A COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Revised June 2019
What Group Child
Care Providers
Should Know
1
What Group
Child Care
Providers
Should Know
This guide is available in Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian,
Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Urdu and Yiddish.
Please note that this guide applies only to group child care programs in New York City. We value
your input and want this to be an effective resource for your program. If you have any questions
or feedback, please send an email to childcareinf[email protected]c.gov.
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Geing Started
What Is a Group Child Care Program?
Permits
Child Care Performance Summary Card
Following the Law
Inspections
Notice of Violation
Violation Types and Health Department
Response
Complaints
Closing
Providers’ Rights
Corrective Action Plan (CAP)
Parental Access and Right to Know
Qualified Staff
Supervision Requirements
Minimum Staff and Staff-to-Child Ratios
Staffing Requirements, Duties and
Qualifications
Staff Training
Other Recommended Training
Aspire Registry
Criminal Justice and Child Abuse Screening
Safe and Healthy Kids
Medical Care
Behavior Management and Reassurance
Daily Aendance and Absences
Authorized Escorts
Trips
Transportation
Nutrition
Physical Activity
Television Viewing
Naps and Night Care
Hot and Cold Weather
Pets
A Safe and Healthy Place
Indoor Facilities and Space
Location
Exits (Egress)
Alarms
Security
Window Guards or Limiting Devices
Fire Safety
Kitchen and Food Handling Safety
Pest Control
Lead Paint and Lead Poisoning Prevention
Plumbing and Bathrooms
Diaper Changing
Air and Light
Furniture and Equipment
Outdoor Space
Water Safety
Every Child Care Program Can
Perform Well
Daily Self-Inspection Checklist
for Group Child Care Programs
Appendix
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Getting Started
The New York City Health Department is your partner in creating an environment
where children can thrive. This guide helps you follow the law and assure families that
you are protecting and promoting their children’s safety, health and early education.
What Is a Group Child Care Program? [Health Code Section 47.01]*
A group child care program is center-based child care that:
Is not located in a home
Serves children from birth to 6 years old
Has space for three or more children
Provides child care for five or more hours per week, for more than 30 days in a
12-month period
Group child care programs are regulated by Article 47 and other sections of the
New York City Health Code (the Code). The Code describes everything the Health
Department requires—from staffing to fire alarms to immunizations to diaper
changing—to ensure that your facility and the children in it are safe and healthy.
The Code’s requirements align with other City codes and requirements from the
Department of Buildings, Fire Department (FDNY), Department of Education and
Administration for Children’s Services.
This guide also outlines how the City determines if you are meeting the standards (or
not), how you can get back on track in a timely way (and what can happen if you don’t)
and what your rights are in the process.
* This guide offers broad guidance. For more details, consult the bracketed Health
Code section numbers. You can find a link to the complete Article 47 in the
Appendix, along with other helpful documents and links.
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Permits [Health Code Section 47.03–47.09]
You must have a permit from the Health Department to
operate a group child care program. The permit must be
displayed at the facility entrance, visible to passersby or
those entering the facility. It must be renewed at time
periods determined by the City, no longer than every
two years.
To get the permit, the person from your program responsible
for the permit application (e.g., educational director or site
director) must aend an orientation session offered by the
Health Department. You must also submit:
An architect’s or engineer’s plan of the facility
A Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of
Buildings, stating that your facility meets the physical
requirements for a child care program (e.g., it has
adequate floor space, is compliant with the Americans
with Disabilities Act, etc.)
A fire inspection report certifying that the facility is
fire-safe
Proof that the staff meets Code requirements such
as certification and training, criminal justice and child
abuse screening, and immunizations
Proof that your facility is free of lead-based paint
Test results for the lead content of water from the
facility’s taps and drinking fountains
A wrien Safety Plan [47.11] containing policies and
procedures for meeting the requirements of Article 47
Child Care Performance Summary Card
[Health Code Section §3-01 – §3-06]
The Health Department now issues and requires all group
child care programs to publicly post a current performance
summary card. This card displays important information
about your program, including the number of children
allowed in care and a summary of inspection results.
You must post the performance summary card at the
entrance of your child care facility, within 2 feet of the front
door or other main entrance, and at a height of 4 to 6 feet.
It must be clearly visible to those standing outside the
program.
Additionally, if your child care program has had any
suspensions in the past three years, the Health Department
will mail you a separate suspension summary that you
must post with the performance summary card.
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5
It is important for child care programs to follow all
Code regulations and laws. The Code has structured
guidelines that promote the safety of children and staff.
Failure to follow the Code can lead to unsafe conditions
and may endanger the well-being of children and staff.
Inspections
The Health Department is required to inspect
permied child care programs at least once a year
to make sure they are complying with the Code.
