Norwescap and the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey were among grantees listed for Morris County service areas, while other grants will support outreach on paid leave, unemployment, wage laws and domestic worker protections.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development awarded $3 million in worker-rights outreach grants to 31 organizations and collaboratives, including groups listed to provide services in Morris County.
The funding was awarded through the fifth round of the Cultivating Access, Rights and Equity Grant Program, known as CARE, according to NJDOL. The program funds community organizations that provide outreach, education and technical assistance to help workers understand and access benefits and protections under state law.
This year’s funding covers paid family and medical leave, unemployment insurance and workplace rights, including earned sick leave, minimum wage, overtime, wage theft, misclassification, the Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights and the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.
Several listed awards include Morris County in their service areas.
Norwescap was awarded $115,000 for work in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties.
The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey was awarded $50,000 for work in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.
Under Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights funding, the New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund was awarded $60,000 for work in Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union and Warren counties, with Laundry Workers Center and Wind of the Spirit listed as partner organizations.
Other grantees were listed as statewide, meaning Morris County workers may also be able to access outreach or assistance through those programs.
NJDOL said CARE grantees have made direct contact with almost 300,000 workers since the program launched in March 2022. The department said grantees have also reached more than 9,800 employers with information on legal obligations and compliance.
“The partnerships NJDOL has built through the CARE grant program demonstrates our commitment to making it a reality that every New Jersey worker knows their work rights and how to exercise these rights in every community across our state,” said Acting Commissioner Jarvis. “By working with trusted organizations, we are able to further our outreach and connect even more Garden State workers and families with the benefits and protections they deserve.”
Several organizations received funding for paid family and medical leave navigator services. Those partners will provide one-on-one support to help workers and families estimate eligibility, apply and plan leave.
“During pregnancy, it can be difficult to navigate work benefits and plan for the arrival of your baby. Paid leave navigation services will provide families with vital support and guidance throughout their parenting journey, ensuring they fully utilize the benefits available to them. We appreciate this outstanding opportunity from the New Jersey Department of Labor,” said Emily Haines, Chief Nursing Officer at the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ.
NJDOL said grantees will receive training from the department and may conduct community outreach, one-on-one counseling, application assistance, presentations, social media and text campaigns, and user testing of state tools and forms.