Our Training Opportunities
We offer a variety of training opportunities designed to support early childhood professionals in strengthening program quality, teaching practices, and child development knowledge. Trainings may include topics related to health and safety, child development, classroom management, social-emotional support, curriculum planning, family engagement, and developmentally appropriate practices for children of all ages.
Training Catalog
All trainings are developed and owned by Community Child Care Clearinghouse of Niagara and are delivered by our qualified specialists to support high-quality child care programs.
Health & Safety
These trainings include foundational requirements such as the 15-hour Pre-Service Health and Safety training, as well as ongoing certifications like CPR and First Aid, Medication Administration Training (MAT), and Mandated Reporter training.
Questions
Have more questions? Our team is happy to help provide additional information regarding training, policies, registration, and custom training opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
For further questions regarding training policies, registration, cancellations, attendance requirements, certificates, or training expectations, please contact our team directly. We are happy to provide clarification and support to help ensure participants understand all training procedures and requirements before attending.
Training provided by the Infant Toddler Specialist and Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant may be offered FREE* of charge at your child care program. These trainings are made possible through support from the Infant Toddler Specialist Network and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).
For other trainings conducted at a child care facility or scheduled to help a program come into compliance with a corrective action plan, a set fee per class will be charged by the Community Child Care Clearinghouse of Niagara to train child care employees.
This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, and payment or proof of payment must be received one week prior to the training. Accepted forms of payment include EIP, cash, checks, and money orders (payable to Niagara Community Action Program, Inc.).
Each training requires a minimum number of participants (3); if this number is not met prior to the training date, the class may be cancelled. The Community Child Care Clearinghouse of Niagara reserves the right to cancel or reschedule training sessions when necessary, and any payments received will be refunded in the event of a cancellation. If registering with an EIP coupon or voucher, it must be submitted with the registration form and must be valid and unexpired. Participants are expected to arrive on time, as late arrivals will not be admitted to the training session.
All participants must register and pay prior to the training date to secure their spot. The Community Child Care Clearinghouse of Niagara may cancel classes if registration requirements are not met, and any payments will be refunded.
Accepted payment methods include cash, checks, and money orders (payable to Niagara Community Action Program, Inc.), and returned checks carry a $45 fee.
The Division of Child Care Services developed two forms to help record and track training hours. Family and Group Family providers should use form OCFS-4880 – Individual Training Tracking Form and maintain it on file for renewal submission. School-Age Programs and Day Care Centers should use OCFS-4880 for Directors and individual employee tracking, while Directors should complete form OCFS-4879 for all employees at their site. Form OCFS-4879 must be submitted at renewal and maintained on-site. Both forms are included below and can also be ordered through the OCFS warehouse at (518) 473-0971.
If a payment is made with an Educational Incentive Program (EIP) Award, it must be received prior to the training. This payment will be made with an EIP coupon, and the EIP coupon must accompany the registration form. The coupon submitted must have a non-expired date. EIP coupons must be for the full cost of the class or supplemented by check, cash or money order (payable to Niagara Community Action Program, Inc.).
The Community Child Care Clearinghouse of Niagara will reimburse participants for EIP awards submitted following training classes, provided applications for reimbursement are submitted within the time limits as required by the EIP program. For EIP information and application, see the last 3 pages of this catalog.
Family/Group Family and Legally Exempt providers may use CSEA/VOICE funds for their CPR/First-aid training. Visit the link below! for more information.
Requirements for licensed and registered providers*
Each person responsible for developing, directing, and supervising the daily activities and programs for children, and each employee must complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training every two years, with a minimum of 5 hours completed each year. Fifteen (15) hours of such training must be completed during the first six months of service.
* Requirements are for staff in regulated child care centers, school-age child care, group family child care, and family child care. Head Start and Universal PreK have additional requirements.
OCFS TOPIC AREAS
While all ten training topic areas are recognized by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, not every topic area will apply equally to all caregiving settings or roles. The relevance of certain topics may vary depending on the type of program, the ages of children served, and individual staff responsibilities. However, child care providers and staff are still required to complete the minimum training hours mandated by New York State, ensuring ongoing professional development and continued compliance with training requirements. Providers are encouraged to select trainings that best support both their program needs and their professional growth while meeting these requirements.
CBK TOPIC AREAS
While Core Body of Knowledge (CBK) topic areas are not currently a mandated training requirement, they provide a framework outlining the knowledge, skills, and competencies early childhood professionals should develop to support high-quality care and education for children and families. The CBK is organized into seven Core Competency Areas that highlight key elements of professional practice and development.
