Like every professional, the child care provider must continue to strengthen his/her skills. In fact, ongoing training and professional development is a requirement for maintaining a license or registration to provide child care in New York State.
Directors of registered school age child care programs and each employee working an average of twenty (20) or more hours a week must complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training every two years. Fifteen hours must be completed during the first six months of the programs initial registration or during the person's first six months of employment . This fifteen hours may apply towards the 30 hours of required training for the registration period. The minimum number of required training hours for staff working less than an average of twenty (20) hours will be pro rated. This training must include the following topics:
- Principles of child development, including appropriate supervision of children Meeting the needs of children admitted to the program with physical or emotional challenges, behavior management and discipline
- Nutrition and health needs of children.
- Child day care program development
- Safety and security procedures, including communication between parents and staff
- Business record maintenance and management
- Child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention
- Statutes and regulations pertaining to child day care
- Statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment
- Education and information on the identification, diagnosis and prevention of shaken baby syndrome.
For additional information about regulations, see the NYS Office of Children & Family Services information page.