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OCFS Updates
Guidance for protective surfacing under playground equipment at family and group family child care programs Read the Guidelines
New Law Regarding Drop-side CribsEffective October 28th, 2010, NYS enacted a new law that bans the sale of all drop- side cribs. Ratio GuidanceHow will my licensor or registrar decide whether I can accommodate additional children?Before enrolling additional children, your OCFS Regional Office must complete an inspection to determine that your program can accommodate additional children. OCFS issued the following guidance to licensors and registrars regarding inspections to approve additional enrollment. "The method to determine whether a provider has adequate space to care for an increase in capacity or additional children under the age of two has not changed. Licensors and registrars will use the guidelines and methods already in place. As you know, caring for infants includes having adequate space for napping, diapering, dressing, eating and playing. Infants need a quiet, calm environment away from too much stimulation from older children. Toddlers need space to be active learners and develop motor competence and sensory motor intelligence. School age children need a safe and secure environment that fosters their growing independence. Licensors/registrars must assess the needs of the children in care with the environment in which they will receive that care. There is no standard set that would include a numerical formula such as square footage requirement. Licensors/registrars can ask questions of the provider such as: where will children nap? Play? Study? Eat? Napping mats or cots can be one tool a licensor/registrar may use in assessing a program's space, but it should not be the only consideration. Assess the program's activities against the overall space needed to perform those activities. Licensors/registrars may also recommend that a provider open up a space by removing a piece of furniture or assessing what space may already be available in the home to be utilized for child care." New OCS Online Clearance SystemWatch the video
$43 Million In Federal Stimulus Funds Will Help Low-Income Familes Pay For Child CareOCFS Announces New System to Improve Accuracy and Speed of Child Care PaymentsOCFS Issues Child Care Market RatesOn March 11, 2010, OCFS issued a Local Commissioner’s Memorandum, 10-OCFS-LCM-01, which sets forth the 2009-2011 child care market rates. The LCM contains some important policy information that you should know.
Local districts may not require a provider to enter into a contract as a condition of receiving payment under the New York State Child Care Block Grant. Payment to providers is the cost of care up to market rate. The LCM describes how to determine cost of care when a provider only cares for subsidized children, including how to request an increase when the provider’s costs increase. Additionally, in a change from previous policy, a provider is entitled to increase her own salary if the provider has granted increases to other employees and if the provider delivers direct child care services. The LCM also clearly states that the weekly market rate must be applied when the provider charges non-subsidized parents on a weekly basis for child care provided for 30 or more hours over the course of 5 or fewer days in a single week. When the provider is located outside the social services district, or in another state, payment must be based on the market rate, up to the cost of care, in the county or state where the care is provided. The LCM details the rules for determining standard and enhanced market rates for legally exempt and in home providers, differential payment rates for nationally accredited programs and non-traditional hours, including the option to pay more than a 15% differential if the district makes a waiver request. View the Rates Read the entire LCM
Information about Amanda's LawAmanda's Law requires carbon monoxide detectors in most homes effective February 22, 2010. Per the amended NYS Fire Prevention and Building Code, in existing residences (constructed before 1/1/08) with a carbon monoxide source, a carbon monoxide detector must be installed on the lowest story having a sleeping area. Because the areas used for napping in Family Day Care and Group Family Day Care are often not on the floor where the provider's family sleeps, it is highly recommended that one unit be installed on each floor of the residence on which there is either a sleeping area or carbon monoxide source.
OCFS has issued guidance regarding H1N1
OCFS recommends that providers read and follow the Center for Disease Control recommendations regarding vaccination. At this point in time, while the New York State Department of Health, OCFS, and Center for Disease Control strongly recommend that providers get the H1N1 vaccine, it is not a requirement. |
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