New Jersey Administrative Code Title 3A - CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Here’s an overview of the New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) Title 3A – Children and Families, which governs the structure, procedures, standards, and services of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF):
📘 Title 3A – Structure & Chapters
According to Justia and Cornell’s LII, the code comprises the following key chapters (regulations.justia.com):
Ch. 1 – Organization of the Department of Children and Families
Ch. 2 – Rulemaking Procedures
Ch. 3 – Client Information
Ch. 5 – Dispute Resolution
Ch. 10 – Child Protection Investigations
Ch. 11–17 – Case Management, Placement, Resource Care, Out‑of‑Home Services, Family Child Care, Removal from Resource Family Homes
Ch. 18 – Safe Haven Infant Protection Act
Ch. 19–24 – Court Procedures, Guardianship, Termination of Parental Rights, Adoption & Adoption Assistance
Ch. 26 – Substance-Affected Infants
Ch. 40 – Eligibility Determination for Children’s System of Care services
Ch. 50–57 – Manuals and Standards (Adoption agencies, Resource families, Child care centers, Shelter facilities, Group homes, and more)
Additional chapters (Ch. 70–80) covering displaced homemaker programs, address confidentiality, instructional staff, etc. (regulations.justia.com)
🔍 Selected Detailed Examples
Ch. 3 (Client Information) includes provisions on privacy, disclosure (including media and government entities), and related processes. The current version is updated through Register Vol. 57, No. 6 (March 17, 2025) (regulations.justia.com).
Ch. 24 – Subchapter 1 (§ 3A:24-1.1) mandates an annual New Jersey Child and Family Services Plan plus a federal Title IV‑E plan. These are available through DCF’s Office of Advocacy in Trenton (law.cornell.edu).
Ch. 40 sets forth standards for determining eligibility for functional services under the Children’s System of Care (casetext.com).
🛠️ Regulatory Updates & Governance
Title 3A took effect via DCF rules recodified from Title 10 on January 3, 2017 (nj.gov).
Many chapters are periodically readopted—with or without amendment—and updated via public notices (e.g., Ch. 11 readopted August 30, 2024; Ch. 26 readopted December 4, 2024) (nj.gov).
Regulations are reviewed at least every five years and any changes are published in the New Jersey Register (nj.gov).
✅ Practical Use & Access
The official DCF site and the New Jersey Register offer up-to-date rule proposals, adoptions, and public notices (nj.gov).
For licensing manuals (e.g., Ch. 52, 54, 55), print copies can be ordered from DCF’s Office of Licensing for a nominal fee (nj.gov).
Summary Table
| Title 3A Component | Key Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Chapters 1–2 | Agency structure, rulemaking processes |
| Chapters 3–5 | Client data, media disclosure, dispute resolution |
| Chapters 10–18 | Child protection, placement, foster care, Safe Haven Act |
| Chapters 19–24 | Legal processes (court actions, guardianship, adoption, termination of rights) |
| Subchapter 24.1 | Federal and state service planning (Child & Family Services Plan, Title IV‑E) |
| Chapters 26–4 | Services for substance-affected infants, eligibility for behavioral health care |
| Chapters 50–57 | Licensing standards for facilities and providers |
| Chapters 70–80 (miscellaneous programs) | Address confidentiality, displaced homemakers, instructional staff management |
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