Types of child care

Types of care available to parents

There are several types of care available to families: NY State Regulated Care, Other Accredited Programs & Providers, and Care Settings not Regulated by OCFS.

Use these resources to help you determine what program works best for you and your children.

NY STATE REGULATED CARE

There are several different types of child care available to you. The Child Care Council recommends that parents select regulated care whenever possible.

In New York State there are four types of child care settings regulated by the Office for Children and Family Services (OCFS):

Child Care Centers – Care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age, for more than 3 hours per day in a non-residential setting. Minimum standards must be met for staffing, group size and basic health and safety.
School Age Programs – For children 5-12 years old during out-of-school hours, including before/after school and sometimes during school vacations and holidays. This type of care may be found in a free standing building, a public or private school setting, recreation centers and religious institutions.
Family Child Care – For children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age, in a residential setting. Some providers offer part-time, weekend, overnight and evening care options, flexible schedules, and the option to allow siblings to stay together. Typically a mixed-age-group setting.
Group Family Child Care – Group family child care is similar to family child care; more children may be enrolled when an additional caregiver is present.
Legally Exempt child care – Legally Exempt child care is a childcare arrangement where a provider is not required to have a license or registration from the Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS). This typically involves a family member, friend or neighbor providing care. While legally exempt providers are not subject to strict regulations, they must meet basic health and safety standards if they care for children receiving child care assistance.
Visit the New York State OFCS (Office of Children and Family Services) and review the Child Care Regulations for Child Care Providers.

OTHER ACCREDITED PROGRAMS & PROVIDERS

Accreditation by a national organization requires that programs meet a higher standard than state regulation, offering the kind of care, attention, and educational activities that aid a child’s growth and development.

For a list of accredited programs and providers, please call us at (914) 761-3456, ext. 140.

CARE SETTINGS NOT REGULATED BY OCFS

Care settings that are not regulated by OCFS include:

- Nannies/In-home Care Providers – A nanny care provider may live with a family or travel to the family’s home each day, often known as a nanny. Please review our Ultimate Nanny Guide to help you make the best choice for your family.
- Kierans’s Law took effect in 1998. This ground-breaking legislation provides parents with the right to access New York State criminal history information about potential in-home caregivers.

Nursery school and preschool programs – Nursery schools provide care where children are in attendance for no more than 3 hours per day in a nonresidential setting.
Universal pre-K – Universal pre-Kindergarten programs may be offered by local school districts to eligible four-year-old children, and are regulated by the New York State Department of Education.