Types of Legal Care in New York State, Group Size, Child to Adult Ratios, and Average Cost of Care

Choosing quality care for your child is important. This information will help you in choosing quality care. Use this information to interview and remember to visit more than one program before you choose your child care.

Below are the different types of care available. New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) requires licensing and registration for Family Child Care, Group Family Child Care, Child Care Centers, and School Age Child Care programs. This means that these programs are regulated, monitored and inspected by OCFS. These programs have to meet minumum standards for health and safety, staff education, group size, etc. Licensing and registration does not guarantee quality, nor does our agency. As a parent you are responsible for choosing a program that best meets your familys needs. Regulations and compliance information is available at the OCFS office in your region.

 

Adult to Child Ratio: Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child. You want your child to get plenty of attention. The younger your child, the more important this is.

Group Size: Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller the group, the more attention your child will receive.   Consider a group of 25 two-year olds with five adults, compared to a group of 10 with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child ratio. Which would be calmer, safer and more family oriented?

 

 

Care Excluded from OCFS (Office of Children and Family Services) regulation

• Legal Exempt Care– 2 children, 3 or more hours a day (non-relative) or care for relatives or care for less than 3 hours per day, per child And Subsidized (receiving subsidy payment from the county for the child care provided)

 

• Legal Informal – 2 children, 3 or more hours a day (non-relative) or care for relatives or care for less than 3 hours per day, per child And care is non-subsidized

 

• Nursery School and Preschools - serve children ages 2-5 years old in a variety of settings
  • Classes may meet anywhere from 1 – 5 days per week for less than 3 hours per class and follow the school year calendar
  • They are not Registered/Licensed by OCFS

 

• In Home Child Care Providers  (Nanny, Au-Pair) -  care for child/children in their home
  • There is no limit to the number of children that can be cared for as long as all reside in the home where care is given

Care Registered/Licensed by OCFS (Office of Children and Family Services) regulation

• School Age Child Care programs care for more than 6 children from kindergarten through age 12 during non-school hours
• Also may care for children during holidays and vacation

The maximum child to care giver ratios permitted by New York State in School Age Child Care programs are:

Childs Age	Group Size	Ratio (# of children per care giver)
Kindergarten – 9	20	10
10-12 years	30	15

The average cost of care for a School Age Child Care Program per County:

County	Childs Age Group	Average Cost of Care  Full-Time
Ontario	Enrolled in school (under 13)	$142
Seneca	Enrolled in school (under 13)	$84
Yates	Enrolled in school (under 13)	$72

 

• Small Day Care Centers with less than 7 children are registered
• All other day care centers are licensed
• Number of children depends on size of building

The maximum child to care giver ratios permitted by New York State in Child Care Center programs are:

Childs Age	Group Size	Ratio (# of children per care giver)
0-6 Weeks	6	3
6 Weeks – 18 Months	8	4
18 Months – 36 Months	12	5
3 Years	18	7
4 Years	21	8
5 Years	24	9
6 – 9	20	10
10-12 years	30	15

The average cost of care for a Child Care Center Program per County:

County	Childs Age Group	Average Cost of Care  Full-Time
Ontario	Under 1 1/2	$233
Ontario	1 ½ - 3	$220
Ontario	3 - 5	$196
Ontario	6 - 13	$136
Seneca	Under 1 1/2	$223
Seneca	1 ½ - 3	$216
Seneca	3 - 5	$214
Seneca	6 - 13	$160
Yates	Under 1 1/2	$182
Yates	1 ½ - 3	$180
Yates	3 - 5	$158
Yates	6 - 13	$158

• Group Family Child Care Homes care for 7 to 12 children at a time in a residence; can add 1 -2 school age children
• There must be at least one caregiver present for every two children under the age of two.
• A provider or assistant alone may care for up to six children when none of the children are school-age
• A provider or assistant alone may care for seven children when one of the children is school-age
• A provider or assistant alone may care for up to eight children when at least two children are school-age
• School-age children can fill slots for infants and toddlers up to the total capacity permitted (16) for Group Family Child Care
• A provider and assistant(s) may care for any combination of age groups up to a total of 12 children plus four school-age children.

The maximum child to care giver ratios permitted by New York State in Group Family Child Care  programs are:

Childs Age	Group Size  (max. 16)         (provider and 1 assistant)	Ratio (# of children per care giver)
6 Weeks – 2 Years	4	2
2 – 5 Years	12	6
5 – 12 Years	4	2

The average cost of care for a Group Family Child Care Program per County:

County	Childs Age Group	Average Cost of Care  Full-Time
Ontario	Under 1 1/2	$176
Ontario	1 ½ - 3	$168
Ontario	3 - 5	$166
Ontario	6 - 13	$116
Seneca	Under 1 1/2	$130
Seneca	1 ½ - 3	$125
Seneca	3 - 5	$125
Seneca	6 - 13	$ 98
Yates	Under 1 1/2	$145
Yates	1 ½ - 3	$145
Yates	3 - 5	$145
Yates	6 - 13	$143

• Family Child Care homes care for 3 to 6 children at a time in a residence; they may add 1 – 2 school age children
• There must be one caregiver present for every two children under the age of two
• School-age children can fill the slots for infants and toddlers up to the total capacity permitted (8) for Family Child Care

The maximum child to care giver ratios permitted by New York State in Family Child Care programs are:

Childs Age	Group Size (max. 8)   provider only	Ratio (# of children per care giver)
6 Weeks – 2 Years	2	2
2 – 5 Years	6	6
5 – 12 Years	2	2

The average cost of care for a Family Child Care Program per County:

County	Childs Age Group	Average Cost of Care  Full-Time
Ontario	Under 1 1/2	$160
Ontario	1 ½ - 3	$156
Ontario	3 - 5	$155
Ontario	6 - 13	$131
Seneca	Under 1 1/2	$142
Seneca	1 ½ - 3	$132
Seneca	3 - 5	$131
Seneca	6 - 13	$ 106
Yates	Under 1 1/2	$132
Yates	1 ½ - 3	$127
Yates	3 - 5	$127
Yates	6 - 13	$ 117