Table of Contents

Quality Improvement

Types of Regulated Child Care in New York State

Child Development Council Quality Improvement Services

Technical Assistance

We are here to answer your questions, by phone, e-mail, or on-site (yours or ours!). Questions run the gamut from regulations to program development, so don’t be shy about asking! Call us at 607-273-0259 or send us an email.

Intensive Technical Assistance and Projects

Intensive Technical Assistance and Projects offer child care programs support with assessment and program development. Generally provided in hourly units, this free service is individualized to your needs and optimal for making big changes to your education or program. Download an ITA application here.

Coaching

Coaching is an interactive process based on a collaborative relationship between the coach and the child care professional. The Council’s certified coaches can provide 1:1 support for child care staff and administrators of programs in Cortland and Tompkins County as a professional development opportunity

Coaching is intentionally designed to promote sustainable growth in attitudes, skills and knowledge to effectively implement best practices for the optimal development of young children and their families. Through observation, discussion, and reflection the coach promotes the other person’s ability to grow toward identified goals.

Early Childhood Credentials

NYS Council on Children and Families – Earlychildhood.org

The NYS Council on Children and Families established the following credentials to improve the competencies contain information on programs that have been established to improve the competencies of people working with children and their families including:

  • Infant and Toddler Care and Education Credential
  • Children’s Program Administrator Credential
  • NYS Early Learning Trainer Credential
  • Family Child Care Credential
  • Family Development Credential
  • School-age Child Care Credential

New York State Quality Improvement Services and Initiatives

Quality Stars NY 

Quality Stars NY (QSNY) is a voluntary quality rating system for early care and education programs. It is currently being piloted in 12 communities across the state. For more information, visit the Quality Stars NY website.

Accreditation of Early Childhood Programs

Accreditation is a voluntary process through which licensed and approved programs can demonstrate they meet specified standards. Accreditation standards often exceed minimum licensing requirements and reflect leading practices of quality children’s programs. The process of achieving and maintaining accreditation is in itself a process of quality improvement, examining all aspects of the program and administration. 

Child care centers, school-aged child care and home-based programs are accredited by different professional organizations.

Center and School-Age Child Care Program Accreditation

Centers work to achieve accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC Accreditation began in 1985 with the goal of providing an accrediting system that would raise the level of early childhood programs. Today, over 6,500 programs are NAEYC Accredited. For more information about accreditation and other resources available through the NAEYC.

Family Child Care Accreditation

The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) administers the only national accreditation system designed specifically for family child care providers. Learn more on on the NAFCC site.

Building Access to Child Care Project (BACC) and Early Childhood Business Alliance (ECBA)
Early Childhood Career Development
NYS Child Care Licensing Process
Creating a Business Plan
Business Structure
Risk Management and Insurance
Financial Management and Record Keeping
Taxes
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Marketing
Curriculum Planning
Program and Employment Records and Forms
Working with Families: Communication, Contracts and Help Paying for Child Care
Caregiver Qualifications, Training and Professional Development Requirements
Quality Improvement
Professional Organizations
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
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