COMPLAINTS REGARDING CHILD CARE OR CCR&R SERVICES

1.     To register a Compliment or Complaint regarding the Child Care Resource and Referral Services:  

        Please contact Elizabeth Kuriplach, Executive Director, of the Child Care Council of Orange County, Inc. at 845- 294-4012 or email liz@childcarecounciloc.org.

2.     If you have a complaint or questions about your child care program:

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS) maintains a toll-free                                   complaint line for complaints about child care programs. It is their responsibility to investigate any possible violation to NYS child care regulations. This also includes reporting persons operating a program without the proper registration/license. It is the goal of NYS OCFS to help all programs to come into compliance with NYS regulations.

 To make a complaint call: 1(800) 732-5207

To report suspected child abuse or maltreatment call the

Child Abuse Hotline: 1(800) 342-3720


If you would like the complaint history of a child care program:

• For registered Family Child Care Providers or School-age Child Care Programs call the Child Care Council of Orange County at (845) 294-4012 x230

• For licensed Group Family Child Care Providers or Day Care Centers call the Spring Valley Regional Office of NYS      OCFS at  (845) 708- 2400

If you would like the violation history from the past 2 years of a child care program:

• You may visit the website www.ocfs.state.ny.us ; click on “find child care”

Or

• For registered Family Child Care Providers or School-age Child Care Programs call the Child Care Council of Orange County at (845) 294-4012 x230

• For licensed Group Family Child Care Providers or Day Care Centers call the Spring Valley Regional Office of NYS OCFS at (845) 708- 2400.


Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Find out if your child’s toys and equipment are safe – log onto www.cpsc.gov

The Child Care Council of Orange County, Inc. is an approved Sponsor for CACFP (the Child and Adult Care Food Program).

If your provider joins the CACFP program, your child(ren) will eat healthy and nutritious meals. Your provider will be eligible for reimbursement for certain meals and snacks.

When a parent enrolls their child in CACFP, the parent is subject to audits periodically to verify their child’s attendance and meals received at the provider’s home. For more information, contact Stephanie at 294-4012 x229

Age of Children	Staff to Child ratio	Maximum Group Size
Under 6 weeks	1:3	6
6 Weeks to 18 Months	1:4	8
18 Months to 36 Months	1:5	12
3 Years	1:7	18
4 Years	1:8	21
5 Years	1:9	24
Through 9 years	1:10	20
10-12 years	1:15	30

School-Age Child Care Programs (SACC)- are registered to care for children in a facility other than a home, typically a school. They are designed to care for children age 5-12 years (school-age) before and/or after the school day, and they normally run on the same calendar as the school. They are registered with OCFS through our Registrar Department. An indicator of quality child care would to have a smaller adult to child ratio then required by the state.

Camps/Summer Programs- are regulated by the Department of Health and are not required to be registered or licensed with OCFS. They are normally geared towards school-age children, offering a variety of activities. Camps and Summer Programs can be associated with a center, or can be an independent facility.

Fair Market Rates 2008

Other types of Financial Assistance: 

• Providers/programs may offer Multi-Child Discounts, sliding fee scales based on family income or
offer scholarships.

• Employers may offer Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Assistance Accounts

• There is a Earned Income Tax Credit  is a federal income tax credit available to low income
families determined by the number of eligible children and family income.

School Districts may offer Universal Pre-Kindergarten which is a free program to children 4 years
old. You would need to contact your individual school district for more information.

Head Start Child Care is a program for three and four year old children from low income families
that help shape the attitudes and health habits of preschoolers.

The Agri-Business Development Centers are for children of Migrant workers the fees are income
based.

Choosing Quality Child Care

When it comes to looking for child care, you want the best for your child. Research shows that high quality child care can have a positive impact on a child’s overall development. Finding high quality child care is very important for your child's well-being.

Here are some things to consider when looking for child care:

Caregiver education — Training in child development is very important. The caregiver should understand how children develop, their stages of growth and their behavior at various ages. Although specialized training is a key indicator of quality, it's best to look for a provider who has both training and experience.

Accreditation — Some child care programs have met national standards of quality that are more rigorous than licensing/registration rules. They are then considered to be accredited. These programs/providers take extra training and pass tests to receive national recognition.

Group size — Children benefit from the individual attention possible in smaller groups. State licensing rules set standards for how many children of various ages may be cared for by one adult.  If a program chooses to have a smaller group size than what is required by the regulations this is an indicator of quality care.

Ratios — Children do better with individual attention which is possible when there is a smaller ratio of adults to children. State licensing rules set the ratio of the number of adults to children in each group. When a program has a smaller ratio of adults to children in any group than what the state rules, it is an indicator of quality care.

Family involvement — A high quality program is responsive to each child. A system is in place for the caregiver to share information about the child's day. The caregiver meets with parents at least once a year to share child's physical, social, intellectual, and emotional growth.

Consistent care — Consistent care from a sensitive, responsive caregiver is the foundation for healthy development, building the child's security, confidence and a sense of well-being. The presence of a regular caregiver and minimal turnover in staff are essential elements of high quality child care.

Health and safety — Children's healthy development depends on safe and positive experiences during the first few years of life. Working during the first few years of a child life can be a tough choice to make, however choosing quality child care that focuses on health and safety can help ease that anxiety. Indicators of quality care: How often do adults and children wash their hands, Are diaper changing surfaces cleaned and disinfected after each use, Are first aid kits readily available, Is the outdoor play area a safe place for children to play, Is there a plan for responding to emergencies or disasters, Has a satisfactory criminal history background check been completed on each adult present also has a check of the State Central registry for child abuse and maltreatment been successively completed.

We will automatically send you information on these topics, when you call for referrals, so you will have it when you meet with potential providers. We will be happy to send you any additional information upon request. Along with supplying written information, we also offer onsite seminars at schools, libraries, churches, work facilities and other places where parents are. Please contact us to get more information.