Programs that have more violations will be inspected
more frequently. Inspections are also conducted for:
Z Permit renewal
Z In response to complaints (see page 7) or other
reports of violations
Z To follow up on an order by the City to correct
a violation
At the end of the inspection, the inspector will
provide the child care program with an electronic
report of any violations and the dates by which they
must be corrected (compliance time). An inspector
will revisit the facility to make sure the violation was
corrected (assurance measure).
Z Programs must have email. If there are any
changes to the email address, you can update
this information during the inspection or
by contacting the Health Department at
childcareinfo@health.nyc.gov.
Violations are ranked by the degree of danger they
pose to child health and safety (see table on page
6). From most serious to least they are: public health
hazard, critical violation and general violation. There
are different Health Department responses and
outcomes for each type of violation.
Notice of Violation
If a program is cited for a public health hazard, a critical
violation or more than 5 general violations, it will receive
a Notice of Violation (NOV), which:
Directs the child care operator to aend a hearing at
the OATH Hearings Division and gives the date, time
and location of the hearing
Provides information on how to answer the NOV
Informs the operator that he or she may submit
evidence to challenge the Health Department’s
findings, or provide a defense
Sustained violations are subject to fines.
Following the Law
6
Type of Violation Level of Threat to
Child Health and
Safety
Compliance Time
and Assurance
Measure
Possible
Outcomes
Public Health
Hazard
Most serious, poses
an imminent threat
to child health and
safety
Immediately
followed by a
Health Department
compliance visit
If not corrected
immediately,
program may be
closed and permit
suspended until
corrected; a Notice
of Violation (NOV),
fines or other
penalties may be
issued
Critical Violation
Serious, but no
imminent threat to
health and safety
2 weeks followed by
a Health Department
compliance visit
Unannounced
reinspection on or
aer compliance
deadline
A NOV, fines or other
penalties may be
issued
General Violation
Minor, no direct
threat to health and
safety
1 month and no
Health Department
compliance visit
when 5 or fewer
general violations
6 or more general
violations:
unannounced
reinspection on or
aer compliance
deadline; a NOV, fines
or other penalties
may be issued
5 or fewer: may not
require reinspection
If you discover a violation between inspections, you must correct it right away. Contact the Health Department at
any time to ask questions about the Code (Appendix: Site Inspection Request).
Violation Types and Health Department Response
7
Complaints
Anyone—parent, staffer, visitor or passerby—may
call in a complaint against your program. The Health
Department takes these complaints seriously and
investigates them.
Closing [Health Code Section 47.77]
The Health Department considers some violations so
serious that the child care program must be closed
before there is a hearing. The Health Department will
issue an Order to Close (a temporary suspension of the
permit) when there is a health hazard that poses a clear
and imminent risk to children’s health or safety that
cannot be complied with or fixed within 24 hours.
A notice of closing will also be distributed to parents
and other caregivers who pick up children from the
program. The program can reopen when the Health
Department determines that the hazard no longer
poses an immediate danger to children.
The Health Department may also deny a permit, take
it away for a period of time or revoke it altogether.
Operation of a child care program without a permit
is illegal and will result in closure.
Providers’ Rights
The Order to Close gives you an opportunity to show
why the program should be reopened and/or present
evidence at a hearing that shows the violation has
been corrected.
The Business Owner’s Bill of Rights also gives you the
right to:
Z Challenge a violation through a hearing, trial or
other process.
Z Request a review of inspection results or a
reinspection with the Health Department.
Corrective Action Plan (CAP) [Health Code
Section 47.21]
(Appendix: Corrective Action Plans for Child
Care Programs)
A child care operator must submit a corrective action
plan (CAP) to show that he or she is willing and able
to follow the Code. The permit holder is responsible
for submiing the CAP to the Health Department and
implementing the CAP. There are two types of CAPs:
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The permit holder must submit a Staff CAP within five days to the Health
Department before hiring a person with a criminal charge, conviction or State
Central Register indication, or who is part of an ongoing investigation.
The permit holder must submit an Incident CAP to the Health Department.
An Incident CAP has three parts:
1. Incident description
2. Response report
3. Actions taken or plans to correct the health hazard
The Health Department approves or rejects the CAP, and the program must revise
the CAP until the Health Department accepts it.
The program can reopen only aer the Department approves the CAP and the
program demonstrates to the Department’s satisfaction that it can implement it,
including by providing notarized statements from staff verifying the steps taken.
The program undergoes inspections to ensure the program can operationalize
the changes.
Parental Access and Right to Know [Health Code Section 47.67 (d)]
(Appendix: NYC Child Care Connect)
Parents must have unrestricted access to their
children at all times.
