Child Care Provider Resources
Helping all child care providers enhance their level of care
The Child Care Resource and Referral is available to help all child care providers with most of their needs.
Our Child Care Specialists are available to answer questions over the phone or by email or to come to your program to help with issues or concerns.
Technical Assistance and Onsite Technical Assistance is available to:
- Child Care Centers
- School Age Child Care Programs
- Family or Group Family Child Care Providers
- Legally Exempt Child Care Providers
Program Details
The application for the Stabilization Grant 2.0 has closed.
Information on the grants can be found on the OCFS webiste.
For any assistance or questions, all Broome, Chenango, and Tioga County programs can email childcaregrants@familyenrichment.org.
Family Enrichment Network offers a comprehensive CDA program which includes the classes and support through the process.
For information on the national credential, please visit The CDA Council.
The portal to apply for the Invest In NY Child Care Desert Grant for Exisiting Providers is closed.
Learn more on the OCFS website.
For local questions and assistance, contact Kami at kpaiz@familyenrichment.org or call 6070723-313 ext. 826.
OCFS announced the Workforce Retention Grant.
The application has closed. More information can be found on the OCFS website.
Provider Resources
OCFS
The Office of Children and Family Services is the regulatory agency for child care programs in New York State.
Child Care Aware of America
Child Care Aware of America (formerly NACCRRA) contains information and resources for child care providers and parents.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) website contains resources and information for child care providers.
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care Family Child Care. Providers can become accredited through NAFCC.
AfterSchool Works! New York
AfterSchool Works! New York is the membership organization for afterschool professionals in New York State. Visit their website for more information on the School Age Care Credential.
http://www.afterschoolworksny.org/
Kid Kare (Minute Menu)
Kid Kare provides online claiming for child care providers enrolled in our CACFP -Food Program.
http://www.minutemenu.com/php/mmweb/login.php
QualityStarsNY
QUALITYstarsNY is New York State's quality rating and improvement system. It is a voluntary program to rate, improve and communicate levels of quality in all regulated early care and learning programs. QualityStarsNY is currently being field tested. This field test will provide data to guide decisions necessary for statewide implementation of QUALITYstarsNY.
The Early Care and Learning Council
The Early Care & Learning Council is a statewide organization that works to increase the quality, affordability and capacity of the early care and learning field and does so through training and technical assistance, data management and advocacy initiatives. Programs are provided to and in partnership with the network of local Child Care Resource & Referral programs across New York State.
http://www.earlycareandlearning.org
Tom Copeland's Taking Care of Business
Tom Copeland, the nation's leading expert on the business of family child care, has established a new blog called Tom Copeland’s Taking Care of Business. In it, Tom writes regular articles about business issues, posts tax updates, and links to other resources
http://www.tomcopelandblog.com/
The Southern Tier Regional Leadership Initiative
Support for early childhood leaders and aspiring leaders across the SouthernTier.
https://www.earlychildhoodny.org/
Early Childhood Career Development Center
The Southern Tier Career Development Center provides free, comprehensive career development services to all current and aspiring early childhood professionals.
https://www.earlychildhoodny.org
Local Resources & Information
SUNY Broome
SUNY Broome offers courses in many different concentrations, including Early Childhood Education. The Early Childhood program leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree and is designed to prepare graduates for immediate employment or to enhance the skills and advancement opportunities of those already employed.
Binghamton University
Binghamton University has built a reputation as a world-class institution that combines a broad interdisciplinary, international education with one of the most vibrant research programs in the nation and it is located right in our area! Binghamton University offers Undergraduate Degrees in many areas, including Human Development. Graduate Degrees are offered in many areas, including Early Childhood Education.
