Child Care
Things have changed over the past few decades. The cost of living has risen dramatically, so families need more money just to maintain their standard of living and make ends meet. In addition, more and more couples are getting married and having kids but wind up getting divorced. Meanwhile, it’s become totally accepted within our culture for single people to have and raise kids without being married.
For those couples that do get married (and stay that way), a significantly higher percentage of parents are both entering the workforce. As a result of these and other situations, the days of stay-at-home moms (or dads) are fading fast.
With both parents employed, the need for day care or child care for infants and toddlers is on the rise, as is the need for after-school day care for children who are in elementary and perhaps middle school. Even on Long Island, where the average median family income is significantly higher than in other parts of the country, the need for high-quality, reliable, and affordable child care or day care is a common one.
For many parents, finding the best possible child-care or day-care solution is one of the biggest challenges they’ll face. After all, it’s a tough decision to leave your child in the care of someone else. The day-care or child-care solution you select needs to be affordable yet give you peace of mind that your child is in the absolute best possible care whenever you’re not around.
A “quality” child-care option is one that offers:
1. Child Care Council Of Suffolk County
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Telephone: (631) 462-0303
Description: This organization gathers and maintains detailed information about child-care and day-care services, including child-care centers, state registered and licensed family day-care homes, in-home nanny agencies, and school-age programs offered in Suffolk County. The council has offices in Commack, Riverhead, and Southampton and offers the following services:
2. Long Island Head Start
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Telephone: (631) 758-5200
Description: Head Start is a federally funded program for preschool children from low-income families. In addition to day care, many participants are also eligible for free medical and dental care, as well as healthy meals and snacks. On Long Island there are two Head Start organizations: Children’s Community Head Start (631-585-3131, www.childrenscommunityhs.org), which has facilities in Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson, and Long Island Head Start. Long Island Head Start operates 15 centers in towns and communities throughout the island, including Amityville, Bay Shore, Bellport, Bridgehampton, Central Islip, North Fork, Riverside, and Southampton.
3. National Association For The Education Of Young Children
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Description: This organization literally sets the standards for what’s required of a licensed child-care facility or service. It works in conjunction with the New York State Department of Social Services and New York State Office of Child and Family Services. The National Association for the Education of Young Children is a good resource for learning about the standards that day-care and child-care facilities must meet and adhere to.
4. New York State Office Of Child And Family Services
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Description: While many people think of this as the agency to turn to when neglect, abuse, or endangerment issues are facing a child (which it certainly is), it’s also a valuable resource for finding and researching state-licensed day-care and child-care providers within New York State (including all of Long Island). It also maintains a database of public schools that offer low-cost before- and after-school programs for school-age children. To research a licensed day-care or child-care facility in New York State, visit http://it.ocfs.ny.gov/ccfs_facilitysearch.
5. Absolute Best Care
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Telephone: (631) 486-4594 (Suffolk County
Description: This is a placement agency that offers experienced nannies, baby nurses, babysitters, and housekeepers throughout New York State, including Long Island.
6. Family Helpers
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Telephone: (914)674-8535
Description: This service serves as a placement agency for nannies throughout New York State, including Long Island.
7. Interexchange
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Telephone: (800) 287-2477
Description: This is one of several au pair referral and placement agencies that service Long Island.
8. Nanny Locators
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Description: This Web site lists classified-style ads directly from nannies who are available for immediate hire directly. You are responsible for checking their references, conducing the interview, performing a background check, etc.
9. Nanny On The Net
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Telephone: (631) 418-8536
Description: The nannies this agency works with have at least three years’ experience and are considered “career nannies.” This is a placement agency that has been in business since 1991. It receives a one-time fee for its placement and nanny match-up services. According to the agency, it conducts a thorough interview with each of its nannies and verifies their references. The organization also performs a background check, All nannies are CPR and first-aid certified before they are placed with a family.
10. New York State Department Of Labor
City: Long Island, NY
Category: Child Care
Telephone: (212) 352-6079
Description: If you’re thinking about hiring a nanny or au pair, this state-run agency handles the licenses and regulates all private employment agencies, including all nanny and au pair agencies that operate within New York State (including Long Island). The New York State Department of Labor can be helpful when trying to locate legitimate, licensed agencies and also for researching specific agencies.