Division of Child Care Services - New York State Office of Children & Family Services

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Child Care Home > Info for Providers > Starting a Child Care Program

Starting a Child Care Program (Español)

The Office of Children and Family Services also provides support for people and organizations that are interested in starting day care programs in their communities. As a general rule, any day care program planning to serve three or more children for more than three hours a day on a regular basis must obtain a license or registration certificate. To obtain this certificate, the applicant must show that the day care program meets requirements that the state has established to help ensure the health and safety of children in care. The Office maintains a network of Regional Offices that can provide you with application materials, information about the process of starting a program, and help with understanding the legal requirements.

In addition to the Regional offices, Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCRR) provide information to new and prospective child care providers about many aspects of program start up and maintenance such as:

Program Design
Referrals
Insurance
Budgeting
Record Keeping
Zoning
Child and Adult Care Food Program

In addition, you may be eligible for funding to assist you in starting or expanding your child care program.

If you are interested in obtaining funding to start or expand a day care center or school age child care program, you can apply to the Office of Children and Family Services for a grant application. You can contact us to request a grant application.
If you are interested in obtaining financial assistance to become a family day care provider, contact your local CCRR to request start-up funds.

If you would like to contact a Child Care Resource and Referral Agency in your area, use Agency Directories to locate the one closest to you. This directory will provide you with the address information for the CCRR as well as the Regional Offices, and the Local Departments of Social Services.

If you would like to request a copy of the required application for a permit to operate one of the following types of child care in New York State, you can do so through the New York State Business Permit System.

NOTE FOR NYC AREA: If you are interested in beginning the day care center process in one of the five boroughs of New York City, DO NOT USE THE LINKS BELOW. Instead, please contact the Bureau of Day Care in NYC at (212) 676-2444.