The Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, working with the Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative, has released a new brief highlighting the challenges New Jersey’s child care workforce faces when caring for children who may have special needs and identifying opportunities to strengthen training, resources, and support.
Authored by Heldrich Center researchers Liana Lin, Lillian McFarland, and Andrea Hetling, Ph.D., New Jersey’s Child Care Workforce: A Special Needs-Focused Issue Brief draws on statewide workforce surveys and focus groups with child care professionals working in licensed child care centers and family child care providers.
The findings reveal that 87% of lead teachers, 78% of assistant teachers, and 64% of registered family child care providers reported having cared for children they believed had special needs, but who did not have a diagnosis. Insufficient staffing, disruptions to other children, and limited training were among the most frequently cited challenges. Notably, 63% of lead teachers and 65% of assistant teachers believed better training on working with children with special needs would help reduce employee turnover by “a lot.”
The brief underscores the importance of expanding access to specialized training, improving awareness of existing resources, and strengthening coordination among state agencies and child care organizations. Researchers identified particular interest in training related to behavioral challenges, special needs generally, and communication with parents. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and organizations working to strengthen New Jersey’s child care workforce and improve care for children with diverse needs.
Read the full research brief to explore the findings and their implications for New Jersey’s child care workers.
Liana Lin is a Research Project Manager at the Heldrich Center. Lillian McFarland is a Research Project Assistant at the Center. Andrea Hetling, Ph.D. is a Professor of Public Policy at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and Director of the Heldrich Center.