Niagara Countys
Child Care Health & Safety Certification
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Meet the Trainer
Our Early Childhood Development Specialists are prepared to offer high-quality support to licensed/registered home and center-based programs serving children ages 3 to 12 years old. Funded by the New York State Office of Child and Family Services, our specialists are part of a statewide network of professionals prepared to offer training and on-site assistance meant to guide programs in creating high-quality care practices, learning experiences, and environments for preschool and school-age children.
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1521 Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY, 14305
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Foundations in Health and Safety e-learning
All Licensed and re-registered childcare providers and all enrolled Legally Exempt providers must take “Foundations in Health and Safety” e-learning. “Foundations in Health and Safety” is available as a 5-hour-long online course. There is no charge to take the online course.
There are two types of Health & Safety courses.
The 15-Hour Health & Safety Training is a required course for individuals planning to open or operate regulated child care programs in New York State, and includes 15 hours of instruction covering essential regulations, supervision, health practices, and program policies. This training prepares providers to create safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate environments for children in their care.
Health & Safety Training for Family and Group Family In-Home Childcare Providers
This is a competency-based 15-hour training that provides a foundation for practices that promote and protect the health and safety of children in home-based child care. Successful completion of this course is required for all new family or group family day care applicants in New York State before licensure or registration, as well as for existing family or group family day care providers who change location or modality. This course is required for all new FDC and GFDC providers by NYS OCFS.
Health & Safety Training for Center / SACC Directors
This type of training is geared toward a new Director in a center or school-aged-based child care setting. This training must be acquired within 90 days of hire.
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Please Note
This course offering is COMING SOON!
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How to register for the 15-hour Health & Safety Course:
To sign up for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Health & Safety course, create an account and register on the Early Childhood Education and Training Program
Follow these steps to register:
- Visit the ECETP portal: Go to the ECETP Training Schedule to view available upcoming training sessions.
- Log in or create an account: Click to register or apply for a class, which will prompt you to log in or create a new user account if you don’t already have one.
- Register for the course: Search for the 15-hour course title (Health and Safety: Competencies for Becoming a Family or Group Family Day Care Provider) or type in relevant keywords to pull up upcoming sessions.
- Confirm your booking: Follow the on-screen prompts to secure your spot in the classroom or e-learning format
Note: Depending on your specific program needs, the state also offers an alternative 5-hour e-learning course called Foundations in Health and Safety, though in-person 15-hour competency training is often required to open a home-based day care & for child care center directors
Training Modules
The course includes 7 core modules designed to prepare child care providers for safe and effective program operation:
Regulations
Overview of New York State child care regulations and compliance requirements.
Creating a Safe Environment
Identifying and preventing safety hazards in child care settings.
Capacity and Supervision
Understanding group sizes, ratios, and supervision strategies to ensure children’s safety.
Nutrition and Food Safety
Proper nutrition practices, storage, and safe food handling procedures for children in care.
Keeping Children Safe and Healthy
Preventing the spread of illness and preventing injury while promoting healthy development.
Creating a Healthy Environment
Maintaining clean, sanitary, and developmentally supportive environments.
Developing Health Care Policies and Procedures
Creating effective policies and procedures to support children’s health and well-being according to OCFS standards