space.
Our center must offer parents of enrolled children ample opportunity to assist the center in
complying with licensing requirements; and to participate in and observe the activities of the
center. Parents wishing to participate in the activities or operations of the center should discuss
their interest with the center director, who can advise them of what opportunities are available.
Parents of enrolled children may visit our center at any time without having to secure prior
approval from the director or any staff member. Please feel free to do so when you can. We
welcome visits from our parents.
Our center must inform parents in advance of every field trip, outing, or special event away from
the center, and must obtain prior written consent from parents before taking a child on each such
trip.
Our center is required to comply with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), P.L.
1945, c. 169 (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), P.L. 101-336
(42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). Anyone who believes the center is not in compliance with these laws
may contact the Division on Civil Rights in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety
for information about filing an LAD claim at (609) 292-4605 (TTY users may dial 711 to reach the
New Jersey Relay Operator and ask for (609) 292-7701), or may contact the United States
Department of Justice for information about filing an ADA claim at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800)
514-0383 (TTY).
Our center is required to periodically review the Department of Law and Public Safety (DLPS),
Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA), unsafe children’s products list, make the list accessible to
staff and parents, and ensure that items on the list are not at the center. The list is available at
www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/recall/recalls.htm. Internet access may be available at your local library.
For more information call the DLPS, DCA, toll-free at 1(800) 242-5846.
Anyone who has reasonable cause to believe that an enrolled child has been or is being subjected
to any form of hitting, corporal punishment, abusive language, ridicule, harsh, humiliating or
frightening treatment, or any other kind of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation by any adult,
whether working at the center or not, is required by State law to report the concern immediately to
the State Child Abuse Hotline, toll free at 1 (877) NJ ABUSE. Such reports may be made
anonymously. Parents may secure information about child abuse and neglect by contacting:
DCF, Office of Communications and Legislation at (609) 292-0422 or go to www.nj.gov/dcf and
select Publications.
OOL4/17/08