Child Abuse Hotline
The abuse or maltreatment of children is against the law. Victims need an effective child protective service to prevent them from suffering further injury and impairment. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services maintains a Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment for reports made pursuant to the Social Services Law. The Central Register, also known as the "Hotline", receives telephone calls alleging child abuse or maltreatment within New York State. The Central Register relays information from the calls to the local Child Protective Service for investigation, monitors their prompt response, and identifies if there are prior child abuse or maltreatment reports. The Hotline receives calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week from two sources: persons who are required by law, or mandated, to report suspected cases of child abuse and maltreatment; and calls from non-mandated reporters, including the public. Among those who are mandated to make reports are: •medical and hospital personnel •school officials •social service workers •child care workers •residential care workers and volunteers, and •law enforcement personnel. *This list is not all inclusive. A signed, written report must be filed by mandated reporters within forty-eight hours of an oral report. The Summary Guide for Mandated Reports can be found on the OCFS website below. If you suspect a child has been harmed or is at risk, please dial 1-800-342-3720, to report what you have seen or heard. You can make a difference.
Contact: Mandated Reporter Hotline
Phone: 1-800-342-3720
http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/
Network News
A CCR&R provider newsletter called Network News is distributed quarterly to all child care providers and programs in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga Counties. The newsletter contains activity ideas, recipes, articles, and information on a variety of topics and is a great resource for all child care providers.
Check out the April Network News.
The Next Level Provider Collaborative is the formal name of our Staffed Family Child Care Network.
A Family Child Care Network is a type of shared services alliance: a partnership of child care providers working together to share costs and deliver services in a streamlined and efficient way. These services could include technology support, supply procurement, training and technical assistance, accounting, human resources and billing.
To join The Next Level Provider Collaborative, please contact Lisa at lrose@familyenrichment.org or call 607-723-8313 ext. 1619.
Update your Record
Email program updates to referrals@familyenrichment or call (607) 723-8313 ext. 829.
In 2019 Governor Cuomo signed new legislation called “Elijah’s Law”. The law is named after 3-year-old Elijah Silvera from New York City who was given a grilled cheese sandwich while at day care despite having a known severe dairy allergy. After Elijah went into anaphylaxis, his family was not told what he had eaten and 911 was not called. Elijah died in November 2017. Implementation of Elijah’s Law requires changes to your child care program, valuable, potentially life-saving changes, that are intended to prevent further tragedy.
As a child care professional, you play a critical role in protecting the health and safety of the children in your program. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 13 children is impacted by allergies. Allergies have the potential to create a life-threatening situation. Anaphylaxis must be treated right away. By gaining knowledge about allergies, prevention of anaphylaxis, and what action is to be taken during a medical emergency, child care providers can save lives.
All child day care programs are required to be in compliance with the elements of the anaphylaxis policy on September 15, 2021.
Information on all the rquirements can be found on the OCFS website: https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/elijahs-law.php
The free OCFS anaphylaxis training can be found here: https://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/findtraining.aspx?Prog=EL
The Quality Improvement Partnership is an intensive technical assistance project offering assessment, observation, mentoring, and technical assistance aimed at meeting identified goals to improve program quality.
The Quality Improvement Partnership is a project lasting a minimum of 12 weeks. An evening workshop with the cohort of providers will start off the project. During the first onsite visit, an intial program assessment will be conducted using the appropriate Environmental Rating Scale (ERS). During the second visit, the assessment scores and initial observations will be shared with the program staff or provider and a quality improvement plan will be developed. A Memorandum of Understanding outlining responsibilities will be signed by the program staff or provider and the mentor or specialist with Family Enrichment Network.
The following visits will vary by program, depending upon the needs, but will consist of a combination of training, mentoring, coaching, modeling, observations, and technical assistance all aimed at meeting the identified goals and improving program quality. A second evening workshop with the cohort will happen after approximately 6-8 weeks into the project. Each program in the project will receive a grant to purchase needed equipment and supplies to assist in meeting goals from the quality improvement plan. After another 6 weeks of onsite visits, a final assessment will be conducted. There will be one final evening workshop with the cohort of providers to end the project.
Provider Networking
Small Talk is the Family Child Care Provider networking group for family and group family child care providers in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga Counties. Meetings are held in Johnson City. Meeting topics vary from month to month and fulfills one hour of training in the identified topic. Registration is free.
Call (607) 723-8313 ext. 825 for information or to register.
To network with other family child care providers in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga Counties, join our facebook group!