COVID-19 Resource Center

News and Updates

March 17, 2020 — Notice to Child Care Providers Regarding Directives

OCFS- Attention: Child Care Providers

There is no State directive to close child care programs at this time. OCFS is working on creative ways to help expand child care capacity in a safe way across the state. As a reminder, licensed programs are responsible for reporting to OCFS if they are voluntarily closing.

In certain circumstances, local authorities have the authority to direct programs to close under quarantine or other emergency orders.

Your license capacity remains in effect unless you’ve been approved for a waiver by OCFS. We encourage you to consider the ability to care for children who are not attending school but whose parents must continue to work. There may be ways for you to serve a greater number of children while continuing to prioritize their health and safety and that of your employees. To the extent practicable, consider ways to manage your program to limit group sizes and interactions between groups in line with the Centers for Disease Control guidance.

March 17, 2020 — Memorandum to Voluntary Agency Chief Executive Officers and Executive Directors

As part of New York States’ continued effort to curtail the transmission of the Novel Coronavirus of 2019 Disease (COVID-19) and maintain the health, safety, and well-being of the children and families served in residential treatment centers and congregate care settings (programs), the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) encourages the implementation of policies which limit visitor access. Programs must take immediate steps to temporarily restrict visitors to only:

• specified family members,
• medical personnel, and
• Behavioral health specialists.

Download the complete memorandum as Word or PDF.

March 16, 2020 — Child Care Subsidy Information in Regard to COVID-19

Effective immediately, local social services districts can expand the child care services they provide to families affected by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Districts may select from the following options:

• extend the eligibility period,
• expand the definition of a child needing protective services,
• expand the number of allowable absences,
• expand the number of program closures,
• extend eligibility up to 85% of the state median income level,
• waive family shares, and
• make other requests related to eligibility and/or administration of the child care subsidy program.

A letter to Commissioners and the waiver request form are provided below.

Download the waiver request letter as Word and PDF.

Download the waiver request form as Word and PDF.