Child Care
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Finding quality childcare
can seem overwhelming at times. A great place to start is checking the The New York State Office of Children and Family Services, this site offers search engine and provides contact information of all licensed day care providers in New York State.
School districts may offer relatively low-cost before and after school programs for school age children, however, many of these programs have limited availability. As soon as you become aware that you may need childcare, call your school district to find out about registration dates
The Referral Service of the Child Care Council of Suffolk collects and maintains information about childcare in local communities. Because Parent Referral Specialists are in daily contact with providers of care and parents seeking care, their database is a detailed and current source of information about local childcare options.
Their list includes Child Care Centers, NYS Registered and Licensed Family Day Care Homes, In-Home Nanny Agencies and School Age Programs.
 The Children's Community Head Start is a federally-funded program for preschool children from low-income families. Head Start programs operate throughout the nation. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They may also receive free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting. Head Start programs on Long island serve thousands of children and their families each year. The Children's Community Head Start can be reached by calling (631) 585-3131. In addition, Long Island Head Start (a separate agency that also provides Head Start services) can be reached by calling (631) 758-5200.
Some Other Ideas
Many parents have found it helpful to start a child care cooperative in their neighborhood. A child care cooperative is a group of parents who decide to "swap" child care services instead of paying cash. Groups can be organized in different ways, but many choose to create a voucher system. When you join the cooperative, you may be given five or ten vouchers that you can use in exchange for child care services with other cooperative members. You give vouchers in exchange for care and you receive vouchers when you care for another member's children. This ensures an easy flow of services. These cooperatives may be organized through your local mother's center, a church or even your public library. For more information about cooperatives, review the National Cooperative Business Center's website.
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