|
The first decision facing parents is the type of care you want for your child.
Think about your child's needs and how they would best be satisfied in various
settings. Consider the following as you look for child care:
•
Does your
child do best in a small or a large group?
•
Does your
child have special scheduling needs, is she/he toilet trained, does she/he need
lots of room to run around?
•
How does
your child handle separation?
•
Would your
child benefit from having one provider vs. a group of teachers in her/his daily
life?
What kinds of child care are available?
The following
is a list of definitions of the most common types of child care. For child care referrals Click here. For more detailed
information call (914) 761-3456 ext. 140
to speak with a trained child care specialist in our referral department.
•
Child Care Centers
Child Care Centers provide group care for children
for more than 3 hours a day in a non-residential setting. Children are typically
grouped by age. In New York State centers are licensed by the New York State Office
for Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS). Minimum standards must be met for
staffing, group size and basic health and safety. Care may be provided for children
from 6 weeks to 12 years of age. Child
Care Centers may care for:
| Ages
of Children | Child-To-Staff
Ratio | Maximum
Group Size | | 6
weeks-18 months | 4:1 | 8 |
| 18
months-3 years | 4:1
or 5:1 | 12
or 10 | | 3
years | 6:1
or 7:1 | 18
or 14 | | 4
years | 7:1
or 8:1 | 21
or 16 | | 5
years | 8:1
or 9:1 | 24
or 18 | | 5-10
years | 10:1 | 20 |
| 10-14
years | 15:1 | 30 |
• Family Child Care Providers
Family child care homes are
child care programs run by one or two providers in a residential setting. This
is normally a mixed age group setting. Some providers offer part-time, weekend,
overnight, and evening care options; flexible schedules, and the option to allow
siblings to stay together. In New York State family child care providers are registered
or licensed by the NYS OCFS. They are restricted by regulations that govern the
numbers and ages of the children in care, the qualifications of the caregiver,
and the health and safety conditions of the facility. Care may be provided for
children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age.
Registered
Family Child Care Providers may care for:
•
Up to six
children if all are over 2 years of age
•
Up to
five children if any child is under 2 years of age
•
No more
than two children under 2 years of age
•
If approved,
an additional two school-age children may be added to the maximum number of children.
•
The
provider's own children under kindergarten age are included in the maximum number
of children. Licensed
Group Family Child Care Providers may care for:
•
Up to 12
children when all are over 2 years of age
•
Up to
10 children if any are under 2 years of age
•
Two infants
for each adult
•
If approved,
an additional two school-age children may be added to the maximum number of children.
•
The provider's
own children under kindergarten age are included in the maximum number of children.
•
A full-time
assistant must be present when seven or more children are in care or more than
two children under 2 years of age. •
School-Age Care
School-age care is care that is provided for children
aged 5 years to 12 years in the out-of-school hours. This type of care can be
found in a free standing building, a public or private school setting, as well
as in recreation centers, religious institutions, child care centers, or family
child care homes. Care may be provided before and/or after school and sometimes
during vacations and holidays. Most programs operate on a school-year calendar.
In some cases, transportation and meals are provided as well. In New York State
school-age child care programs, not captured under other regulations or licensing,
are registered by the NYS OCFS. They are restricted by regulations that govern
the numbers and ages of children, the qualifications of the caregivers, and the
health and safety conditions of the facility.
Registered School Age Care program can care for:
| Ages
of Children | Child-To-Staff
Ratio | Maximum
Group Size | | 5-9
years | 10:1 | 20 |
| 10-12
years | 15-1 | 30 |
•
In-Home Care
In-home care takes place in your own home. An in-home care
provider may live with your family or travel to your home each day. In-home providers
may be specially trained nannies, relatives or friends, or young adults with an
interest in children. When you choose an in-home care arrangement, you become
the employer, which means that you determine the hours, the responsibilities,
the salary and are responsible for legal requirements as an employer (workers'
comp, taxes, etc). Contact your accountant or call the IRS to obtain the most
current information on reporting requirements for taxes, minimum wages, and benefit
levels. When you call a state or federal office with questions or to request the
necessary tax forms, be as specific as possible in your conversations. Specifically
ask for information on employment taxes for household employees. If you go through
in-home agencies, you may not have all the responsibilities of being an employer.
