Child Care Connection
Child Care Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency, founded in 1986, that administers state and county child care subsidy programs, delivers provider training, and operates referrals for Mercer County, New Jersey families and providers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersTrenton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Child Care Connection does
Child Care Connection, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered at 1001 Spruce St., Suite 201, Trenton, NJ, designated by the State of New Jersey as the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for Mercer County. It serves three primary user groups: Mercer County families seeking child care (1,085 parents and 2,145+ children served through subsidy programs in FY2025), licensed and registered child care providers (centers, family child care, and Family Friend and Neighbor providers) needing training and compliance support, and a smaller set of area employers seeking dependent-care consultation. Core products include free child care referrals with 3–6 provider options per inquiry, NJ Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) administration including a county voucher program and dedicated voucher program, the e-Child Care (ECC) electronic attendance and payment tracking system, family child care registration and home inspection services, Grow NJ Kids quality rating support, and the Early Childhood Institute for Professional Development delivering 325+ annual training hours across CDA certification, CPR/First Aid, and CCDBG-required courses.
The underlying technology stack is largely state-administered rather than proprietary: NJCCIS (workforce registry, training registration, provider applications), the EPPIC payment portal, the MyNJHelps CCAP application system, and the NACCRAWare provider database for referral searches. Child Care Connection provides training and processes applications through these state platforms; it does not expose a public API. The business model is a hybrid of government managed-services contracts (County of Mercer and NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development as anchor funders), modest fee-for-service revenue (CPR/First Aid at $60/course, family child care registration at $25), and tax-deductible donations including employer matching gift programs. Distribution runs through a community referral line (609-989-8101), in-person counseling at the Trenton office, the agency's multilingual website (childcareconnection-nj.org), email newsletters, Facebook, community fairs, and direct outreach. The agency is led by Executive Director Cynthia Jackson with a 32-person professional staff and governance from a Board of Trustees currently presided over by Ross H. Bear, M.Ed.
Child Care Connection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Child Care Connection
- Legal name
- Child Care Connection, Inc.
- Website
- https://childcareconnection-nj.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Child Care Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency, founded in 1986, that administers state and county child care subsidy programs, delivers provider training, and operates referrals for Mercer County, New Jersey families and providers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Child Care Connection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Child Care Resource and Referral Services
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (624410), Child Care Services (6244)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Toddler-Focused Childcare Centers (EDACAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Home-Based Infant & Toddler Care (Family Daycare) (EDACAGAD)
Keywords
Where Child Care Connection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Trenton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Child Care Connection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Contracts and Grants: Funding from County of Mercer and State of New Jersey to administer child care assistance programs, quality improvement initiatives, and enhanced care programs
- Training and Registration Fees: Fees for professional development training sessions, CPR/First Aid certification courses ($60 per course), and family child care registration ($25 application fee)
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, matching gift programs from employers, planned giving, and memorial gifts. Organization is qualified under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CPR/First Aid Training |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Family Child Care Registration Application |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Child Care Referrals |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Child Care Connection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Child Care Connection is the designated Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for Mercer County, New Jersey. It connects families with licensed child care providers through free referral services, administers state (NJ CCAP) and county (Mercer County Voucher, Dedicated Voucher) child care subsidy programs, processes family child care registrations, supports providers through the Grow NJ Kids quality rating system, and delivers over 325 hours of professional development training annually through its Early Childhood Institute.
Product overview
Child Care Connection is a non-profit child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agency serving Mercer County, New Jersey since 1986. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of services organized around three core functions: (1) connecting families with child care through referrals, subsidy programs including NJ CCAP and Mercer County vouchers, and the e-Child Care electronic tracking system; (2) supporting child care providers through family child care registration, Grow NJ Kids quality rating participation, and FFN provider support; and (3) professional development through the Early Childhood Institute offering over 325 annual training hours including CDA certification, CPR/First Aid, and specialized programs. The organization also provides business consultation services to employers seeking dependent care solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Child Care Referrals Free referral service for Mercer County families searching for licensed child care centers, family child care providers, school-age programs, nursery schools, and summer camps; provides a minimum of 3-6 provider options per inquiry.
- NJ Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Administration Administration of the NJ Division of Family Development's child care subsidy program that helps eligible families cover child care costs on a sliding fee scale; serves as the Mercer County intake and processing agency.
- e-Child Care (ECC) Support Support and training for the state's electronic child care system used by subsidy-receiving providers and families to record attendance and track subsidy payments through the electronic portal.
- Family Child Care Registration Support Acts as the CCR&R sponsoring agency for state family child care registration in Mercer County; includes home inspections, application review, and ongoing compliance monitoring. $25 registration application fee.
- Grow NJ Kids Quality Rating Program Support Enrollment support, training, mentorship, and financial incentives for child care providers pursuing Grow NJ Kids quality ratings, which qualify them for differential state reimbursement rates.
- Professional Development Training Operated by the Early Childhood Institute for Professional Development, offering 325+ annual training hours including CDA training, CCDBG-required training, CPR/First Aid certification ($60/course), Healthy Kids Healthy Futures, and Strengthening Families programs.
