Child Care — Information for Operators

Good child care encourages children to play and learn in a stimulating and nurturing environment. To keep children safe and healthy while they are in a provider's care, the government licenses and regulates child care facilities and inspects them regularly.

Background Check Requests: How to Submit

Background check requests for group child care and school-based child care must be submitted to the NYC Health Department using an online form. This process replaces the A-Series and B-Series forms, which are no longer accepted.

The forms and instructions are available below. Be sure to select the correct type of program you operate because your submission will be delayed or rejected if you submit the incorrect form:

Family, group family and school-aged child care programs may submit comprehensive background checks online at the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) website.

Information for Each Type of Child Care

For more information, including instructions on getting a permit, select one of the child care types below.

Group Child Care (Center-based)

A group child care (center-based) program is any program providing child care to three or more children under 6 years of age. These programs operate for five or more hours per week, for more than 30 days in a 12-month period. They primarily operate in non-residential spaces.

School-based

School-based programs provide instruction for children ages 3 through 5 who are located within a school or are part of a school.

Summer Camp

Summer camps provide child care for children younger than 16 (younger than 18 for overnight camps). They operate during the summer months in any year, primarily for the purpose of organized group activity.

School-age Child Care (After-school Programs)

A school-age child care program is a non-residential child care program for a group of seven or more school age children.

Family Day Care and Group Family Day Care (Home-based)

Family day care and group family day care programs are located in residences. They provide child care on a regular basis for more than three hours per day per child.

Informal and Legally-exempt

Informal child care providers are not regulated by the NYC Health Department.


Additional Resources

More Information

  • Child Care Connect: Compare your program’s performance and inspection records to others across the city.