New York State has regulations that govern the minimum requirements for licensed and registered child care. These requirements have been developed to protect the health and safety of children cared for outside their home by someone other than a relative. They are also designed to promote children’s development.

Listed below are brief descriptions of common types of child care programs in New York State. In Monroe, Wayne and Livingston County, Day Care Centers and Group Family Day Care are regulated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. The Child Care Council, Inc. registers Family Day Care Homes, stand alone School Age Programs, and enrolls Legally Exempt Providers.

Day Care Centers
Provide care for more than six children at a time, not in a personal residence.

Small Day Care Centers
Provide care for up to six children, not in a personal residence.

Family Child Care
Provide care for up to to six children at a time in a residence; may add one or two school-age children.

Group Family Child Care
Provide care for up to twelve children at a time in a residence; may add one or two school-age children. A provider must use an assistant when more that eight children are present.

*Each of the programs listed above can serve children ages six weeks through twelve years and operate for more than three hours a day. There must be one caregiver for every two children under the age of two.

School Age Child Care
Provide care for more than six children from kindergarten through age twelve. Care for children during non-school hours; also may provide care during school vacation periods and holidays.

Other forms of legal child care include:

Nursery Schools
Provide care for three hours a day or less. In New York City, the City Department of Health regulates these programs. A nursery school may voluntarily register with the State Education Department (SED).

Pre-Kindergartens
Usually located in public schools, but can also be found in private schools or day care centers; supervised by the SED.

Head Start Centers
Targeted for preschool-age children from low income families; federally funded and usually licensed as Day Care Centers.

Legally Exempt Care (Informal)
Provide care for one to two children at a time in addition to the provider’s children. Providers that receive subsidy payments are required to Enrollment as a Legally Exempt Provider.

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services have a complete list of regulations for each type of child care on their website. To visit their site and view regulations, visit http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/childcare/daycare_regs.asp