- Mercer County Voucher Program County-funded child care subsidy program for Mercer County families administered in addition to the state CCAP; provides additional eligibility for local families.
- Business Consultation Services Consultation services for Mercer County employers including dependent care needs assessments, workplace seminars on work/family issues, and design of child care support programs for employees.
- Dedicated Voucher Program Child care voucher program providing subsidies to eligible families for center-based or family child care services.
- Family Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Provider Support Orientation, training, and support services for FFN/Approved Home providers including CCDBG-mandated training, home inspections, and connection to subsidy programs.
- Annual Child Care Connection Virtual Conference Annual professional development conference providing training and networking opportunities for child care professionals in Mercer County.
- DOE-Contracted Pre-K Wrap-Around Services Wrap-around child care services for children enrolled in DOE-contracted Pre-K programs in Trenton, providing care before and after school hours.
- Child Care Job Bank Online job posting service connecting Mercer County child care centers seeking employees with qualified candidates in the early childhood field.
Companies that use Child Care Connection
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Child Care Connection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Child Care Connection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- County of MercercoreLong-standing partnership for administering enhanced care programs to improve quality of child care at the local level. County funding supports CCR&R operations and subsidy programs.
- State of New Jersey (Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development)coreState agency partnership to administer NJ Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), quality improvement initiatives, and family child care registration. Holds the State's unified child care services contract for Mercer County.
- Grow NJ KidscoreNew Jersey's quality rating system for child care. Child Care Connection supports providers in enrolling and achieving quality ratings, which qualify them for differential reimbursement rates.
- Mercer County ECE Shared Services AlliancecorePart of the NJ Shared Services Initiative connecting early care and education providers in a collaborative network. Helps strengthen members' business operations, educational leadership, and job quality.
- New Jersey Child Care Information System (NJCCIS)coreStatewide online database system for child care workforce registry, training registration, and provider applications. Child Care Connection provides training and processes applications through this platform.
- Advocates for Children of New JerseyminorState advocacy organization Child Care Connection recommends for families interested in child care advocacy efforts.
- Children's Defense FundminorNational advocacy organization Child Care Connection recommends for families interested in child care advocacy efforts.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)minorNational professional organization Child Care Connection recommends for early childhood education advocacy.
- Child Care Aware of AmericaminorNational organization Child Care Connection recommends for families seeking child care resources and referrals outside New Jersey.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Child Care Connection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Child Care Council of New York: Regional CCR&R agency serving New York City families with referrals, training, and subsidy administration. Closely comparable to Child Care Connection in mission and operating model, differing primarily by geography.
- Childcare Alliance of Houston: Regional child care resource organization serving the greater Houston area with referrals, provider training, and advocacy. Mirrors Child Care Connection's CCR&R operating model at a different regional scale.
- Starting Point (Cleveland): Regional CCR&R agency serving Cuyahoga County, Ohio with child care referrals, provider quality support, and training. Functions as the county-level CCR&R counterpart to Child Care Connection for Northeast Ohio families.
- Child Development Resources: Regional non-profit serving the Virginia Peninsula with child care referrals, training, and family education. Mirrors Child Care Connection's referral-and-training operating model in a comparable-sized market.
- Child Care Resources: Regional CCR&R agency serving King and Pierce counties in Washington State with referrals, training, and family support services. Operates an analogous mission and service portfolio to Child Care Connection.
Broad incumbents
- Child Care Aware of America: National membership organization supporting a network of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies nationwide. Operates as the umbrella body for CCR&R agencies like Child Care Connection, with overlapping mission around referrals, training, and public funding administration.
- NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children): National professional association advancing high-quality early childhood education. Child Care Connection recommends NAEYC for advocacy and is part of the same professional ecosystem around early childhood quality standards and accreditation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Child Care Connection social profiles
Digital presenceChild Care Connection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Child Care Connection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Child Care Connection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Child Care Connection M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Child Care Connection
What does Child Care Connection do?
Child Care Connection is the designated Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for Mercer County, New Jersey. It connects families with licensed child care providers through free referral services, administers state (NJ CCAP) and county (Mercer County Voucher, Dedicated Voucher) child care subsidy programs, processes family child care registrations, supports providers through the Grow NJ Kids quality rating system, and delivers over 325 hours of professional development training annually through its Early Childhood Institute.
Is Child Care Connection a public or private company?
Child Care Connection is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Child Care Connection founded?
Child Care Connection was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Child Care Connection based?
Child Care Connection is headquartered in Trenton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Child Care Connection make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts and Grants are the primary driver. The others are training and Registration Fees and donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Child Care Connection's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Child Care Council of New York, Childcare Alliance of Houston, Starting Point (Cleveland), Child Development Resources and Child Care Resources. Broad incumbents are Child Care Aware of America and NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).
Does Child Care Connection have an API?
No public API is recorded for Child Care Connection.
What industry is Child Care Connection in?
Child Care Connection's product category is Child Care Resource and Referral Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAAAG, Toddler-Focused Childcare Centers, with a secondary code of EDACAGAD, Home-Based Infant & Toddler Care (Family Daycare). Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.