In a powerful op-ed, Debra Lancaster of the Rutgers Center for Women and Work and Winifred Smith-Jenkins of Advocates for Children of New Jersey — both leaders in the First 1,000 Days NJ Policy Coalition — warn that New Jersey’s decision to halt new applications for child care assistance will have devastating consequences for working families.
The authors argue that the state’s move, which comes amid growing demand for affordable child care, will force many families to shoulder rising co-payments or lose access to care altogether. For families already spending up to 30% of their income on child care, the impact could be catastrophic — pushing parents out of the workforce and leaving children without stable early learning environments.
“Families across New Jersey are doing everything right — working hard, paying taxes, contributing to their communities,” the authors write. “Yet they’re being told that essential supports like child care are out of reach. This is not just bad policy; it’s a failure of our collective responsibility to support the next generation.”
The op-ed situates the decision within the broader child care crisis, noting that supply shortages, workforce attrition, and outdated subsidy rules have left the system unable to meet demand. The authors call on policymakers to reverse course, prioritize funding for child care, and enact structural reforms that ensure predictable, equitable access for all families.
They also emphasize that child care is more than a family issue — it’s an economic imperative. Without reliable care, parents cannot participate fully in the workforce, and businesses lose valuable employees. The ripple effects, they argue, will harm New Jersey’s economy for years to come.
“Child care is infrastructure,” they conclude. “It is as essential to a thriving economy as roads and bridges — and we must invest in it accordingly.”
