Finding the right
care for children is one of the most difficult tasks a parent faces
today. With the shift towards single parenting and two income
households, parents are increasingly being confronted with the need to
find a reliable child care provider. Here is a concise overview of this
challenging task.
Types of Child Care
There are 5 basic types of childcare offered in New York State:
Group day care facilities: centers that care for 7 or more children in an institutional setting.
Group family day care: care of 6-12 children in the home of an unrelated family.
Family day care: care of 3-6 children in the home of an unrelated family.
School age program: care provided on a regular basis to 7 or more children between the ages of 6 and 13.
In-home care: care that takes place in your own home.
Child Care Service Registration
In New York, all child care services are regulated by two agencies, the
New York State Department of Family Assistance, and the New York City
Department of Health. In areas surrounding New York City, any location
wishing to provide child care to six or more children, who are up to 6
years of age, must obtain a permit from the New York State Department
of Family Assistance. In New York City, permits are issued by the New
York City Department of Health and must be displayed in an open area
where anyone may view them.
The New York City permit and the New York State registration both
authorize child care services to provide care in accordance with New
York State regulations. Neither the registration nor the permit are
transferable if the child care facility moves to a new location or if a
new child care facility moves to a new location or if a new child care
provider takes charge. In both instances, a new registration or permit
must be obtained. The day care provider should provide proof of
compliance with regulations upon request. The Better Business Bureau
urges parents to make sure that the child care service they choose is
authorized by the appropriate agency.
Choosing a Child Care Provider
A day care program should allow children to learn and play in a
healthy, secure, and friendly environment. The following tips are
recommended when researching a childcare facility:
-
Start your search early.
- Call the New York City Department of Health, Bureau of Day Care for the names of licensed centers.
- Call one of the various private organizations in your area that assists with daycare research.
Relatives,
friends, and neighbors may be able to recommend day care centers or
tell you which to avoid, based on their own experiences. Your family
doctor, pediatrician, parents groups, and local and parent newspapers
may be a good place to begin your research.
There are also placement agencies available to help with a search for in-home care.
Paying for Child Care
Call the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Vacancy
Information number in your borough to find out if you are eligible for
publicly funded day care services.
-
Manhattan (212) 853-7150
- Bronx (212) 401-2031
- Queens (718) 523-6799
- Brooklyn and Staten Island (718) 722-8180
There
are many government programs available to aid parents seeking care for
their children. The Agency for Child Development (ACD) offers publicly
subsidized childcare. You must schedule an appointment to determine
eligibility. To contact ACD call (718) FOR-KIDS.
Child Care, Inc. is available to help with the application process. Call (212) 929-4999.
Talk to your accountant or contact the IRS at (800) 829-3676 about tax credits and deductions for childcare.
Check References
Visit several centers and compare the types and quality of services
available. Always go to see a center before registering your child, no
matter how highly the center was recommended. Tour the entire facility.
Talk to the director, and visit classes, especially the ones your child
will be in. You may want to make a list of questions in advance. The
New York City Department of Health, Bureau of Day Care, Careguide.com,
and Zero To Three provide a list of possible questions on their web
sites (listed on page 6).
Check the Facility
Observe the caregiver(s) with children. Do they react enthusiastically
to children’s discoveries and accomplishments? Do they respond quickly
when a child is hurt or unhappy?
Take notes during your observations so you can refer back to them
later.
Look at the center’s physical attributes. Check for cleanliness. Is the
center decorated in a manner that is appealing to children? Is it
colorful? Is there children’s art displayed? The following guidelines
are some examples of what to look for during an inspection of a
facility:
Building and Equipment - Porches, steps and
decks must have railing and posts that should be structured close
together to prevent children from falling through them.
- Floors,
walls, ceilings and other surfaces should be smooth and free of damaged
paint or plaster. There should be no protruding nails or bolts, loose
or rusty parts, or small parts that could be swallowed.
- Indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) play areas for the children must be readily available at all times.
- Child-sized furniture and equipment prevent falls and other injuries.
- Bedding
arrangements must be made for each child under five years of age who
spends more than four hours per day in a day care facility.
Safety and Fire Protection - Radiators and exposed piping must be covered to protect children from injury.
- Unsafe areas must be restricted by barriers.
- Fire
alarms and extinguishers must be available at all times. Children may
be cared for only in those rooms that have readily accessible exits in
case of fire. These exits must be free from any obstacles. Stairs,
walkways, ramps, and porches must be free from any obstacles.
- A portable first aid kit must be available for emergency treatment.
- Electrical
outlets within the reach of children must be covered, and electrical
cords must not be frayed, overloaded, or within the reach of children.
