For Child Care Providers
Request for Services
Child Care Support Services offers a range of services to child care providers or those who are interested in becoming providers. Among our services
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Assistance in starting a child care program
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Free referrals to parents for your program
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Training in child care issues
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Education on state standards
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Technical ,business and regulatory resources
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Loaner closet and Lending Library
If you would like to know more about the services that Child Care Support Services can offer you or your child care program, you can contact us by phone at (607) 432-0061, or by email at childcare@charitiesccdo.org for more information about our programs.
Do you have a record in our database that you need to update? Would you like to have our newsletter e-mailed to you? Please complete the Record Update Request and return it to our office by fax, email or mail .
We encourage providers to connect with us on our Facebook or Twitter page to ask questions share information and keep up to date with news and actives here at Child Care Support Services.
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Would you like to provide child care?
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Training, technical assistance and professional development
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Steps to improve quality
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Child and Adult Care Food Program
Would you like to provide child care?
As a general rule, any day care program planning to serve three or more children for more than three hours a day on a regular basis must obtain a license or registration. To obtain this license or registration, the applicant must show that the day care program meets requirements that the state has established to help the health and safety of children in care.
Child Care Support Services can help you complete your application and discuss any questions you may have.
For more information on how to become a Family Day care provider please call our office at (607) 432-0061 or (866) 814-1117.
Family Day Care
A Family Day Care home is a residence in which child day care is provided on a regular basis for more than three hours per day per child for up to 8 children for compensation or otherwise. In Otsego County, registered Family Child Care is coordinated through Child Care Support Services. A Family Day Care provider must renew their registration every two to four years. The provider must take 30 hours of training within a two year registration period. Training must include the following nine topic areas: nutrition and health needs of children, child day care program development, safety and security procedures, including communication between parents and staff, business recorded maintained and management, and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment and shaken baby syndrome. Care can be provided for children ages 6 weeks to 13 years of age. The provider must follow the New York State Family Day Care Regulations.
Group Family Day Care
A Group Family Day Care is a residence in which child day care is provided on a regular basis for more than three hours per day per child for up to 16 children for compensation or otherwise. In Otsego County, Group Family Child Care is licensed through the Albany Regional Office of Children and Family Services. A Group Family Child Care home must have the provider and at least one other assistant present during the hours that care is provided. A Group Family Child Care provider must renew their registration every two to four years. The provider and the assistant must take 30 hours of training within two year registration period. Training must include the following nine topic areas: nutrition and health needs of children, child day care program development, safety and security procedures, including communication between parents and staff, business record maintenance and management, child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention, statues, and regulations pertaining to child care, statuses and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment and shaken baby syndrome. Care can be provided for children 6 weeks to 13 years of age. The provider must follow the New York State Group Family Day Care Regulations.
For an application and information regarding Group Family Day Care contact Albany Regional office at (518) 402-3038.
School Age Child Care
A school Age Child Care program is designed for children from kindergarten through age 12.Care is provided before and after School and may also operate during school holidays and vacations. Programs may operate in various facilities such as elementary schools, churches, community centers, and day care centers. In Otsego County, registered School Aged Child Care Providers is coordinated through Child Care Support Services. School Aged Child Care programs must follow the New York State School Aged Child Care Regulations.
Child Day Care Center
A Child Care Center provides care for more than six children at a time in a facility that is not a residence in a group setting. In Otsego County, Day Care Centers are licensed through the Albany Regional Office of Children and Family Services’ Day Care Center must renew their license every two to four years. Directors and all employees must take 30 hours of training within a two year period. Training must include the following nine topic areas: nutrition and health needs of children, child day care program development, safety and security procedures, including communication between parents and staff, business record maintenance and management, child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention, statues, and regulations pertaining to child care, statuses and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment and shaken baby syndrome. Care can be provided for children ages 6 weeks to 13 years of age. The Day Care Center must follow New York State Child Care Center Regulations.
For an application and information regarding Child Day Care Centers contact the Albany Regional Office at (518) 402-3038.
Other forms of child care:
Legally – Exempt Family Child Care
A legally Exempt Child care provider cares for one or two children outside of the child’s own home in a residence .A legally Exempt Child Care Provider may also care for more than two children outside of the child’s own home in a residence for less than three hours per day. Care is provided for families who received Child care Subsidy through the county. Legally-Exempt Child Care providers must follow the New York State Legally –Exempt Health and Safety Requirements. For more information regarding Legally Exempt Child Care, Please call our office at (607) 432-0061 or (866) 814-1117.
Kinship/Relative Child Care
Kindship care refers to grandparents, other relatives and even family friends who are caring for children. Most kinship caregivers are not foster parents and privately provide full time care for children. For more information on Kinship Care, visit the New York State Kinship Navigator.
Training, Technical Assistance and Professional Development
Child Care Support Services provides one on one technical assistance to help providers improve their program quality and maintain compliance within the state regulations. Technical assistance is available to providers and administrations for all modalities of care, legally exempt care and to parents.
Intensive Technical assistance projects take place throughout the year. Projects are open to all modalities of care and include an overview of the project before it begins and minimum of three hours of intensive technical assistance onsite. Projects are outcomes based and the child care specialist will work with the provider to meet the goals that they have set for themselves.
The Child Care Connection Newsletter, with other trainings available in the area is also on line for your convenience.
