Child Care Center
✓ Licensed
FOCUS After School Program
Newark, NJ
· Essex County
307 Sussex Avenue SUSSEX AVE SCHOOL,
Newark, NJ 07107
Quick Facts
Capacity
264 children
Age Range
6 - 13 years
Subsidized Program
Does not participate
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Contact Information
📞 (973) 268-5270
Licensed Child Care Center
Active License
License Number
07FOC0003
License Issued
Jan 20, 2026
Active Through
Jan 20, 2029
Issued By
New Jersey Department of Children & Families
District Office
New Jersey Dept of Children and Families - Office of Licensing
Reviews
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About the Provider
F.O.C.U.S., or Families Organized within the Community United with Schools is Murdock's federally-funded after school program. Murdock is proud to be a 21st Century Community Learning Center. As the name of the program implies, its purpose is for the school and community,in a joint effort, to provide a wide variety of after school enrichment activities for students and their families. For more information click one of the links below or email the director, Kimmy Wright .
Hours of Operation
- Monday03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
- Tuesday03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
- Wednesday03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
- Thursday03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
- Friday03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
Inspection/Report History
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Inspection Date | Type | Reinspection / Rule | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-14 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2026-06-22 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2026-05-19 | Monitoring | No | Center Inspection |
| 2026-01-20 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2026-01-09 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2025-12-09 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2025-11-04 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2025-10-20 | Phone Call | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-09-30 | Phone Call | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-08-26 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2025-07-22 | Phone Call | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-06-12 | Renewal,Monitoring | No | Center Inspection |
| 2024-12-18 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2024-12-16 | Other | No | POPS Inspection |
| 2024-03-18 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2024-02-15 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2024-01-12 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2023-12-12 | Monitoring,New Space | No | POPS Inspection |
| 2023-07-14 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2023-05-12 | Re-Inspection | Yes | POPS Inspection |
| 2023-01-27 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2022-12-22 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2022-12-19 | Re-Inspection | Yes | POPS Inspection |
| 2022-10-13 | Renewal | No | POPS Inspection |
| 2022-10-13 | Renewal | No | POPS Inspection |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.3(a) | Ensure that adequate supervision is maintained at all times throughout the center. Children were sent to bathrooms located in a different area of the building alone. - The children shall be supervised directly by a staff member at all times, including during outdoor activities, rest and sleep, and walking through hallways. Toileting procedures shall be supervised by a staff member as appropriate for the ages and developmental needs of the children. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-2.2(e) | Post the center's license in a prominent location in each building associated with the center. - The license shall be posted in a prominent location within the center and in each building associated with the center. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(i)(5)(i) | Submit a copy of the public school's drinking water test results. - Environmental condition precautions are as follows: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center and, in the discretion of the Office of Licensing, any other time, the applicant or facility operator shall certify in writing that the center provides a potable water supply provided by a public community water system. If the facility is supplied by a public community water system, the applicant or facility operator shall provide documentation of water testing conducted by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection for water testing for lead and copper from all faucets and other sources used for drinking water or food preparation and at least 50 percent of all indoor water faucets utilized by the center. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(n)(2) | Ensure that children are evacuated from the center within three minutes during each fire drill. - Fire prevention requirements are as follows: the center shall ensure that all children present are evacuated from the building within three minutes during each fire drill. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(l)(4) | Ensure that the center conducts at least two lockdown drills per year during each session provided at the center and maintains records of the drills on file. - Emergency procedure requirements are as follows: the center shall conduct two lockdown drills per year and maintain on file a record of each lockdown drill. The center shall ensure that lockdown drills are conducted during each session provided at the center. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-3.4(a) | Ensure that the center has a current comprehensive general liability insurance policy and maintains the documentation on file. - The sponsor or sponsor representative shall secure comprehensive general liability insurance coverage for the center and shall maintain on file a copy of the insurance policy or documentation of current insurance coverage. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.6(d)(1) | Ensure that the program supervisor meets the required qualifications as specified in the manual. One outstanding. - For school-age child care programs the program supervisor shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the applicable options set forth in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6(d) for education, training, and experience, based on the center's licensed capacity. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.6(a) | Ensure that the center completes and maintains on file a Staff Records Checklist designated by OOL. - The center shall maintain on file a Staff Records Checklist designated by the Office of Licensing, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.1(b), indicating that the center has obtained documentation of the applicable staff education and experience, as specified in 3A:52-4.6(b) through (d). |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.10(b)(1) | Ensure that all staff submit a CARI background check upon renewal. - When the center applies for a new or renewal license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department the completed CARI consent forms for all staff members who are or will be working at the center on a regularly scheduled basis. Within two weeks after a new staff member begins working at the center, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department a completed CARI consent form for the new staff member. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.11(a)(1) | Ensure that all staff, the sponsor and/or the sponsor representative complete a CHRI background check as required upon renewal. - As a condition of securing a license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall ensure that a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) fingerprint background check is completed for himself or herself, and for all staff members at least 18 years of age who are or will be working at the center on a regularly- scheduled basis, to determine whether any such person has been convicted of a crime, as specified in P.L. 2000, c. 77 (N.J.S.A. 30:5B-6.10 to 6.17). The sponsor or sponsor representative and each staff member shall complete the electronic fingerprinting process through the vendor authorized by the State to conduct CHRI background checks through the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.8(g)(3) | Ensure that all staff complete orientation training within two weeks of hire and annually and that the completion of the training is documented on the Staff Records Checklist. - The center shall maintain on file documentation of the date, time, topic, presenter, and attendance for all staff development and orientation completed by center staff members. The center shall record each staff member’s completion of staff development and orientation on the Staff Records Checklist, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.1(b). |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(o)(1) | Ensure that there are at least two staff members present at the center at all times who have current first aid and CPR certifications. - First aid requirements are as follows: at least two staff members who have current certified basic knowledge of first aid principles and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as defined by a recognized health organization (such as the American Red Cross), shall be in the center at all times when enrolled children are present. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.5(b)(2)(ii) | Ensure that the center maintains daily time sheets for the children that indicate the children's arrival times. - The director shall have the authority and responsibility for the implementation of policies and procedures for the day-to-day operation of the center, including maintenance of children's daily attendance records, including the daily time of arrival and departure. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.8(e) | Ensure that the director completes the training, "Understanding Licensing Regulations" provided by OOL within 90 days of hire. - Directors shall complete staff development in understanding licensing regulations as provided by the Office of Licensing within 90 days of hire. Such staff development may be included in the required 20 hours of staff development specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(d). |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-6.8(a)(1) | Ensure that the center completes and maintains on file a children's records checklist, including the child's name, address, birth date, and date of enrollment. - The center shall complete and maintain on file for each enrolled child a Children’s Records Checklist, signed by the director, sponsor, or sponsor representative and designated by the Office of Licensing, indicating that the center has obtained documentation of the child's name, address, birth date, and date of enrollment. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-7.9(a)(1)(vi)(1) | Maintain an illness log on file at the center and ensure that it contains all of the required components, including the date the child was excluded from the center. - For early childhood programs, the following shall apply: the center shall maintain on file a log of the initial illnesses, symptoms of illness, or diseases that are exhibited by each child while in the center’s care, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1(c) and (d). This illness log shall include the date, if applicable, that the child was removed from the center. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-4.5(a)(3)(i)(1) | Ensure that the center has a table of organization that illustrates lines of authority, responsibility, and communication. - The sponsor or sponsor representative shall designate individuals with the authority and responsibility to develop and implement written policies and procedures for the operation of the center, including a table of organization that illustrates lines of authority, responsibility and communication. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(l)(1)(iii)(1) | Ensure that the center's written emergency plans include an alternate indoor location that is located within a safe walking distance from the center. - Emergency procedure requirements are as follows: the center shall prepare written emergency procedures delineating an alternate indoor location that operates during the same operating hours as the center. The center shall select an alternate indoor location within safe walking distance. |
| 2022-10-13 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(l)(1)(vii) | Post a diagram showing how the center is to be evacuated from each classroom and the outdoor play area. - Emergency procedure requirements are as follows: the center shall prepare written emergency procedures delineating a diagram showing how the center is to be evacuated in case of emergency from each classroom and the outdoor play area. |
| 2020-11-23 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2020-07-27 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2020-05-27 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2020-04-16 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2020-03-03 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2020-01-31 | Yes | POPS Inspection | |
| 2019-12-05 | Renewal | Yes | POPS Inspection |
| 2019-10-17 | Renewal | No | POPS Inspection |
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