The program may install video cameras to let parents
view their children in the child care facility on tape or
online. However, video surveillance is not a substitute
for direct line-of-sight supervision for staff.
Z Parents and all staff must be informed in writing
of the cameras’ use for this purpose and made
aware of the cameras’ locations.
Z At the time of a child’s enrollment, parents must
be provided with information about program
policies and procedures—including supervision
and aendance policies, emergency procedures
and illness management—as specified in the
program’s wrien Safety Plan and required by
the Code.
Z The program must give parents information about
how to access the most recent inspection report.
The program must post a sign where parents can see it,
stating that:
Z The program’s most recent inspection report is
available on the Health Department’s website or
by calling 311.
Z Requirements for child care programs are
accessible by calling 311.
Z Complaints about the child care program
may be made through 311.
t Your permit
t Child care performance
summary card
t Suspension summary
(if you received one)
t A notice of the program’s
most recent Health
Department inspection
t Information about calling
311 to make complaints or
get information on child care
requirements
t Hand-washing procedures
over each sink (bathrooms,
diaper changing area, etc.)
t Adults and children
bathroom signs
Post Where All Can See
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Qualified staff are essential to providing quality care at your child care program. Teachers
with education qualifications and certifications appropriate to the age of the children in their
care are trained to recognize developmental milestones. This specialization allows them to
beer create learning opportunities for children. Specialized training can also help teachers
provide clear information about a child’s educational progress to parents or guardians.
Supervision Requirements
No child may ever be le unsupervised. Every child or group of children must be
watched—within a clear line of sight—at all times.
Qualified staff must be on duty in required ratios (see table on page 10) during all child
care hours. During breaks, lunch and short-term absences (three days or less), assistant
staff may fill in to meet staff-to-child ratios.
Staff must be awake at all times during nap times and night care.
Qualified Staff
10
Minimum Staff and Staff-to-Child Ratios [Health Code Section 47.23]
Age of Children Staff-to-Child
Ratio
Maximum
Group Size
Staff Required per
Maximum Group Size
Under 12 months
1 infant/toddler
teacher to 4 children*
8 2 infant/toddler teachers or 1
infant/toddler teacher and an
assistant
12 to 24 months
1 infant/toddler
teacher to 5 children
10 2 infant/toddler teachers or 1
infant/toddler teacher and an
assistant
2 years to under 3
1 preschool group
teacher to 6 children
12 2 preschool group teachers or
1 preschool group teacher and
1 assistant
3 years to under 4
1 preschool group
teacher to 10 children
15 2 preschool group teachers or
1 preschool group teacher and
1 assistant
4 years to under 5
1 preschool group
teacher to 12 children
20 2 preschool group teachers or
1 preschool group teacher and
1 assistant
5 years to under 6
1 preschool group
teacher to 15 children
25 2 preschool group teachers or
1 preschool group teacher and
1 assistant
* In the event of an emergency, a 1:3 staff-to-child ratio is required for children under 12 months. This must be
reflected in the Emergency Procedures section of the Safety Plan.
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Staffing Requirements, Duties and Qualifications [Health Code Sections 47.13–47.17]
Preschool (ages 2 to 6)
Title Duties Qualifications
Educational
Director*
Supervises staff and oversees training
Develops and implements education
curriculum
Conducts daily health inspections
Outlines duties for staff not specified
in Article 47
Participates in hiring
Cannot have teaching duties if more
than 40 children in care
BA Early Childhood Education or related field
and
State certification and
2 or more years group teacher experience for
children under 6 years old (47.13)
Preschool
Group Teacher
Note: An educational
director or individual
group teacher
may be employed
temporarily pending
certifications or
approval from the
State Education
Department.
Pending status
means a person
has taken all three
exams required
for certification
and is awaiting
State Education
Department
confirmation.
