You are on this page: Information for Providers
Welcome child care providers!
The Division of Child Care Services maintains this page as a key resource list for child care providers. We are confident that the information and the links provided on this page will be helpful and informative.
Orientation materials for prospective child care providers can be found on the Orientation for Child Day Care page.
Contents
Important information for Child Care Providers on …
The Corona Virus
OCFS, in partnership with NYS DOH, is reviewing current guidance in light of new CDC guidance and will let providers know as soon as any updates are released.
Making Masks Fun: Helping Children Wear a Face Mask
- Making Masks Fun! Tips for Getting Kids to Embrace Face Coverings amid the Coronavirus Pandemic - Little Medical School
- 9 Tips to Help Your Child Wear a Mask - PBS for Parents
- Arthur | Wearing a Mask - PBS Kids
- Baby Joy Joy | Put On Your Mask - Baby Joy Joy Early Learning
- Fluffster Wears a Mask - Sesame Street
- More mask videos for parents and kids - YouTube Search
En Español
- 9 consejos para ayudar a su niño a usar una mascarilla - PBS for Parents
- Fluffster usa una máscara - Sesame Street
- Usa tu máscara | Baby Shark
- Más videos de máscaras para padres e hijos - Bing Search
NYS Comprehensive Background Checks
As required by the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG) and new York State Social Services Law, new comprehensive background checks became effective on September 25, 2019.
For more information see the CCDBG Background Checks page.
Amended Child Care Regulations To Take Effect September 25, 2019
The amendments affect 403, 404, 405, 406, 413, 414, 415, 416, and 417 and Subparts 418-1 and 418-2 of Title 18 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) are hereby amended to read as follows: See Licensed Registered Regulations and Legally Exempt Regulations.
This packet contains the forms affected by these amendments.
OCFS Offering Free Graco Cribs to Three Types of Day Care Providers
OCFS is providing family-based child care providers a Graco Pack ‘n Play crib – free. All legally-exempt, family day care, and group family day care homes are eligible to request one Pack ‘n Play and one fitted sheet. Find out more about how to make a request, and see the OCFS hold harmless agreement – (En Español Spanish hold harmless agreement).
General Info
- OCFS launched FAMS in an effort to streamline and enhance the licensing process. FAMS will make it easier for communication between the licensor and provider during the licensing process. FAMS is currently available for Day Care Centers and School Age Child Care programs. Watch a video on using FAMS.
- Child Care Facts & Figures for 2021
- Continuity of Care Video
- Early Intervention Program
- Early Interventions Social-Emotional Development
- Live Scan (Fingerprinting)
- Forms
- Health insurance for children, families, & small businesses
- Letters to Providers
- Operating a Child Care Program
- Orientation for Child Day Care
- Provider Background Checks
- QUALITYstarsNY
- Request to remove street address and map from the OCFS Day Care Facility Search
- Resources For Families
- Regulations
- Policies
- Scam alerts
- Services for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
- Starting a Child Care Program
Provider Training
- Training Home Page
- Healthy Beverages in Childcare - returning soon
- Infant Meal Pattern - returning soon
- Child Meal Pattern - returning soon
Program Development
- Environment Rating Scales
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- National Association for Family Child Care
- Family Child Care Association of New York State
- New York Association for the Education of Young Children (NYAEYC)
- NYS Council on Children and Families
- NYS Early Childhood Advisory Council
- Early Childhood Education Training Program video library
Nutrition
- NYS Department of Health
- US Department of Agriculture
- Together We Can Raise Healthy Children
- Reimbursement for meals and snacks
Child Care Assistance Program
- Child Care Market Rates
- Child Care Plans
- New York State Child Care and Development Fund Plan
- Help Parents Pay for Child Care Subsidy
- Child Care Market Rate Survey 2019 Report
Health and Safety
- Administration of Medication
- Computer Safety
- Pub. 5197 - Field Trip Safety
Pub. 5197-S - Viajes de Estudio - Influenza Prevention and Control
- Look Before You Lock
- Lyme Disease Tip Sheet
- No Firearms, Shotguns or Rifles Notice – (En Español firearms notice)
- Pesticide Prohibition Requirements
- Pub. 5199 - Playground Safety
Pub. 5199-S - En el Patio - Playground Safety Videoconference
- Pool Guidelines (FDC & GFDC)
- Preventing Child Abuse
- Pub. 5210 - Protecting Children from Extreme Heat
Pub. 5210-S - Protegiendo a los Niños del Calor Extremo - Protective Surfacing
- Radon
- Recalled Products
- Seat Belt Requirements for Children
- Safe to Sleep - Crib Information Center
- Pub. 5198 - Transportation Safety
Pub. 5198-S - Transporte - Traumatic Experiences - Sesame Street
- Resources for Dealing with Trauma
- Understanding Recent Changes to Bleach Concentrations
- What Child Care Providers Need to Know About Lead
- Pub. 5196 - What to Bring When Leaving the Program or Classroom
Pub. 5196-S - Lo que debe llevar consigo al salir del programa o de la sala de clase - What Your Child's Blood Lead Test Means
- Inspection Checklists
These inspection checklists may not reflect every regulatory citation, but reflect substantial and commonly observed requirements of the OCFS regulations. Additional regulatory citations that are not included in these inspection checklists can be added by a regulator during inspections, as needed.
