By Jennice Webb
When it comes to The Salvation Army, you might immediately conjure images of bustling thrift stores or iconic bell ringers during the holiday season. But here is a lesser-known fact that might surprise you: along with these well-known efforts are education programs that are quietly changing lives, right here in New Jersey.
As the education director for The Salvation Army, this isn’t just a job — it’s my passion. I am honored to be a part of an array of programs catering to kids from early childhood to after-school and summer camps. We’re talking about over 300 children, many of whom are underprivileged, whose lives are changed forever through nine programs across the state during the school year, with that number swelling to 12 during the summertime. We’re located in seven counties, often hidden in plain sight.
While each of our education programs is tailored to a local community’s needs, they share a common commitment to excellence. Our foundation is built on the core mission of The Salvation Army: serving the needs of the community. What we’ve uncovered is a pressing need for accessible, high-quality childcare that nurtures children emotionally, mentally, and spiritually while fostering their educational growth through developmentally appropriate practices. Each of our education programs is licensed by the Department of Children and Families, but our commitment does not stop there. We are actively involved in quality rating improvement systems like Grow NJ Kids (GNJK) and the New Jersey School Age Care Collation (NJSACC).
Take a look at our Morristown location — it boasts a four-star rating through GNJK. Meanwhile, our Jersey City center is currently gearing up for its first evaluation next year. And we are not stopping there. Our partnership with NJSACC has breathed new life into programs in New Brunswick and Camden, enabling us to enhance services for children and families. Through these collaborations, we are investing in our staff’s professional development and curating safe, exciting learning environments that encourage our kids to shine.
Food insecurity in New Jersey is at emergency levels, with as many as 8.7% of children experiencing hunger. If children are hungry, they cannot learn. To address that, we serve wholesome, USDA-approved meals and snacks, thanks to the state’s meal reimbursement program, CACFP.
Being licensed by the Garden State has opened doors to state funding that directly benefits our education programs. Over the past year, our centers have been recipients of New Jersey’s Hiring Bonus and Retention grants, bolstering our childcare staff and keeping them motivated. Moreover, the Stabilization grant has been a lifeline, helping our centers bounce back from the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And let us not forget the unwavering support of our generous donors — every contribution has played a pivotal role in our mission to empower underserved communities. We have secured funding from the Congressional grant issued by Senator Cory Booker. With this investment, we are poised to roll out a research-backed math curriculum across all of our education programs, a crucial step in countering pandemic-induced learning setbacks.
Yet, as we celebrate our achievements, we cannot ignore the elephant in the room: financial assistance for childcare tuition. While some families qualify for the state childcare subsidy assistance program, many are left to cover expenses out of pocket. The reality is, in New Jersey, childcare can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500 for full-time early childhood care per month and $400-$500 for after-school programs per month. It is a challenge that we’re steadfastly navigating. Our commitment to providing affordable care for families, though noble, does bring with it its fair share of hurdles in ensuring program sustainability.
We are doing all that we can at the congressional, local, corporate, and individual levels to ensure that our children and families get the early educational and childcare resources they need and deserve. We ask all New Jerseyans to consider supporting the next generation.
Jennice Webb is the divisional education director for The Salvation Army New Jersey Division. She is an educator, speaker, and advocate for quality learning in out-of-school and early childhood spaces.
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