Plans activities
Supervises a specific group of
children
BA Early Childhood Education or related
field and State Department of Education
certification or
Equivalent certification accepted by State
Department of Education or
BA in Early Childhood Education and 2 years
supervised experience or
Health Department-approved accredited study
plan to qualify within 7 years:
An Associate’s (AA or AS) Degree in early
children education, practicum included or
90 or more undergraduate college credits and
one year of classroom experience teaching
children in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten or
grades one to two
Assistant
Teacher
Assists in activities and supervises
children at the direction of the Group
Teacher and Educational Director
At least 18 years old with
High school diploma or equivalent and
Various combinations of college credits,
experience and/or study plans as specified in
the Code
Night care
Title Duties Qualifications
Educational
Director
(Qualified Group
Teacher may
be Educational
Director)
Supervises night care Per the standards in Health Code Section
47.13 or
BA, including 12 credits in Early Childhood
Education and
2 years’ experience in a licensed program with
children under 6 years old
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Night care (continued)
Title Duties Qualifications
Assistant
Teacher
Assists in night care At least 18 years old with
High school diploma or equivalent and
Various combinations of college credits,
experience and/or study plans as specified
in the Code
Infant/Toddler (under 24 months)
Title Duties Qualifications
Educational
Director*
Supervises staff and oversees
training
Develops and implements education
curriculum
Conducts daily health inspections
Outlines duties for staff not specified
in Article 47
Participates in hiring
Cannot have teaching duties if >40
children in care
BA Early Childhood Education or related field
and
1 or more years’ experience as a group teacher
or provider for children under 24 months or
6 college credits in infant/toddler coursework or
Health Department approved study plan
leading to 6 credits
Infant/
Toddler
Group
Teacher
Plans activities
Cares for and supervises a specific
group of children
At least 21 years old with
Associate (AA or AS) degree in Early
Childhood Education or
Child Development Associate certification
and study plan for AA or AS within 7 years or
High school diploma or equivalent and various
combinations of college credits, work experience
and study plan specified in the Code
Assistant
Teacher
Assists in activities and supervises
children at the direction of the Group
Teacher and Educational Director
At least 18 years old with
High school diploma or equivalent and
Various combinations of college credits,
experience and/or study plans as specified
in the Code
Other
Title Duties Qualifications
Aquatics
Director
Supervises swimming and aquatic
activities, on- and off-site
Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
certificate and
Either a certified progressive swimming
instructor or a qualified lifeguard
* Colocated Preschool and Infant Toddler programs may be supervised by a single preschool Education Director
who shall not have teaching duties.
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Required Documentation
The following documentation is required for educational directors and group teachers. [Health Code Sections 47.13
and 47.19].
Copy of college degree
Resume
State Certification, if applicable
Three references
Confirmation of required trainings
Clearances by the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, and Fingerprinting
Study Plan, if applicable (only group teachers are permied to be on study plan)
Commitment leer specifying plan to complete outstanding requirements within seven years
College registration document confirming candidate’s enrollment
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Staff Training [Health Code Section 47.37]
The Health Department promotes regular trainings designed to ensure that teachers can respond to emergencies
and provide educational services to children. The educational director is responsible for training (or arranging for
a certified trainer) and verifying that staff receive required training. All teaching staff shall complete at least 15 hours
of training every 24 months, at least 5 hours of which shall be completed in each 12-month period.
Training Topic Required For
Emergency Preparedness
All staff
Child Abuse and Maltreatment
Employees, volunteers and those who will have
unsupervised contact with children; new hires
within 6 months
Allergic Reactions & Epinephrine
Auto-Injector Training
All teaching and shelter staff. At least one person
trained to administer an epinephrine auto-injector
must be on site at all times
Infection Control
All teachers
Mental Health First Aid
All teaching and shelter staff
Emergency Procedures
Employees, volunteers and those who will have
unsupervised contact with children
CPR and First Aid
At least one certified person on-site at all times
Family Engagement
All teaching and shelter staff
Shaken Baby and Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS)
Infant/toddler and night care staff
Food Protection Certificate
Supervisor of food service operations
* Teaching staff include the education director, group teachers, assistant teachers, teacher aides and substitutes.
Shelter staff refer to child care staff in family shelter drop-off centers.
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Other Recommended Training
Medication administration: If a program gives out
medications, see Safe and Healthy Kids (page 17).
Aspire Registry [Health Code Sections 47.13(a)]
The Aspire Registry is the State of New York's integrated
professional development system for the early childhood
and school age workforce. Teachers, operators, directors
and other individuals who work in the early childhood field
can use Aspire to keep track of important information
about their career, including training and professional
development.
All group child care programs in New York City and their
staff are required to create and maintain active accounts
with the online Aspire Registry. Through this secure
database, Health Department staff can review teacher
qualifications, including education, employment history,
training and other professional activities.
All program directors or administrators need to ensure that
all new and currently employed teaching staff complete
their individual Aspire profiles. New hires must complete
an Aspire profile within two weeks of hire. Aspire profiles
should not be completed for anyone else or on behalf of
anyone else.
Criminal Justice and Child Abuse Screening
[Health Code Section 47.19]
See also New York State Corrections Law 23A (Appendix:
Screening Procedures for Criminal Background and State
Central Register Checks).
Screening
Z Before employment, anyone who might have
unsupervised contact with children at the program
must be fingerprinted by the City’s Department of
Investigation and screened for a criminal record or
inclusion in the Statewide Central Register of Child
Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR).
Z All employees must be screened every two years.
Z Parents and parent-authorized escorts are exempt
from screening.
Z No one awaiting screening clearance may have
unsupervised contact with children.
Consent
Z The program must get wrien consent for
fingerprinting and criminal background checks.