Emergency Planning
- American Red Cross: Be Ready
- Evacuation Activities for Children and Adolescents
- Exit Drills in the Home (EDITH)
- Flood or Hurricane Resources
- Helping Children Cope After Traumatic Events
- Helping Infants and Toddlers After Disasters
- Home Fire Safety Checklist
- Preparing an Emergency Kit
- Preparing Your Children for Disasters
- Ready.gov
- Ready.gov - Resources for Educators
- Six Ways to Receive a Warning
- Talking to children about terrorist attacks and school and community shootings in the news
- Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
- Think Ahead
- USFA Home Safety and Fire Prevention
Information on Day Care Hearing Rights Following Enforcement
The following documents detail your right to a special hearing as a day care provider should you receive an enforcement letter from OCFS.
Refer to the Special Hearings pages for more information.
- Enforcement Letter - Right to a Hearing
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- English Enforcement Letter - Right to a Hearing
- Arabic / عربى خطاب إنفاذ - إشعار بالحق في ترجمة جلسة الاستماع
- Bengali / বাংলা এনফোর্সমেন্ট চিঠি একটি শুনানি অনুবাদের অধিকারের বিজ্ঞপ্তি
- Chinese, traditional / 中文 聽證會翻譯權利通知強制執行函
- French / Français Lettre d’exécution - traduction de l’avis de droit à une audience
- Haitian Creole / Kreyòl Ayisyen Avi Tradiksyon Lèt Mizanplas Dwa pou Jwenn yon Odyans
- Italian / Italiano Lettera esecutiva Traduzione dell’avviso del diritto a un’udienza
- Korean / 한국어 청문회 요청 권리 집행 서신 번역 안내문
- Polish / Polskie Postanowienie z klauzulą wykonalności stwierdzające prawo do przesłuchania wyjaśniającego – zawiadomienie o tłumaczeniu
- Russian / Pусский Уведомление о праве подачи прошения о проведении слушания в ответ на письмо о принудительном исполнении
- Spanish / Español Traducción del aviso de derecho de audiencia por carta de ejecución
- Yiddish / יידיש דורכפירונגס בריוו רעכט פאר א הירינג איבערטייטשונג מעלדונג
- De Novo Enforcement Letter - Right to a Hearing
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- English: De Novo Enforcement Letter - Right to a Hearing
- Arabic / عربى: خطاب إنفاذ من جديد - إشعار بالحق في ترجمة جلسة الاستماع
- Bengali / বাংলা: ডি নোভো এনফোর্সমেন্ট চিঠি একটি শুনানি অনুবাদের অধিকারের বিজ্ঞপ্তি
- Chinese, traditional / 中文: 聽證會翻譯權利通知重審強制執行函
- French / Français: Nouvelle lettre d’exécution - traduction de l’avis du droit à une audience
- Haitian Creole / Kreyòl Ayisyen: Lèt Egzekisyon De Novo sou Dwa pou gen yon Avi Tradiksyon pou Odyans
- Italian / Italiano: Nuova lettera esecutiva Traduzione dell’avviso del diritto a un’udienza
- Korean / 한국어: 재심 청문회 요청 권리 집행 서신 번역 안내문
- Polish / Polskie: Nowe postanowienie z klauzulą wykonalności stwierdzające prawo do przesłuchania wyjaśniającego – zawiadomienie o tłumaczeniu
- Russian / Pусский: Уведомление о праве подачи прошения о повторном слушании в ответ на письмо о принудительном исполнении
- Spanish / Español: Traducción del aviso de derecho de audiencia para la segunda revisión de la carta de ejecución (de novo)
- Yiddish / יידיש: דע נאווא דורכפירונגס בריוו רעכט פאר א הירינג איבערטייטשונג מעלדונג