Reaching For The Stars: Growing with Grow NJ Kids
- jenmiller3
- Aug 12
- 2 min read
Jenny Montoya was already an overachiever before she teamed up with United In Care in 2022. She has her Child Development Associate certification and was enrolled in New Jersey’s child care quality standards program, Grow NJ Kids. But she wanted to offer the best care to the families she served. So, with the help of our United In Care program, she decided to shoot for the coveted five-star rating – the highest achievement a provider can earn.
It was not easy. While Jenny already had the foundation in place, United In Care was able to offer her a competitive edge. Our program equipped her with new materials, learning stations, and access to business classes – all leading to a higher overall quality for the children she serves. She learned the importance of budgeting while building a sustainable program. Using new technology, she now easily tracks attendance, logging children in and out instantaneously.
“The way the program focuses on quality and innovation in child care aligned perfectly with my own values and goals,” Jenny Montoya said.
The families she serves also benefit from United In Care. Parents can apply to our tuition assistance, helping put costly care within reach. Because of our program, Jenny was motivated to use a new teaching system, incorporating STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). At the end of the day, children leave happy while learning and developing fine motor skills.
When the results were finally announced by Grow NJ Kids this year, she was thrilled. She was one of the six home-based providers in the state to receive a five-star rating – joined by United In Care’s Maira Silva, owner of Rainbow Kids Home Care. But with 90% of United In Care providers working on either their initial rating or continuing to improve their quality, she will have company soon enough.