Child Care Information and Options
Listed below are brief descriptions of common types of child care programs in New York State. Each program is regulated by the state Office of Children and Family Services.
Day Care Centers – provide care for more than six children at a time, not in a personal residence. The maximum allowable number of children will depend on number of adults in each classroom and square footage.
Small Day Care Centers – provide care for up to six children, not in a personal residence.
Family Day Care Homes – provide care for three to eight children at a time in a residence; may add one or two school-age children. The maximum allowable number of children will depend on whether there are and how many infants are in care.
Group Family Day Care Homes – provide care for seven to fourteen children at a time in a residence; may add one or two school-age children. The maximum allowable number of children will depend on whether there are and how many infants are in care. A provider must use an assistant when more that six children are present.
School-Age Child Care Programs – provide care for more than six children from kindergarten through age twelve. Care for children during non-school hours; also may provide care during school vacation periods and holidays
Interested in becoming a Child Care Provider?
Do you think you want to become a licensed or registered child care provider? Then follow these steps:
Step One: Contact Child Care Resource & Referral
We will contact the Buffalo Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) for an Child Care application on your behalf. You will receive information about CCR&R services & a copy of the child care regulations, as well as our newsletter, training resources, and other pertinent information to help you in the process of becoming a licensed or registered provider. Shortly after, you will receive your child care application that is generated in Albany, New York.
Step Two: Fill out your application
But please contact CCR&R with any questions. CCR&R employs a health care consultant who can help you fill out the health care plan section of the application; a trainer who can help fill out the educations and program information and a specialist for any other issues you may have.
Step Three: Call CCR&R for training and grants:
Once you submit your application to the OCFS, and you wish to pursue family or group family child care, you are required to sign up for the 15 hour health & safety class. CCR&R will perform this training for you and assist you in obtaining a rebate from the Professional Development Program to pay for this class. CCR&R can also provide you with information about receiving a Start-Up Grant from Community Action. This grant can help you purchase items needed for your program.
Child Care Trainings
All regulated child care providers are mandated to 30 hours of training every 2 years. A child care provider must have at least one hour of training in each of these topics:
- Principles of Early Childhood Development
- Nutrition & Health Needs of Infants & Children
- Child Day Care Program Development
- Safety & Security Procedures
- Business Record Maintenance & Management
- Child Abuse & Maltreatment Identification & Prevention
- Statues & Regulations Pertaining to Child Day Care
- Statues & Regulations Pertaining to Child Abuse & Maltreatment
- Identification & Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome
Contact CCR&R for information about our trainings or click on the link for The Child Care Chronicle, the CCR&R newsletter. For information on the National Accreditation process for Child Care click on the National of Child Care Professionals link below. For Information on obtaining the Child Development Associate click on Council for Professional Recognition For information on the Early Care & Learning Council, the agency that oversees CCR&Rs in the state, click on the link.
Training Calendars:
Child Care Chronicle Infant Toddler ResourceChild Care RegulationsEarly Care & Learning CouncilChild & Adult Food Care ProgramNational Association of Child Care ProvidersQuality Stars National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral AgenciesCouncil for Professional Recognition
Office of Children & Family Services
The Office of Children & Family Services is the regional office oversee all licensed and registered providers in Genesee and Orleans Counties.
Please contact the New York State Office of Children & Family Services to receive information about grants, regulations or licensing issues. In addition, you may contact NYS OCFS if you wish to expand your existing program or you need help with health & safety concerns, grants, regulations or licensing issues. In addition, you may contact NYS OCFS if you wish to expand your existing program or you need help with health & safety concerns.
NYS Office of Children & Family Services
Buffalo Regional Office 295 Main Street Room 545
Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: (716) 847-3828
Fax: (716) 847-3688
www.ocfs.state.ny.us
New Provider Business Profile form
Have you created your profile with Child Care Resource & Referral’s as a registered provider yet? Complete and return the Provider Business Profile form so you can be included in the CCR&R database. The information you provide us will be used to match parents’ needs to your child care program through our referral service. The more accurate your information is, the more accurately we can match parents’ needs to the services you provide. Parents from all over the county access our service when looking for child care. CCR&R is also great way to market your program without paying for advertising cost! The information you provide us is important not only to your program but also to the community.
Click on the link for access to the form
To have the enrollment form mailed to you, call 585-589-5088 in Orleans County or 585-343-7727 in Genesee County. Once completed, you can return the form to:
Child Care Resource & Referral
113 East State Street
PO BOX 22
Albion, NY 14411
Fax: 585-589-5321
ccrrorl@caoginc.org
Child Care Resource & Referral
5073 Clinton Street Road
Batavia, NY 14020
Fax: 585-343-4063
ccrrgen@caoginc.org
Existing Provider Business Profile Form
If you’re a provider who has an existing profile with CCR&R, we want to ensure that our records are correct. Please complete and return the Provider Business Profile form so we may continue to referrer families to your program. It is imperative you provide us with current information as this will lead to matching parents’ needs to your child care program through our referral service. The more accurate your information is, the more accurately we can match parents’ needs to the services you provide. Parents from all over the county access our service when looking for child care. CCR&R is also great way to market your program without paying for advertising cost! The information you provide us is important not only to your program but also to the community.
To have this form mailed, call 585-589-5088 in Orleans County or 585-343-7727 in Genesee County. You may return it via fax, or email to the information listed above.