Find Child Care
Choosing child care is an important decision. Safe and positive child care
sets the stage for healthy growth and development. It takes time, patience and
understanding of what to look for when selecting child care. You know the needs
of your child and family. However, you may need assistance in matching those
needs to available resources. That is why OCFS is proud to share with you the
supports that we have put in place to assist you in making this important decision.
Search for Child Care Programs
If you would like to start your search on your own, the Child Care Facility Search page
will bring you to a search window that will allow you to search the entire
database of regulated child care providers in New York State (with the
exception of day care centers in New York City). This search engine will
allow you to look up a specific provider by name, or all the providers in a
particular county or even zip code. It also lets you search by different types
of care, such as family day care or day care centers. You will see information
on the program including contact information, address, capacity, when it first
opened and the current status of its license or registration.
Remember, though, whether you get a list from our web site or from the CCRR,
this list is just a starting point - you will need to contact the
provider to see if they have space for your child and you will want to visit
the child care provider to make sure for yourself that this is the right match
for you. The Office of Children and Family Services has a helpful brochure, As you think about child care... / Cuando piense en los servicios de cuidado infantil..., which
you can view from this web site or have mailed to you by your CCRR or Regional
Office of the Division of Child Care Services.
A Parent's Guide to Child Care Options
There are many types of child care programs in New York State. Quality programs
provide care in a warm, safe and friendly setting. Quality programs provide
activities that help children learn and develop. No one type of program is
necessarily better that any other type of program. You are the best judge
of which program will meet your needs and your child's needs. More information on the types of child care programs available can be found in the Parent's Guide to Child Care Options.
Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCRR)
If you are looking for child care, the Child
Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCRR) in your county is a great place
to start. To provide this service, CCRR agencies collect and maintain up-to-date information about all types of legal child care programs in their areas.
CCRR counselors can provide you with information about various types of programs,
costs, financial assistance and guidelines for selecting child care, but the
final choice is always your responsibility as a parent. If you want help finding
child care or have questions about child care, contact your local CCRR. They
will ask you about the kind of care you are looking for, the ages of your
children, the hours of care you need and other specifics such as any special
needs your child might have. Based on that information, they will be able
to give you a list of providers that most closely meet your needs.
Regional Office of the Division of Child Care Services
In addition, if you contact the Regional Office of the Division of Child Care Services,
that office will also be able to provide you with the licensing and regulatory compliance
history of any child care provider who is or was licensed by OCFS.
|
