Child Care Referrals
The Child Care Council helps families find licensed/registered child care in Clinton and Franklin Counties. Our provider data base contains details such as location, operating hours, ages of children served and whether or not the program is authorized to administer medication.
All providers in our data base are licensed and registered by New York State. They have to complete 30 hours of training every two years to maintain their license. Also, they have CPR & First Aide certification. Some providers have also completed the Child Development Associate (CDA), a nationally credentialed program, which is a year-long program that provides a foundation in early childhood development that raises the quality of the program.
There are three types of facilities:
Family Child Care -- This is a facility that a provider runs out of his or her home with a maximum number of eight children, two of which can be under the age of two years. The program must have an approved health care plan and the parent should ask to see a copy. Many providers participate in the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) and menus for meals and snacks are posted. Families are encouraged to participate in family nights, field trips, holiday celebrations, and parent education opportunities. Accreditation is a process by which the program pursues national credentialing based on well-defined standards of quality.
Group Family Child Care -- this is a facility that a provider runs out of his or her home with a full-time assistant and a maximum number of 16 children, four of which can be under the age of two years. The program must have an approved health care plan and the parent should ask to see a copy. Many providers participate in the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) and menus for meals and snacks are posted. Families are encouraged to participate in family nights, field trips, holiday celebrations, and parent education opportunities. Accreditation is a process by which the program pursues national credentialing based on well-defined standards of quality
Center -- this is a facility under the supervision of a director with several employees supervising classrooms of children usually separated by age groupings.
Minimum staff/child ratios are based on group size for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Minimum staff/child ratios based on group size for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Age of Children Staff/Child Maximum
Ratio (*) Group Size (**)
Under six 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
Minimum staff/child ratios based on group size for school-aged children
through 9 years 1:10 20
10-12 years 1:15 15
(*) Staff/child ratio refers to the maximum number of children per staff person.
(**) Group size refers to the number of children cared for together as a unit. Group size is used to determine the minimum staff/child ratio based upon the age of the children in the group.
(***) such care is only permitted pursuant to the provisions os paragraph (17) of subdivision (a) of section 418-1.15 of this subpart.
THE ABOVE CHART IS COPIED VERBATIM FROM THE NEW YORK STATE DAY CARE REGULATIONS
The program must have an approved health care plan and the parent should ask to see a copy. The program must follow specific rules to give over-the-counter and prescription medication. Most providers participate in the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) and menus for meals and snacks are posted. Families are encouraged to participate in family nights, field trips, holiday celebrations, and parent education opportunities. Accreditation is a process by which the center pursues national credentialing based on well-defined standards of quality.
The cost of child care depends on the facility and the needed hours of care. Generally in Clinton and Franklin counties the cost of a full-time provider ranges between $125 and $150 a week.
Parents should check licensing records and visit a the program before selecting a provider.
At the state level, providers are registered on the Office of Child and Family Services website -- www.ocfs.state.ny.us To contact the regional office for the licensing history of a child care program call 1 (800) 732-5207.
At the county level providers are registered by the Department of Social Services.
In Clinton County call Louise Jolly at (518) 565-3404
In Franklin County call Katherine Brethour at (518) 481-1815
The Departments of Social Services are the best resources for information regarding available child care subsidies to parents of young children who are working and pursuing child care. Eligibility is determined by income and parents may contact the Clinton and Franklin county offices listed above to apply.
We do child care referrals during regular business hours -- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Families in need of child care, can call Paul Pasquarella, referral specialist, and he will provide names, addresses, and phone numbers of child care programs and providers. Please call (518) 561-4999 or toll free 1-800-540-2273 or email
