Child Care Services

Many families use a daycare service to provide after school or all day supervision for their children. Before you begin looking into day care services, make a list of your needs. Determine your budget, schedule, and how far you're willing to travel to and from the service. Ask other parents or check with the Department of Social Services for recommendations. Also, consider obtaining a Better Business Bureau reliability report on the company if a report is available.

When you have narrowed down your choices, arrange to visit the facilities in which you are interested. During the initial visit, consider going without your child so you may freely assess the daycare program. When choosing a program, consider some of the following questions:

  • Does the facility meet county and state regulations and licensing requirements?
  • Does the facility carry the appropriate liability insurance?
  • Is the facility clean?
  • What are the facility's rates?
  • Is adequate safety equipment available?
  • Are all toxins and harmful chemicals out of reach of children?
  • Has the facility ever been reported to the Department of Health or Child Services?
  • Do staff members have the appropriate credentials? How long have they been working with children? What type of first aid/CPR training do they have?
  • Are the currently enrolled children happy and playful or bored and unruly?
  • What supplies such as diapers and snacks will you need to provide?
  • What happens if a child becomes sick?
  • What disciplinary steps and methods does the staff employ?
  • May parents visit unannounced?
  • Will your child be happy there?

When you've chosen a facility, you may be expected to sign a day care service contract upon enrollment of your child. Before signing, carefully read over the contract. If you have any questions, be sure to ask them, and if need be, take the contract home overnight to look it over in more depth. Once you have signed the contract, be sure to retain a copy of all receipts for any payments made to the day care service provider.

For more information, contact:

Better Business Bureau
www.bbb.org

New York State Attorney General
(877) 771-7755
www.oag.state.ny.us

New York State Consumer Protection Board
(800) 697-1220
www.consumer.state.ny.us

New York State Department of Health
(866) 881-2809
www.nyhealth.gov

New York State Office of Children and Family Services
(800) 732-5207
www.ocfs.state.ny.us

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)
1319 F Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 393-5501
www.naccrra.org

This report is general in nature and is not intended as a reliability report on any company, service or product.