It must provide wrien notice to the person
being screened that an inquiry will be submied to
the SCR.
Z If the person does not consent to being
screened, he or she may not be hired or allowed into
the program.
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Criminal records, arrests or child
maltreatment allegations
Z The program must conduct an assessment of
a potential employee’s criminal background to
determine if someone’s previous conviction
should bar them from working with a child. If the
SCR returns a “Do Find” leer, the program must
report this information to the Health Department
within 24 hours. (Appendix: Criminal Justice
Clearance (Fingerprinting))
Z The program must submit a Staff CAP within five
days if it wishes to hire someone who was ever
convicted of a felony, convicted of a misdemeanor
within the previous 10 years or charged with
either a felony or misdemeanor that has not yet
gone through the courts. The Health Department
must approve the Staff CAP before finalizing the
individual's employment.
Z Current employees must notify the program
within 24 hours if they are arrested. The program
must notify the Health Department within 24
hours of learning of the arrest.
Z The program must submit an inquiry to the
SCR within 24 hours of learning of the arrest to
determine whether the person to be cleared
has been the subject of a verified report of a
child abuse or maltreatment. If the SCR returns
a “Do Find” leer, the program must report this
information to the Health Department within
24 hours.
Notification of injury, harm or death [Health Code
Section 47.19(g); 47.27 (c)(3)]
Z The program must notify SCR within 24 hours if a
child is lost, sustains serious injuries or dies while
in the care of an employee, volunteer or agent of
the program. The program must notify the Health
Department within 24 hours of calling SCR.
Suspension and other cautionary measures
A current or prospective employee may not be fired or
denied employment solely on the basis of a pending
criminal action or abuse, maltreatment filing or
investigation. Employment may be suspended, or hiring
delayed, until the charge is disposed and depending on
the child care program’s (the Director’s) assessment.
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Safe and Healthy Kids
It is important that all children enrolled in a child
care program are safe and healthy. This section
summarizes the requirements that ensure children
begin your program medically cleared and remain
cleared for as long as they are enrolled. You will also
find information about caring and accountability for
children at the program and during off-site trips and
important nutritional requirements.
Medical Care [Health Code Section 47.25]
Examinations
Z Before admission and at intervals mandated
by the Health Department, all children must
get a complete age-appropriate medical
examination, including medical history and
health screening.
Z The health care provider must give the
program a signed form summarizing the
health screening. The form should include
any condition (including allergies) or disease
that might affect the child’s participation in
activities, recommendations for helping the
child participate and plans for meeting the
child’s medical needs.
Z The program must keep required records,
including all medical forms and immunization
and emergency records, for children and
staff. These records are confidential. They are
available only to parents, those authorized
by parents and the Health Department, and
authorized program personnel.
Immunizations (Appendix: Immunization Information)
Z All children must be immunized against
communicable diseases in accordance with
the latest New York State Public Health Law
and Health Code Section 47.25(a)(2)(B)(i).
Z Exemption from immunization is allowed if it
endangers the child’s health, as certified by a
licensed medical provider, or if immunization
conflicts with the family’s religious beliefs.
Daily inspections
Z Every day, preferably at intake, the educational
director or a designated teacher must conduct
a health inspection of each child. The director
or teacher should be familiar with the child and
trained to recognize signs of illness.
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Communicable diseases (Appendix: Communicable
Disease Chart for Child Care Providers)
Z Parents must notify the program within 24 hours if a
child is absent because of chicken pox, conjunctivitis,
diarrhea, diphtheria, food poisoning, hepatitis,
Haemophilus influenzae type b infection, impetigo,
measles, meningitis (all types), meningococcal disease,
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),
mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis,
rubella (German measles), salmonella, scarlet fever,
tuberculosis or any other disease or condition that may
endanger other children’s health.
Z Reporting is not required for HIV/AIDS.
Z The program must inform the Health Department
by telephone within 24 hours of learning of any child
in their care who has a vaccine-preventable illness,
meningitis or tuberculosis, or of any outbreak or
unusual occurrence of a disease or condition at the
facility. The Health Department will provide additional
guidance depending on the specific disease
or condition.
Z A staff person with a communicable disease is
prohibited from coming to work. Allowing someone
with a communicable disease on-site is an imminent
threat to children’s health and safety and a public
health hazard under the Code.
Emergency medical care
Z Post emergency procedures (as outlined in the
Safety Plan) and telephone numbers for the police,
fire department, Poison Control Center, Child Abuse
Hotline and the Health Department in an easy-to-find
spot in each room or area used by children.
Z Inform parents of the program’s emergency procedures.
Z Contact a doctor or emergency medical professional
if a child needs immediate care for an injury or illness,
and notify the parent right away.
