PerformCare NJ Explained: How to Access ABA and Behavioral Services

If a pediatrician, school, or another parent has told you to 'call PerformCare,' you are not alone in wondering what that actually means. Understanding performcare nj aba options is one of the most common questions we hear from New Jersey families starting out.

PerformCare is the single front door to New Jersey's Children's System of Care (CSOC) — the state's public network of behavioral health, developmental disability, and substance use services for youth. This guide walks you through who PerformCare serves, how to reach them, what happens after you call, and how PerformCare-funded behavioral services fit alongside NJ FamilyCare and private insurance. Our goal is to make a confusing system feel manageable, so you can focus on your child.

What Is PerformCare and What Does It Have to Do With ABA?

PerformCare is the contracted system administrator for New Jersey's Children's System of Care, a division of the Department of Children and Families. Think of PerformCare as the coordinator and gateway: you do not get services from PerformCare directly, but you reach almost every CSOC service through PerformCare. They take your call, screen your family's needs, and connect you to the right provider or program.

CSOC serves youth under age 21 with emotional or mental health needs, behavioral challenges, substance use concerns, and intellectual or developmental disabilities — including autism. For autistic children, the most relevant offering is often Intensive In-Home (IIH) behavioral services, which can include ABA-based intervention and supervision by a BCBA or BCaBA. This is where performcare nj aba comes into the picture: PerformCare is the access point that can authorize this kind of behavioral support.

If you want a refresher on the therapy itself before reading further, our plain-English guide to how ABA helps children with autism is a good starting place.

Who Qualifies for PerformCare Services in New Jersey?

Eligibility depends on which service you are seeking, but the broad criteria are straightforward. To access CSOC services through PerformCare, a child generally must:

• Reside in New Jersey;
• Be under age 21 (services are primarily for youth ages 5 through 20, with special consideration for younger children);
• Have an emotional, mental health, behavioral, developmental, or substance use need.

Importantly, there is no income, insurance, or Medicaid requirement just to call and be screened. PerformCare accepts referrals from anyone who knows the child — parents, teachers, doctors, counselors, even clergy — and families can self-refer.

That said, to actually receive certain services such as Care Management Organization (CMO) support or behavioral (ABA-style) intervention, your child will usually need to complete a Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare application and be found eligible for developmental disability services through CSOC. For in-home behavioral services specifically, the child must also meet clinical criteria for moderate or high need — a higher threshold than typical medical-necessity standards, because this funding is limited. If you are unsure whether your child has the documentation needed, our piece on whether you need an autism diagnosis to start ABA can help clarify.

How to Contact PerformCare and Get Started

Reaching PerformCare is simpler than the rest of the system might suggest. There is one access line, staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and the call is free.

• Call the access line: 1-877-652-7624 (1-877-NJ-CSCNJ). A care representative will ask about your child's needs and current situation.
• Apply online: You can also start an application through the PerformCare web portal at performcarenj.org.
• Have basic information ready: your child's name and date of birth, a description of the concerns, any diagnoses, and insurance or Medicaid details if you have them.

If your child is in immediate crisis, you can ask PerformCare about Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), which sends help to your home, often within an hour. For non-urgent autism and behavioral support, your call begins the intake and assessment process. Curious what that looks like in general? See our overview of the ABA intake and assessment process, step by step.

When you are ready to explore in-home options in your area, you can also reach out to our team directly — we serve families in all 21 NJ counties and can talk through how PerformCare and private coverage might work for you.

What Happens After You Call: The CSOC Process

Once PerformCare screens your family, the path to behavioral services typically unfolds in steps. Knowing the sequence in advance makes it far less overwhelming:

• Screening and eligibility: PerformCare determines what your child may qualify for and whether a Medicaid application is needed.
• Care Management Organization (CMO): If your child has moderate-to-high needs, you may be connected to a local CMO. A care manager works with your family to build an Individual Service Plan through a team approach that includes you.
• Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA): For behavioral or ABA services, a qualified professional completes an FBA to understand why a behavior is happening, then writes a Behavior Support Plan. Our explainer on what a Functional Behavior Assessment is and why it matters covers this in depth.
• Service authorization: Behavioral services are usually authorized in 90-day periods and renewed as your child's team documents progress and continued need.

Throughout this process, you remain a central member of the team. Your observations, priorities, and consent shape the plan at every stage.

What Behavioral and In-Home ABA Services Look Like

For families approved for Intensive In-Home behavioral services through CSOC, intervention is delivered in your home and community by trained behavioral staff and overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Hours are tied to your child's assessed level of need:

• Moderate need: roughly 10–12 hours of direct service per week;
• High need: roughly 15–17 hours per week;
• BCBA/BCaBA supervision: about 3 additional hours per week to design the plan, train staff, and adjust goals.

These services focus on practical, family-centered goals — reducing behaviors that get in the way of daily life and building communication, coping, and independence skills. Because the work happens in your everyday environment, much of it draws on natural environment teaching, weaving learning into real routines like mealtimes, getting dressed, and play. To understand the people delivering and supervising care, our guide on what a BCBA is explains the lead clinician's role. You can also learn more about how our in-home ABA services are structured.

PerformCare vs. NJ FamilyCare vs. Private Insurance

One of the most common points of confusion is how PerformCare relates to other funding sources. Here is the short version:

• NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid): Since April 1, 2020, NJ FamilyCare covers medically necessary ABA for enrolled children from birth through age 20 under the federal EPSDT benefit. This is a distinct, broader pathway to ABA than the CSOC behavioral services PerformCare authorizes.
• PerformCare / CSOC behavioral services: Funded through a limited Medicaid waiver, with higher clinical thresholds. This is often used for children with significant behavioral needs and can complement, rather than replace, other coverage.
• Private insurance: New Jersey's autism insurance mandate requires many commercial plans to cover ABA. This is a separate route many families use, sometimes alongside Medicaid.

Many NJ families end up using more than one of these systems over time. To compare your options, see our guides on NJ FamilyCare and ABA coverage and whether insurance covers ABA in New Jersey. Because behavioral services can take time to authorize, it is also worth reading what NJ families can do while waiting for services to begin.

Practical Tips for Navigating PerformCare Successfully

A few habits make the PerformCare journey smoother and reduce delays:

• Keep a binder or digital folder with your child's diagnosis, evaluations, IEP, and any prior assessments — you will be asked for these repeatedly.
• Write down names, dates, and reference numbers every time you call. Ask who you spoke with and what the next step is.
• Start the Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare application early if you do not already have it, since many CSOC services depend on it.
• Be specific about behaviors. Concrete descriptions (frequency, intensity, safety concerns) help PerformCare and the CMO assess need accurately.
• Ask questions and advocate. If something is unclear, ask the care manager to explain it again. You are a full partner in the process.

If you would like to talk through where PerformCare fits for your family and explore in-home options across New Jersey, you can see the areas we serve or browse our broader library of parent resources. You do not have to figure this out alone.

Frequently asked questions

Helpful resources & references

• PerformCare New Jersey Children's System of Care
• PerformCare NJ - Eligibility
• NJ Department of Children and Families - Children's System of Care
• Autism New Jersey - Intensive In-Home Services
• Autism New Jersey - Understanding the EPSDT Medicaid Benefit
• NJ FamilyCare / Department of Human Services - Family Guide to Autism Services