Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) An applicant for an
initial or renewal Certificate of Registration shall submit to the sponsoring
organization a completed application form, which shall include:
1. The provider applicant's name, address and
telephone number;
2. A statement
indicating:
i. The provider applicant, the
alternate provider, if any, and the substitute provider are at least 18 years of
age; and
ii. The provider assistant, if
any, is at least 14 years of age;
3. A list of all adults residing in the provider
applicant's household;
4. The number and
ages of all children under 18 years of age residing in the provider applicant's
household;
5. The hours in which the
provider applicant plans to provide child care;
6. The name, address and telephone number of the
provider assistant and the alternate provider, if any, and the substitute
provider;
7. A statement from the
provider applicant indicating that all pets are domesticated, free from disease,
non-aggressive and meet all applicable State and local codes or ordinances
pertaining to the keeping of pets and, as applicable:
i. All household pets shall be vaccinated;
and
ii. Proof of current vaccination(s)
as documented by a veterinarian shall be kept on the premises;
8. An indication as to whether the provider
applicant wishes to be listed with either or both of the following:
i. The New Jersey Child Care Resource and Referral
System; and
ii. A list of registered
providers that is available to the public through the Office of Licensing;
9. A disclosure of information about
and circumstances surrounding any previous denial, suspension, revocation or
nonrenewal of a Certificate of Registration as a family child care provider in New
Jersey or of a license, certificate or other approval as a family child care
provider in any other state; and
10. A
disclosure of the presence or absence of criminal convictions by the provider
applicant, the substitute provider, all members of the provider's household, and any
individual who frequents the home on an intermittent basis, who are at least 14
years old, and the alternate provider and the provider assistant, if any, and any
individual who expects to remain in the home longer than 15 consecutive days, or on
a frequent intermittent basis.
i. Evidence of
conviction of a crime, in itself, shall not automatically preclude an individual
from serving as a provider, provider assistant, alternate provider or substitute
provider, and shall not automatically result in denying the application or revoking,
suspending or refusing to renew the Certificate of Registration. Such determination
shall be made on a case by case basis, in keeping with the provisions of the State
Rehabilitated Convicted Offenders Act (2A:168A-1 et seq.) which
provides that a person convicted of a crime may not be disqualified or discriminated
against by a licensing authority unless the conviction relates adversely to the
occupation, trade, vocation, profession or business for which a license is
sought.
ii. The provider shall notify
the sponsoring organization by the end of the sponsoring organization's next
business day of any criminal conviction(s) during the three-year registration period
by the provider, the substitute provider, a member of the provider's household who
is at least 14 years old, and the alternate provider and the provider assistant, if
any.
(b) An
applicant for an initial or renewal Certificate of Registration shall also submit to
the sponsoring organization a health care provider's statement(s) for the applicant,
the alternate provider and the provider assistant, if any, the substitute provider,
and any household member(s) who are present during the care of enrolled children, as
applicable, verifying the applicant, the alternate provider, the provider assistant,
the substitute provider, and any household member(s), are in good health, free from
communicable disease, and able to care for children. Such statement(s) shall be
based on a medical examination conducted within the six months immediately preceding
the submission of the application.
(c)
An applicant for an initial Certificate of Registration shall also submit to the
sponsoring organization written proof of the results of either (c)1 or 2 below for
the applicant, the alternate provider, the provider assistant, and any household
member(s) who are present during the care of enrolled children, if any:
1. A Mantoux tuberculin skin test with five TU
(tuberculin units) of PPD tuberculin, conducted within the six months immediately
preceding the submission of the application; or
2. A chest x-ray if the individual has had a
previous positive Mantoux tuberculin test or has a medical contraindication that
precludes a Mantoux test.
(d)
The provider, the alternate provider, the provider assistant, and any household
member(s) who are present during the care of enrolled children shall obtain
additional Mantoux tests when required by the Office of Licensing based on a
recommendation by the New Jersey Department of Health.
(e) An applicant for an initial Certificate of
Registration shall also submit to the sponsoring organization one of the following,
for both the applicant and the alternate provider, if any:
1. Two letters of reference, dated within three
years immediately preceding the submission of the application, including at least
one from a person who can attest to the individual's character, reputation and
suitability to work with children; or
2.
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two persons who can provide
letters of reference upon request.
(f) The provider applicant shall permit and
participate in an announced or unannounced evaluation of the applicant's home by the
sponsoring organization. The evaluation shall include:
1. Inspection of all rooms, furniture and
equipment in areas designated for use by enrolled children; and
2. Access to all areas on the premises not
designated for use by enrolled children, to observe whether any hazards to children
exist, including, but not limited to, the basement, the attic (if accessible), the
storage shed, garage, and carport.
(g) The provider applicant and the alternate
provider, if any, shall attend eight hours of pre-service training provided by the
sponsoring organization.
(h) The
sponsoring organization shall process all applications for a Certificate of
Registration without regard to the applicant's race, national origin, religion, sex,
age, or geographic location.
