How to Become a Registered Family Child Care Provider

Starting Your Own Early Childhood Program

There is a shortage of quality, affordable child care in New York City. With a workforce of over 50% working families with children under the age of 5 years, the need for child care and early childhood education has become a fact of life. Also, the demand for non-traditional child care hours and culturally diverse child care professionals has increased.

We are pleased that you have decided to start a child care program in your home to help meet the child care needs of families. Opening you own child care program is an excellent investment for both you and your community. You benefit by establishing a successful child care business, and the families in your community benefit from the services of a high quality child care program.

The following information was created for you by the New York City Child Care Resource and Referral (NYC CCR&R) Consortium to help you understand the process and requirements for becoming a registered early childhood family child care provider.

What Is a Family Child Care (FCC) Provider?

A family child care (FCC) provider is an independent child care business operator who is registered to provide child care services for 5 to 6 children, aged 6 weeks to 12 years, in his/her home. A FCC provider is also someone who understands the importance of providing quality early childhood education to all children, especially during the first three years of life.

Application Process and Requirements

Qualification

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Live in a home or an apartment that is safe for children
• Have two exits in the home
• Be in good character and in good physical and mental health
• Have no children abuse complaints against you or anyone that lives with you or intends to work with your program
• Demonstrate basic competency in health and safety procedures
• Have some experience working with children or some education in early childhood development

Getting the Application
To get a family child care application, call the New York City Department of Health, Office of Family Day Care Registration at 212-280-9253 and request an initial family child care application booklet. An application booklet will be mailed to you with an identifying number that will be used to track all of the information you submit. You may also request an application by calling CPC-ACCR at 212-941-0030.

Site Inspection
A representative from the Department of Health (DOH) will schedule a home inspection visit with you after receiving your completed family child care registration application.

Fingerprinting
You and all the members of your household who are 18 years of age or older, and all the adults associated with the family child care home must be fingerprinted. A fingerprint card must be completed regardless of conviction record. For more information on where to get fingerprinted free of charge, call 212-941-0030.

In addition to fingerprinting, you and everyone residing at the child care site who is 18 years of age or older must complete and submit a State Central Register (SCR) Clearance Form. This form is included in the initial family child care application booklet. Your family child care registration will not be completed until all fingerprinting and SCR forms have been submitted for processing.

Health and Safety Training
The health and safety training is a competency based training that all prospective providers are required to successfully complete before they can be issued a family child care registration. A listing of certified health and safety trainers will come with your initial application

There may be a fee associated with taking the health and safety training. The cost for the training will vary depending on where you take it, so shop around. However, once you receive your family child care registration, you can submit a “rebate form” to get reimbursed for the fee you paid to take the health and safety training.

Resources
Contact your local family child care network or one of the NYC CCR&R Consortium members to find out about additional training that is required and resources that are available to assist you in your work with children. Listed below are a few of the resources available to family child care providers:

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
A meal reimbursement program that pays for the meals and snacks served to children up to the age of 13 who are enrolled in family child care homes. In addition, CACFP provides nutrition training and education to promote and encourage good eating habits

Educational Incentive Program (EIP)
A scholarship program designed to assist child care providers in obtaining the training and education they need to provide quality care to children. The training and education can include college credit courses.

Start-Up Grant
A grant offered by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to help prospective and existing family child care providers make their programs health and safe. Through the Start-Up grant, family child care providers receive up to $500.00 in health and safety equipment. Also, the Start-Up grant can be used to pay for state mandated family child care trainings. A Health and Safety grant, of up to $200.00, is offered to existing providers.

For further information about how to become a registered family child care provider, please call 212-941-0030.