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On June 23, 2021, Governor Cuomo announced the Essential Worker Scholarship Fund. Information is available on the EWS Funding page.

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services provides a range of resources to help parents with their child care needs, people who want to start or are currently running child care programs, and anyone with a concern about the health or safety of a child in a day care program.

Updates and Important Announcements

New Guidance for Child Care, Day Camp, and Overnight Camp Programs June 7, 2021  

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced updated guidance for health and safety measures at child care, day camp, and overnight camp programs, effective June 7. The measures include protocols for COVID testing, physical distancing and sanitation, among other requirements to help prevent COVID-19 cases. The Department of Health will continue to monitor and evaluate health metrics for child care facilities and camp programs and, if necessary, will issue further guidance.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission Recall: Fisher-Price baby Glide Soothers June 7, 2021  

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on the Fisher-Price baby Glide Soothers after the death of four infants.

NYS OCFS & DOH Joint Statement on Revised Mask Guidance for Child Care Programs May 25, 2021  

We thank the providers who have worked so hard since the start of the pandemic to remain open to serve the families of those who could not stay home and we recognize their valiant efforts in serving working families who need quality, reliable and safe child care.

New York State Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan Public Hearings May 17, 2021  

Public Hearings

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Division of Child Care Services is in the preliminary phase of developing its next CCDF State Plan and is seeking input from the public, local departments of social services, CCDF Tribal Grantees and other stakeholders. The comments and any other feedback received will be considered in development of the State Plan and in future policies for the child care subsidy program and quality improvement activities.

Get information on the public hearings.

Draft Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for FFY 2022-24 Now Available May 14, 2021  

The Draft Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for FFY 2022-24 for the New York State Office and Children and Family Services is now available.

Final Report of the Child Care Availability Task Force
Supporting Families, Employers & New York's Future: An Action Plan for a Strong and Equitable Child Care System May 4, 2021  

Final Report of the Child Care Availability Task Force

Update to Health Advisory: Quarantine for Community Persons Exposed to COVID-19 April 22, 2021  

Update to Health Advisory: Quarantine for Community Persons Exposed to COVID-19

Governor Cuomo Announces $26.6 Million Available to Support Essential Workers and First Responders Through the Empire Pandemic Grant Program April 16, 2021  

$26.6 million in Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement funding is available to New York State first responders, health care workers and other essential workers for unreimbursed expenses they incurred while responding to the coronavirus pandemic between March 1 and July 31, 2020.

For more information see:

Letter to Providers - Updated Travel Guidance April 1, 2021  

Dear Provider,
Today, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) updated its COVID-19 Travel Advisory. All New Yorkers must adhere to the travel guidelines, attached hereto, and available on the NYS DOH website. Please review the information contained in these important guidance documents.

Learning about the COVID-19 Vaccine: Basics and More (Presentation) March 23, 2021  

Child care providers and programs wishing to be up to date on information about current COVID-19 vaccines can now access a new informational resource. This PowerPoint presentation contains information and answers to many of your most frequent questions.

Dear Provider Letters - Elijah's Law & Anaphylaxis Policy for Child Day Programs March 15, 2021  

This policy sets guidelines to be followed by child day care programs for both the prevention of anaphylaxis and during an anaphylaxis emergency.

Dear Provider Letter - Comprehensive Background Check Schedule and Requirements February 22, 2021  

This Dear Provider Letter provides guidance on an updated schedule for completion of Comprehensive Background Check requirements. As you are aware, new federally mandated background check requirements were enacted in late 2019; however, the COVID-19 pandemic caused interruption in the ability to schedule fingerprinting appointments in 2020. The guidance in this letter outlines the expectations for completion of these requirements for those that were impacted during this specified timeframe in 2020.
February 22, 2021 Letter Word | February 22, 2021 Letter PDF - English
February 22, 2021 Letter Spanish Word | February 22, 2021 Letter Spanish PDF - Spanish / Español

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information

The Coronavirus information related to Child Care programs now has its own page: ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/COVID-19

Child Care News

NYS OCFS & DOH Joint Statement on Revised Mask Guidance for Child Care Programs We thank the providers who have worked so hard since the start of the pandemic…
Department of Health and Office of Children and Family Services Issue Emergency Regulations to Strengthen Medical Exemption Process for School Vaccinations Emergency Regulations will Prevent Medical Exemptions from Being Used for Non-Medical Purposes.
New York State Office of Children and Family Services to Donate 22,000 Pack ‘n Play Cribs to Child Care Providers to Promote Safe Sleep for Babies Legally-exempt, family child care, and group family child care programs across New York State are each eligible for one crib. The safe sleep Pack ‘n Plays are being given free of charge.