You may request technical assistance topic by completing the request form and submitting to our office via email, fax, mail, or you may call our office and speak with one of our Child Care Specialists.
Steps to Improve Quality
Attending training helps you learn the skills you need to understand and support children’s growth and development, and you will be able to offer a higher quality of child care to the children in your program. How to you improve the quality of the care you provide? Add follow up technique assistance after a training to help with implementation. Earn CEU’s or college credits. Become accredited. Earn a Child Development Associate.
Early Childhood Courses
Earlychildhood.org - Find a college near you that offers Early Childhood courses and degrees - College Database
Professional Development
CDA Council - The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in early childhood education - Child Development Associate
National Association for the Education of Youth Children - NAEYC's two quality assurance system levels equip programs with the tools to provide the best learning experiences for young children and provide the highest quality professional preparation of educators by meeting national standards of quality - Accreditation
National Association for Family Child Care - NAFCC sponsors the only nationally recognized accreditation system designed specifically for family child care providers. Accreditation is awarded to family child care providers who meet the eligibility requirements and the Quality Standards for NAFCC Accreditation - Accreditation
New York State Credential Programs
Network for Youth Success - The New York State Network for Youth Success administers the New York State School Age Care (SAC) Credential, which promotes quality services to children and families by providing specific standards, training, and evaluation for afterschool professionals - NYS School-Age Care Credential
NYAEYC - Promoting excellence in early care and education services for New York State children and families, through education, advocacy and the support of the profession - Family Child Care | Infant-Toddler Care | Children's Program Administrator
Online Training and Distance Learning Resources
SUNY Learning Network - Find an online degree program - Open SUNY
Early Childhood Education and Training Program - New York Office of Children and Family Services Approved Distance Learning Workshops - Approved Distance Learning Courses
Care Courses – Distance learning for Early Childhood Professionals - Course Catalog
Child Care Aware - Child Care Aware of America provides self-paced e-Learning, in addition to its professional development webinars.
Other Resources
Early Care and Learning Council – ECLC's Early Care Management Training, New Director's Institute and workshops support child care center directors in all counties across the state by training both new and experienced child care center directors in all topics essential to running a safe, high quality program. For Day Care Centers Directors - Early Care & Management Training.
SUNY Professional Development Program - Offers trainings that are available for all child care providers in New York State.
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Medication Administration Training (MAT) - The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has specific regulations about giving medication to children in child day care settings. The regulations require all child day care programs that choose to administer medication, other than over-the-counter topical ointments, sunscreen and topically applied insect repellent, to meet certain conditions including having staff who are approved to give medication in a child care setting.
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ECETP E-Learning Courses - OCFS offers online training using several unique and innovative delivery methods to meet the needs of child care providers throughout New York State.
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Webcast Training
Scholarships, Grants and Rebates
SUNY Professional Development Program - Education Incentive Program (EIP) The education program (EIP) is a scholarship program funded by New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OFCS). Its purpose is assist child care providers in paying for the professional development training and education they need to provide quality care to children.
The MAT Rebate Program - MAT Rebate program is for day care facilities to offset the cost of the training to certify staff administer medication in a child care setting
Voice CSEA - Provides grant up to $500 to New York State registered family and licensed group family child care providers outside of New York City. The grants may be used to purchase items you need to provide quality child care and Development Training and infant Child CPR First Aid Training.
Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and adult Care food Program (CACFP) reimburses for meals and snacks served to children up to age 13 enrolled in child care homes. The major focus of CACFP is to serve nutritious meals and snacks in child care homes which care mainly for children from low income household’s. However all day care home providers meeting eligibility guidelines may take part in CACFP whether or not they care for children from low income households.
What is a Sponsoring Organization?
Catholic Charities of Delaware and Otsego Counties is the CACFP sponsoring organization for child care homes in Otsego and Schoharie Countries. As the Sponsor, we provide recruitment, technical assistance and nutrition training. We review monthly attendance and, monitor child care programs and distribute monthly reimbursement checks.
To be Eligible to Participate
A Family or Group Family Day Care home must be licensed or registered by the local day care licensing authority ,or be an enrolled legally exempt child care provider to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
CACFP Sets a Standard
The CACFP sets nutritional standards for children. Through research, nutritionist have determined what foods are necessary to eat each day in order to get a complete balance of nutrition in their diet. The USDA minimum Nutritional Requirements are “bottom line” because they define what we must eat each day to stay healthy. The feeding pattern for the CACFP meets these requirements. It is therefore a useful guideline for anyone with children because it sets the standard for you to evaluate the nutritional quality of your meals.
Why Should I Sign Up for CACFP?
CACFP will reimburse child care providers for meals and snacks they provide to children enrolled in their child care program. The CACFP sponsoring agency will provide training and support in nutrition, feeding children, and buying and cooking food.
Meal Requirements
The Meals served in the child care home must include fluid milk, fruits, vegetables, breed or bread alternatives and meats or meat alternatives.
Recommended Number of Meals and Snacks
The number of meals and snacks which children need while in care varies depending on the number of hours that they are present. Guidelines may help you decide how many meals snacks you should serve each day:
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Less than 4 hours in care ~ 1 snack
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4 through 5 hours in care ~ 1 snack and meal to supply at least 1/3 of child’s food requirements
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6 through 9 hours in care ~2 snacks and 1 meal
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10 or more hours in care ~ 2 snack and meals to supply at least 2/3 of the child’s daily food requirement