It is important to remember that in-home providers are not regulated in New York
State. Which means there are no requirements or regulations an individual has
to go through or follow while caring for your child. In 1998 Kierans's Law took
effect, allowing parents to access New York State criminal history information
about potential in-home caregivers.
Click
here for more information about Kieran's Law.
Click
here for two IRS guidebooks on being an employer: Publication 926:Household
Employer's Tax Guide, and Publication 15 Circular E: Employer's Tax Guide.
•
Nursery Schools
Nursery
schools provide care where children are in attendance for no more than 3 hours
per day in a nonresidential setting. In New York State nursery schools are exempt
from regulation. Nursery schools typically enroll children aged 2.9 (two years
nine months) to 5 years of age and often run on a school-year calendar. Some nursery
schools voluntarily register with the New York State Education Department. •
Summer Care
Many
school-age children enjoy attending some type of summer program, and many working
parents are in need of child care during the summer months. Summer camps give
children the opportunity to further develop their talents, experience new activities,
and learn new skills. They run in sessions, and can be full-day or part-day schedules.
Summer camps typically serve children 5 years to 15 years of age. In New York
State camps are licensed by the New York State Department of Health. In
addition to licensed summer camps many child care centers, nursery schools, family
child care providers, recreation departments, and school age programs offer separate
summer programs.
Regulations for Licensed and Registered child care programs
To view the regulations governing child care centers, family child care providers,
group family child care providers, and school-age programs click
here.
What does it mean when a program is accredited?
Accredited
family child care homes and center-based programs have voluntarily attained standards
of quality that have been established by national child care organizations. Accredited
programs go beyond minimum licensing standards set by the state and make a commitment
to provide the kind of care, attention, and stimulating activities that you and
your children require. •
Accredited Child Care Centers
The
National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, a part of the National Association
for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), conducts accreditation of child care
centers in the U.S.. To become accredited, a center's director and staff must
work with parents and the NAEYC to meet certain criteria and fulfill a number
of accreditation requirements.
Click
here for NAEYC's Web site. •
Accredited School-Age programs
The National Afterschool Association (NAA) is a professional, support network promoting
quality programs for children and youth in their out of school time. They also
conduct the accreditation of school age care programs in the United States. To
become accredited, a school age program's director and staff must work with parents,
older children from the program and a member of their community to meet standards
of quality determined by NAA.
Click
here for NAA’s's Web site.
•
Accredited Family Child Care Homes
The National Association for Family
Child Care (NAFCC) is a national membership organization working with more than
400 state and local family child care provider associations across the United
States. The mission of NAFCC is to support the profession of family child care
and to encourage high-quality care for children. NAFCC Accreditation standards
cover the following content areas: Relationships, Environment, Activities, Developmental
Learning Goals, Safety and Health, and Professional and Business Practices.
Click
here for NAFCC's Web site.
To find an accredited program in Westchester, call a child care specialist at
(914) 761-3456 ext. 140 or e-mail childcare@cccwny.org
Child
care visit checklist
Click
here for a list of questions to ask and things to look for during your
child care search.
Do
you have a concern about a program?
During your child care search,
and even after you make your child care arrangement you may have some questions
and concerns about a program. It is important to trust your judgement and to discuss
your questions and concerns with a child care specialist at (914) 761-3456 ext.
140. If your concern is of a serious nature or a regulatory violation the child
care specialist will connect you the appropriate agency to voice your complaint
or you can call them directly: To
make a general complaint call:
(800) 732-5207-
the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If
you wish to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment call:
(800) 342-3720
— Child Protective Services
Can I check for a
history of complaints on a program? If
you wish to obtain a complaint history of a child care program call:
• (914) 761-3456 ext. 105, Kathy
McBride for registered Family Child Care Providers - the Child Care Council of
Westchester.
•
(914) 376-8810 for licensed Centers, licensed Group Family Child Care
Providers, and registered School Age Child Care— the New York State Office
of Children and Family Services. How
can I request Child Care referrals?
Call
914-761-3456 ext. 140. If calling from outside the 914 area code: 1-800- 898-5114.
Hours are 9:00am -5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
To search for care
Click
here.
|