- The area in which the children will be cared for should be free of dampness and odor.
Nutrition - Meals and snacks must be provided on a daily basis according to the nutritional needs of the child.
Programs - You should ask the care provider for a written program that explains how the child’s day will be spent.
Parent’s Rights
Parents have the right to unlimited access to their children at any
time during operational hours, as well as the written records
concerning their children except where prohibited by law. Parents also
have the right to inspect the childcare facility at any time during
operational hours.
Children’s Rights
A child care center may not refuse to admit a child because the child
has been diagnosed as having HIV or AIDS. However, all children must
receive a health examination within 90 days prior to admission by a
physician, which states that the child may participate in a childcare
program.
A child care center may not refuse to admit a disabled child who would
otherwise be eligible for admission, if the existing premises or
program may accommodate the child. However, a non-public childcare
provider is not required to incur additional expenses to modify the
premises or program.
Making a Decision
Compare what you saw during your visits. The most important aspect of
child care is the staff. Think about your feelings when you visited
each center. Do the attitudes of the provider match your own attitudes
about childcare? Make sure that you have a full understanding of the
caregiver’s disciplinary procedures.
Be sure that the center you choose has a current license and meets your needs for location, hours, and cost.
Ask yourself: Would I feel comfortable leaving my child at the center?
Trust your instincts. You are the best judge of what your child needs.
After you have enlisted a childcare service, listen to what your child
tells you about the program. Observe your child’s behavior. Keep in
contact with other parents to find out how their children are doing and
how they feel about the program.
Be sure to ask for feedback from the child care provider about how your
child is doing. Pay special attention to how encouraging the child care
provider is about talking with you and answering your questions.
Where to File a Complaint
To file a complaint against a child care center located within the five
boroughs of New York City, also contact the New York City Department of
Health, Bureau of Day Care at (212) 676-2444 or (800) 732-5207.
To file a complaint against a day care service outside New York City, contact:
Office of Children and Family Services, Bureau of Early Childhood Services - Westchester County: (914) 376-8810
Office of Children and Family Services, Bureau of Early Childhood Services - Nassau and Suffolk Counties: (516) 952-4900
To report abuse, call the New York State Child Abuse Hotline: (800) 342-3720
Where to Get Additional Information
The New York City Department of Health, Bureau of Day Care keeps a list
of day care centers that have had their permit revoked, rejected,
terminated or suspended within New York City. This information can be
obtained by contacting:
Secretary to the Department
New York City Department of Health
Bureau of Day Care
125 Worth Street, Room 609-A
Box 31
New York, NY 10013
(718) 367-5437
The New York City Department of Health and the New York State
Department of Family Assistance, Office of Children and family Services
will mail upon request, information to help educate parents on how to
choose a child care program that is right for their child. This
information includes, but is not limited to, the standard regulations
applied for admissions; building and equipment; child abuse;
discipline; fire protection; health; nutrition; education and
recreational programs; safety and sanitation. To request this
information contact one of the following offices:
Bronx/Manhattan Day Care Borough Office
2 Lafayette Street/ 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10007
(212) 676-2412
Brooklyn/Staten Island Day Care Borough Office
151 Maujer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11221
(718) 302-0152
Queens Day Care Borough Office
120-34 Queens Blvd
4th Floor/Rooms 409-410
Kew Gardens, NY 11415
(718) 520-8548
Information can also be obtained by accessing the New York City Department of Health at
www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/dc/dc.html and the New York State Department of Family Assistance at
www.dfa.state.ny.us.
For more information on day care centers outside of the New York City
area, contact the New York State Department of Family Assistance,
Office of Children and Family Services at:
Yonkers Regional Office
(914) 376-8810
(Serving the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester)
Long Island Regional Office
(516) 952-4907
For more information on research and referrals:
Child Care Council of Westchester
(914) 761-3456, ext. 102
www.childcare-experts.org/cccw/ccwhp.html
Child Care Council of Nassau County
(516) 358-9250 ext. 11
www.chilcarecouncil.org
Child Care Council of Suffolk County
(516) 462-0303
www.childcaresuffolk.org
Child Care, Inc.
275 Seventh Ave.
New York, NY 10001
General Information: (212) 929-7604 x 3010, x 3016
Resource and Referral: (212) 929-4999
www.childcareinc.org
Zero To Three
National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
200 M Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 638-1144
www.zerotothree.org
Child Care Aware
1319 F Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20004
(800) 424-2246
www.naccrra.net
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Childcare
Campus Mail Stop F541
PO Box 6508
Aurora, Co 80045-0508
(800) 598-KIDS
http://nrc.uchsc.edu
Careguide
739 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 444-1278
www.careguide.com
