Child Care Professionals are Small Business Owners
As a child care program owner, you are the owner of a small business that makes a positive difference in the lives of working parents and children. A successful child care professional wears many hats: early childhood educator, business manager, fiscal administrator, safety and health officer and more.
Child Care Council of Suffolk can help you navigate the process of opening and running a child care program. We offer one monthly session where you will learn all about opening a child care program and New York State regulations. We also will help with the required paperwork. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services has a complete list of regulations for each type of child care program on their website.) See our Events Calendar for information session dates.
What You Should Consider Before Starting a Child Care Program
- Would you enjoy communicating with parents about their children's growth and development?
- Does your home have sufficient space to allow you to care for young children? Space is needed for projects and activities, indoor and outdoor active play, meals, naptime and a sanitary diapering area.
- Do you have outdoor play space (enclosed yard or fenced public park within easy walking distance)?
- Can you keep track of the child care program business details?
Determining Need for Child Care Programs in Your Community
Some geographic areas have many child care professionals, while others have a shortage. Community demographics – available from local town or city government – can help you estimate the need for child care in your community. If there are many families with young children and/or a high birth rate, you can expect that these parents may be seeking child care in the near future.
Child Care Council of Suffolk can help you determine the need for child care in your community. You also can check with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services at www.ocfs.ny.gov/main, the Yellow Pages, parents' newspapers and other local publications for ads that can help you determine if there is a need for child care businesses in your neighborhood.