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I'm wondering if any working foster/adoptive parents who receive subsidized daycare have experienced the switch over yet to the new "e-childcare system"? My daycare is facilitated by the Monmouth County agency (Child Care Resources). I was told it was starting October 1st, but I've yet to receive any information, cards, or instructions about it. And neither has my provider! Just curious if anyone is using it, and if so, is it a good change, or no???
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we got a letter saying november 6th, i think. they sent us the card the other day - only one! so now we have to call to get a second one sent to us. and honestly, we should get a 3rd because one of us is bound to lost it. i think this whole thing is gonna be a hassle, even though i'm sure it's more efficient for the state and better protection against any kind of fraud.
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I had a feeling it would be a nightmare. I'm not looking forward to it at all. I did just get a letter today saying it has been postponed until January. Maybe they will keep delaying it until NEVER. My daughter is the only child in the school on the voucher program, so the school will not get the swipe card system. I will be responsible for calling into the automated phone system daily. The only problem is that the preschool she goes to is in a free-standing building on the same grounds as (and part of) an elementary school. The main office with the phone is in the other building. I'm not about to drop her off and then have to trek over to another building just to call in and say she's there. Its ridiculous!!
I just got my card in the mail. It's hard not to believe this is some kind of a sick joke. My 10 year old gets picked up by bus from after care. The bus driver doesn't even go in to get him. Who, exactly, is supposed to call? There won't be a swipe thingy. There is no phone (after care is in a school gym and the office is closed). The workers have their own cell phones but how do they expect me to call?Both kids get picked up by various dyfs workers 3 days a week for visits. Am I supposed to get a card for every Dyfs transporter?I'd love to know who dreamed up this brilliant idea. No wonder it has kinks!!
The state came up with it. But, in Ocean County they just changed this so "schoolaged" kids dont need to be swiped or called in for anymore. Most of the cards dont work, the machines dont work, the telephone number that was given never has a person who can give you answers to your questions, daycares are not being paid, and all of the stress of this goes on the local agency, when it really has nothign to do with them.
Whew!! Thanks for your post - both of mine are "school-aged" so it's one less thing I have to think about figuring out logistically....
The good old State of NJ, huh? It's amazing how in the technology age of the 21st century, they come up with a system so anachronistic...I'm not surprised it doesn't work.
Sorry you're having to deal with it!
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Click on this link:
[url=http://www.childandfamily-nj.org/ShowPage.asp?id=49&m=18&s=51]e-Child Care for Parents[/url]
There are docs in the right-hand navigation that explain everything. Just keep in mind while reading that IT DOESN'T WORK. The whole thing just doesn't work but we have to keep calling day after day, morning AND afternoon, week after week including "BACKSWIPES" and the whole thing just doesn't work. There is absolutely no one to trouble shoot the problems - Child Care Resources has no clue, the Provider helpline won't talk to you if you're a parent, the Provider doesn't know why it doesn't work....but you just have to keep calling. I probably spend more than an hour total each week on the phone from my kids' pre & after care place even though IT DOESN'T WORK.
Enjoy!
Ditto. The whole system is a mess. I've spent hours trying to correct past log-in errors an such, but there's no way to really do that - Not even any way to see online a list of my log-ins and log-outs to make sure they're correct, or a phone line to call when they're not! The daycare provider is so frustrated they're practically ready to stop accepting the subsidy. The state knows there are problems and has had hearings about them recently .It's a wreck.
If you have a placement that needs daycare it is how they track the child's attendance. It looks like a credit card-you check them in & check them out-if you forget either you can't do the next swipe without "backswiping"-you also have 14 days to do back swipes if you don't get to your daycare daily. My daycare also offers transportation and she provides the machines on the bus for parents that don't get to daycare. I personally love it-however I know that my daycare provider tells me it's a nightmare-as a foster parent I haven't had any issues-good luck in your journey!
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