The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) provides a range of resources to help parents with their child care needs. Whether you're looking for regulated child care providers, support and resources to improve and maintain high quality, or assistance with child care costs, OCFS has you covered. QualityStarsNY is New York's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for early childhood programs. It offers support and resources to help early childhood educators across the state participate in continuous quality improvement.
Your county Department of Social Services (in New York City, the Human Resources Administration and the Children's Services Administration) can help you determine family eligibility based on income, the reasons you need daycare, and your child's age and individual needs. If you want to start your search on your own, the Find Day Care page will allow you to search the entire database of regulated child care providers in New York State (except for day care centers in New York City). New York City day care centers are regulated by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). They will ask you about the type of care you are looking for, the ages of your children, the times you need it, and other details, such as any special needs your child may have. If a parent or child care provider has questions or concerns about the results of an inspection, they can contact the licensing staff or the regional office that oversees the program. They can help you understand the six main quality indicators of child care and the ten components of high-quality child care for infants and toddlers. The Office of Children and Family Services is committed to providing assistance with child care costs to eligible families through the Child Care Subsidy Program.
If you contact a regional office in the Child Care Services Division, that office can provide you with the licensing and regulatory compliance history of any child care provider who has or has had an OCFS license. To find licensed day care in New York City (also known as group child care services), use this resource to search by county. The Office of Children and Family Services also has a useful set of pamphlets, As You Think About Child Care. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., extended hours for child care specialists are available on Tuesdays until 7 p.m., to help you make an informed decision about child care.