Z Always keep contact information for medical providers,
parents and guardians up to date and on file.
Emergency Medication
Z Decide if the program will administer medication, and
incorporate that policy into the Safety Plan.
Z Only a designated staff member may administer
prescription medications to children. He or she must be
at least 18 years old, certified in first aid and CPR, and
must receive medication administration training (MAT).
Z Programs must keep on site at least two epinephrine
auto-injectors with retractable needles, appropriately
dosed for children in the program.
Z Staff designated to use the epinephrine auto-injector
must first be trained in its use.
Z At least one trained staff person must be on site
whenever children are present.
19
Z Even if the program’s policy is not to administer
medication, the Americans with Disabilities Act
may supersede the policy and require the child
care program to give medication (by a nurse or
certified staff member) to a child with a disability.
Behavior Management and Reassurance
[Health Code Section 47.01(k)(1), 47.01(k)(2);
47.67 (a)]
The program must create a wrien statement on the
philosophy of child behavior management. It must
be distributed to every staff member, posted in a
prominent location within the child care facility and
made available to parents upon request.
Never hit, threaten or humiliate a child. Use of
these disciplinary methods is considered an
imminent threat to child health and safety, and a
public health hazard that must be reported to the
Health Department.
Always comfort a child in distress.
Daily Aendance and Absences [Health Code
Section 47.27 (a), (c)(4)]
(Appendix: Daily Aendance Record Form)
Keep a daily aendance record, entering each child’s
name and arrival and departure time. Inform parents
when they enroll their children that they must notify
the program no later than one hour aer the child’s
scheduled arrival time any day the child is going to
be absent.
If a child unexpectedly fails to show up on time,
the program must notify the parent within one
hour, either by phone, text, email or other means of
immediate communication. Keep a record of the
notification.
Authorized Escorts
[Health Code Section 47.57 (h)]
(Appendix: Authorized Escorts List Form)
Keep a list of anyone authorized by a parent to escort
a child to and from the child care facility. This list
should include the escort’s name, relationship to the
child, address and contact information.
Do not release a child into the custody of anyone
who is not an authorized escort.
If you observe or learn of the abuse
or maltreatment of a child in your
care, you must first report it to the
Statewide Central Register of Child
Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) and
the Health Department. You must
also take appropriate corrective
action to protect the child. If you
fail to do so, your permit may be
suspended or your program closed.
Everyone who works or volunteers at
the program is a mandated reporter
and must receive training.
The mandated reporter hotline is
800-635-1522.
MANDATED REPORTING
OF CHILD ABUSE
20
Trips [Health Code Section 47.57]
(Appendix: Guidelines for the Trip Coordinator; Lost
Child Plan Guidelines for Centers)
The program must maintain a current wrien Safety
Plan with policies and procedures covering trip
coordinators, staffing plans, child accountability and
lost child response (Appendix: Wrien Safety Plan).
The program must submit the Safety Plan with the
Health Department as part of the permit application,
upon permit renewal and each time it updates the
Safety Plan.
Before taking children to a park, library, store or other
off-site location:
Z Parents must sign a release form that includes
the child’s name and age, destination, mode of
transport (including walking), length of travel
time and expected trip activities. You can use a
blanket release form for all local trips.
Z The program must designate and train a staff
member to be the trip coordinator to oversee
all aspects of the trip and instruct staff and
volunteers on child accountability and
emergency procedures.
Staffing and child accountability
Z Maintain required staff-to-child ratios (Chart,
page 10). The coordinator may be counted in
these ratios.
Z Ensure direct line-of-sight supervision of every
child at all times. Adult volunteers or additional
staff may be needed to do so.
Z Use T-shirts or other tags with the program’s
name and contact information to identify every
child. Do not include the child’s name.
Z Take name-to-face head counts before leaving the
facility, on arrival at the site, periodically during
the trip, before leaving the site and on return to
the facility.
Z Keep the group together by establishing a buddy
system and/or assigning staff to smaller groups.
Z Be prepared with clear procedures for a lost child
or other type of emergency.
Transportation [Health Code Section 47.65]
(Appendix: Daily Transportation Log Form)
Adult supervision in proper staff-to-child ratios is
required during any transportation off premises.
Drivers—provided by or contracted with the
program—must undergo a criminal background and
child abuse screening.
2121
22
Drivers must log all transfers of children between
home and facility or other sites.
Transport vehicles must be in good condition,
inspected and operated lawfully, and equipped with
age-appropriate car seats and seat belts.
See the Safe and Healthy Kids section of the Appendix
for the forms referenced above.
Nutrition [Health Code Section 47.61]
Providers are required to serve children a variety of
wholesome, good-quality, low-salt, low-fat foods,
including plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Beverages. Do not serve drinks with added
sweeteners, whether artificial or natural.
