Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc., a child care resource and referral organization for parents, child care providers, employers, and community organizations.

So You're Thinking of Becoming a Family Child Care Provider?
• Are you interested in providing child care for 3 or more children in your home?
• Would you like an opportunity to earn money in your home, working for yourself?
• Do you want an opportunity to access specialized training in early childhood education?
• Do you have two exits from your home or apartment?

If you answered yes to the questions above, then the profession of registered family child care may be for you!

The Child Care Council of Westchester (CCCW), provides many support services for individuals and organizations interested in starting a family child care program.

Registration
Through a contract with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS), the CCCW offers quarterly information sessions about the family child care registration process and staff is available to answer questions about registration and the regulations. CCCW also orders application packets from NYS OCFS and processes all family child care registration applications for Westchester County.

Step 1:
Review the regulations carefully to ensure that you can comply.
Click here to request an application packet.

Step 2:
Consider attending an information session sponsored by the CCCW to learn more about this profession.
Click here for a schedule of upcoming start up information sessions in our Training Calendar.
Click here to see regulations for family child care.
Click here for more information about what's involved in becoming a Family child care provider.

Step 3:
Ensure that you have all the required documents (particularly medical results) before you submit your application as, per regulations, you only have a 90 day timetable to submit all your paperwork. Submit your registration packet. Once you have submitted your packet, a staff member from the CCCW will contact you to arrange a visit to your home. This mandated visit gives them a chance to ensure that your home has the proper exits, is safe, free of health hazards and is suitable for child care. If your site is not appropriate, the process ends here. We strongly urge that you wait for this visit before beginning extensive renovations or making large purchases.

Step 4:
Prior to registration as a family child care provider, you must successfully complete the 15 hour competency based Health and Safety training.
Click here for our Training Calendar and upcoming dates for this training.

For general support as you start a new program, feel free to contact Kathy McBride, Director of Community Education, at 914 - 761-3456 ext. 105 or via e-mail.

Become a member of the CCCW and receive many benefits including use of our extensive library collection and video tapes, reduced conference fees, and more!
Click here for more information on the benefits of membership.

CHILD CARE SUPPLY AND DEMAND Click Here.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The Child Care Council administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for family child care providers in Westchester. CACFP is a program of the United States Department of Agriculture that enables child care providers to serve nutritious meals without passing the higher costs on to parents.

What can CACFP do for you?
• Gives partial reimbursement for the nutritious meals you serve to the children in your care
• Offers practical guidance in menu planning for children
• Provides yearly free workshops on nutrition

Who is eligible to participate?
• Registered family child care providers
• Informal providers (those who care for no more than 2 children other than their own and receive a child care subsidy)

Daily reimbursement for 2 meals and a snack per child can be as high as $3.61 per day for Tier 1 or $1.74 for Tier 2.

$1.74 may not sound like much money but consider that if you have 5 children in care x $1.74 x 5 days per week it could be as much as $2700 per year in reimbursement. You can still claim your expenses on your taxes, so participating in CACFP puts more money in your pocket at the end of the year!

How do I find out more?
For more information from Redleaf Institute on the benefits of participating in CACFP, visit:
Reporting Food Program Reimbursement and Claiming Food Expenses
Tax Consequences of Participating in CACFP

To join CACFP, contact Ilka Lovell at 761-3456 ext. 110.

Fingerprinting Requirements

All family child care providers, household members over 18 years of age, as well as assistants and volunteers who have regular and substantial contact with children in the program must be fingerprinted in order to conduct a criminal background check. The Council offers ample opportunities for free fingerprinting by appointment at our offices in White Plains and Yonkers. A schedule of fingerprinting offered at training is also available.

Please call 761-3456 ext. 133 to schedule an appointment. Be sure to bring photo identification.
Click here for a schedule of fingerprinting in our Training Calendar.

Complaint Procedures

There are specific steps that can be taken if you have a complaint about a registered or licensed program or suspect that someone in your area is providing illegal child care. Please call 800-732-5207. This central clearinghouse number will be transferred directly to the Yonkers Regional Office, NYS OCFS. A licensing representative will visit the program, and mandate necessary action.

If you are a registered or licensed family child care provider, use the mandated reporter's hotline to report suspected child abuse. The number is 1-800-635-1522.

Parents and other community members should use the general Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-342-3720.

Local Family Child Care Associations

There are several associations of family child care providers that meet regularly around the county. Research has shown that membership in an association is linked to quality child care.

For more information call the Council at (914)761-3456 EXT. 105.

Back to top