Comprehensive Background Clearance Information

New Emergency Regulations

OCFS issued new emergency regulations that make changes to the rules for comprehensive background checks to ease the burden on programs and parents. These new regulations went into effect on February 7, 2020. You can find them here: ocfs.ny.gov/main/legal/Regulatory/er/.

Policy Directives

Frequently Asked Questions - Update February 11, 2020

Scam Alerts

Scammers claiming to provide COVID vaccine registrations

English

OCFS has learned that child care programs are being contacted by individuals falsely representing themselves as employees of OCFS and/or the Department of Health. These individuals give the child care provider the name of their licensor/registrar and tell them the purpose of the call is to arrange a vaccine appointment for them. The individual gives the child care provider a “password” such as this: 2010-I-LIRO 0145 for them to use to obtain the vaccine. The individual asks the child care provider for personal information to get them on a vaccination list, and in some instances, are threatening to shut the child care program down if they opt not to take the vaccine. Some scammers are offering free supplies to providers, reference the regulations, and mention the program’s regulator by name. The scammers speak Spanish and English.

OCFS and DOH are NOT calling child care programs to schedule vaccinations, or give out free supplies. PLEASE DO NOT SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION! If you have any questions about your child care program, please contact your regulator directly.

Español

¡NUEVA INFORMACIÓN SOBRE ESTAFADORES!

La Oficina de Servicios para Niños y Familias (OCFS por sus siglas en inglés) se ha enterado que programas de cuidado infantil están siendo contactados por individuos que pretenden representar a empleados de la OCFS y/o del Departamento de Salud (DOH por sus siglas en inglés). Estos individuos proporcionan al proveedor de cuidado infantil el nombre de su licenciante/registrador y le informan que el propósito de la llamada es coordinar una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19. El individuo proporciona al proveedor de cuidado infantil una contraseña o “password” similar a la siguiente: 2010-I-LIRO 0145 para que el proveedor la use para obtener la vacuna. El individuo solicita información personal del proveedor de cuidado infantil para añadirlos a la lista de vacunación, y en algunos casos les amenazan con cerrar el programa de cuidado infantil si optan por no registrarse para la vacuna. Algunos estafadores están ofreciendo suministros gratuitos a los proveedores, hacen referencia a regulaciones y mencionan el nombre del regulador del programa. Los estafadores hablan español y inglés.

OCFS y DOH NO están llamando a programas de cuidado infantil para programar vacunaciones o para ofrecer suministros gratuitos. POR FAVOR NO COMPARTA INFORMACION PESONAL. Si tiene preguntas sobre su programa de cuidado infantil por favor contacte a su regulador directament.

Phishing targets CARES grantees

English

OCFS has been notified that child care providers are being contacted by a group saying they are a third party entity working with the CCR&R/Child Care Council on the CARES grants. THIS IS NOT ACCURATE!

DO NOT SHARE INFORMATION WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN YOUR CCR&R OR OCFS REGARDING CARES GRANT AWARDS. This "third party entity" will have your program name, address and license number and then ask for details such as social security number and bank information, so they may seem legitimate. Remember that your program information and license number are public information listed on the OCFS website.

OCFS and the CCR&R will not ask for sensitive information such as your banking information over the phone. If you have any concerns or questions about who is contacting you, please do not give out information. Contact the agency facilitating your reimbursement claim for assistance.

Report fraud: 1-800-HHS-TIPS or online

Español

¡ADVERTENCIA DE FRAUDE!

Se nos ha notificado que proveedores de cuidado infantil están siendo contactados por un grupo informándoles que son una entidad de terceros que está trabajando con los CCR&R y el Child Care Council en subvenciones de CARES. ¡ESTO NO ES CIERTO!

NO COMPARTA INFORMACIÓN CON NINGUNA OTRA ENTIDAD QUE NO SEA SU CCR&R O LA OFICINA DE SERVICIOS PARA NIÑOS Y FAMILIAS (OCFS) CON RESPECTO A LA SUBVENCIÓN DE CARES 2.

Esta “entidad de terceros” tendrá el nombre de su programa, la dirección y el número de licencia, y luego le pedirá detalles tales como su número de Seguro Social e información bancaria, de manera que aparenten ser legítimos. Recuerde que la información de su programa y el número de su licencia es información pública listada en el sitio web de la OCFS.

La OCFS y los CCR&R no le pedirán información confidencial tal como información bancaria por el teléfono. Si tiene alguna preocupación o preguntas acerca de quién le ha contactado, por favor no proporcione información. Póngase en contacto con la agencia que está facilitando su solicitud de reembolso por asistencia.

Denuncie Fraude: 1-800-HHS-TIPS o enlinea

QUALITYstarsNY

Quality Stars

QUALITYstarsNY is New York State's quality rating and improvement system. It is a voluntary program to rate, improve and communicate levels of quality in all regulated early care and learning programs. Read more about the important QUALITYstarsNY initiative.

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