Z Juice
n Serve juice only to children 2 years or older.
n Serve 100% juice only, no more than one
4-ounce serving a day.
Z Milk
n Serve unsweetened/unflavored whole milk to
infants and toddlers 12 to 24 months.
n Serve fat-free or 1% milk to children ages 2
and older; higher-fat milk is allowed when
medically required.
n Serve milk substitutes (such as soy milk)
that are unsweetened and nutritionally equal
to milk.
Z Water
n Make water available to children throughout
the day and at meals and snacks.
Physical Activity [Health Code Section 47.71 (a)]
(Appendix: Nutrition and Physical Activity Best
Practices for Centers)
No child may sit passively for more than 30 minutes
at a time, except during scheduled rest or nap time.
Children ages 12 months or older in full-day programs
(six hours and 20 minutes or more) must participate
in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
Children ages 12 months or older aending less than
a full day must participate in a proportionate amount
for that time.
For children in full-day programs ages 3 and older, at
least 30 of the 60 minutes of physical activity must
be structured and guided.
Television Viewing
[Health Code Section 47.71 (d)]
Programming should be educational or engage
children in movement.
No television or other visual recording viewing for
children under 2. For children age 2 and older, no
more than 30 minutes of television or other visual
recording viewing per week.
Naps and Night Care
Staff must be awake at all times during naps or
night care.
Children should be in an environment that fosters
healthy habits. This includes providing nutritious meals.
In addition to the Code nutrition requirements, the
Health Department recommends you prepare food per
the following nutritional guidelines:
Sodium (salt)
Z Breakfast: 425 mg or less
Z Snacks: 170 mg or less
Z Lunch and dinner: 600 mg or less
Z Total per day: no more than 1,700 mg
Fats
Z Total fat: no more than 35 percent of daily
caloric intake
Z Saturated fat: no more than 10 percent of daily
caloric intake
Fiber
Z At least 19 grams per day
Help parents provide healthy food options for their
children. Distribute Health Department–approved
guidelines to parents and let them know it applies to
food and drinks they bring to the facility (Appendix:
Nutrition Guidelines for Parents).
23
Equipment [Health Code Section 47.55 (b)]
Z Each child who spends more than four hours a day at the child care facility must have
a separate cot, crib, mat or playpen approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
Z Cribs or bassinets must be furnished with firm, sanitary maresses and be free of
bumper pads, pillows, loose bedding or other suffocation risks.
Z No stackable cots or cribs
Z Store blankets, sheets and pillowcases separately for each child; wash them weekly.
Infant sleeping conditions [Health Code Section 47.67 (f)]
Z During sleep times, place cots or cribs at least 2 feet apart.
Z Maintain a safe sleeping environment by ensuring line-of-sight supervision while
children are sleeping. Check on sleeping infants every 15 minutes and record
observations on forms provided or approved by the Health Department. Use of video
surveillance is not a substitute for direct line of sight for staff.
Z Set aside about one hour of quiet, relaxed time for full-day programs and a
proportionate amount for shorter programs.
Night care [Health Code Section 47.69; 47.01 (o)]
Z Night care is any child care program that provides care between the hours of 5 p.m.
and 8 a.m. It requires a special permit and supplemental fee [47.03 (c)].
Z No child shall spend more than 12 hours of any 24-hour period in night care.
Z When possible, children should be le for care before and picked up aer their normal
sleeping hours so as not to disturb their sleep.
Z Get information from the parent about the child’s evening routines, including meals,
toothbrushing and bedtime, and stick to those routines as closely as possible.
Z Night care programming should be relaxed, quiet and informal.
Hot and Cold Weather [Health Code Section 47.57(d) and 47.57(e)]
Make sure children are appropriately dressed for heat or cold, especially when playing
outdoors. When it is very hot or very cold, organize safe and active indoor play. In extreme
weather conditions, the New York City Office of Emergency Management or the National
Weather Service may recommend dismissing children early or closing the program for the day.
Heat
Z On designated heat, ozone or air pollution advisory days or during excessive heat
warnings or watches, keep children and staff comfortable indoors with adequate
ventilation and/or air-conditioning.
Z Modify activities to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Z Make sure children get plenty of water to drink.
Cold
Z When outdoor temperatures are below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, maintain indoor air
temperatures between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit in all areas used by children.
24
Pets [Health Code Section 47.53]
Hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits and
fish are allowed in child care facilities.
Pets should be in good health, with no
signs of disease, and should pose no threat
to children (bites, poisonous venom, etc.).
Pets must be kept in cages, and the
cages should be cleaned daily or more
oen if needed.
Reptiles, dogs and cats are prohibited from
child care facilities [Health Code 161.01].
Children can learn developmentally
appropriate skills by caring for a class pet
or having supervised time with animals.
However, providers must consider the
potential for bites, allergic reactions and
whether the animal has been vaccinated
for rabies. Child care programs are
permied to keep only specific types of
small animals, as noted to the le.
25
A Safe and Healthy Place
Child care facilities must meet minimum standards of
safety, comfort and security. Children must be able to
move about easily at all times of the day. Every facility
must maintain the standards detailed in the
following sections.
Indoor Facilities and Space [Health Code
Section 47.41; 47.57 [f]; 47.39; 47.41 (h)]
Alert the Health Department to any changes to the child
care facility (47.09).
During service operating hours, use approved child
care rooms and areas exclusively for any children in
care. Do not share them with other children or adults.
Allot at least 30 square feet of wall-to-wall classroom
space per child.
Install protective guards on columns, radiators, poles
or other potentially harmful structures.
Location
Programs that received a permit aer 1989 can be on
the first, second or third floor (unless FDNY, DOB and
DOHMH approvals are obtained) 47.41(b). If the program
received a permit aer September 2008, infant/toddler
services must be on the first floor (unless FDNY, DOB
and DOHMH approvals are obtained) 47.41(c).
Exits (Egress) [Health Code Section 47.11 (b)]
Your facility must have:
At least two exits, not including a fire escape. A fire
escape is not an approved means of egress for child
care programs. [47.41(a)]
Readable, lighted exit signs on all exits
Unobstructed hallways, stairs, doors and exits
A panic bar—an easy-push, latch-releasing
crossbar—between 34 and 48 inches from the floor,
on the inside of every exterior door
Exits must be separated by no less than half (1/2)
the diagonal distance from one corner of the
building to the other to ensure that all exits are
useable in an emergency.
In facilities with sprinklers throughout, exits must be
no less than 1/3 the diagonal distance of the building.
Infant/toddler-only programs must have sprinklers.
Provide safety plans for
1. Catastrophic or sudden failure
of building systems
a. Power failures
b. Loss of potable water supply
(water that is safe to drink)
c. Internal flooding
d. Rupture of sewage lines
e. Structural failures
2. Smoke and fire events
3. Storms and inclement weather
For these and other emergency
circumstances, include in the
Safety Plan procedures for
sheltering in place, in-building
relocation and partial or
total evacuation.
Safety Plan Guidelines
26
Alarms [Health Code Section 47.59]
(Appendix: Site Viability Checklist)
Every child care facility must have:
Fire alarm systems (manual and automatic)
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with alarms
that can be heard everywhere
An individual holding a Certificate of Fitness for
Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems and Other Related
Systems on-site during service operating hours
(Appendix: Application for Certificate of Fitness: S-95)
An individual holding a Certificate of Fitness for
conducting a fire drill on site during service operating
hours. (F-07 or W-07)
Security
The facility’s entrances must be:
Monitored by staff and/or electronic or other
surveillance allowing unobstructed views
Secured with passkey identification or other
means of limiting access to staff, parents and
other authorized persons
Post in a prominent place:
t Emergency procedures
t Telephone numbers for:
n
Police (precinct near you)
n Fire Department
n Poison Control Center
n Child Abuse Hotline
n Health Department Child
Care Bureau Office
EMERGENCIES
27
Window Guards or Limiting Devices
All windows except those opening onto fire escapes
should have window guards or limiting devices. Only
City-approved types of window guards and limiting
devices and installation methods are allowed.
Fire Safety [Health Code Section 47.59]
Child care programs must conduct and log fire drills
monthly. Facilities must also have:
Z Working, approved and inspected fire extinguishers
Z Protective guards around heaters (no space
heaters allowed)
Z Approved range hoods (exhaust fans) and fire
suppression systems for gas stoves and ovens
Z No electrical, chemical, mechanical or other
fire hazards
Programs must have a fire safety plan [47.11 (b)(9)]
that includes:
Z Fire prevention strategies
Z Evacuation routes
Z Procedures for informing, supervising, evacuating
and accounting for children and staff
Z Safe places to shelter (refuge) outside the facility
Z Coordination with local fire officials during the
FDNY inspection
Z Procedures for notifiying parents and authorities
Kitchen and Food Handling Safety [Health
Code Section 47.61 and Article 81]
Store, prepare and serve food according to Article 81
of the Code. You do not need an additional food
service permit.
A food service operations supervisor holding a Food
Protection Certificate must supervise the kitchen. He
or she must be on the premises to oversee storage,
preparation, cooking, cold and hot holding and cleaning.
He or she is also needed when the program provides or
serves food at another location.
Follow time and temperature requirements when
working with food:
Z Review Article 81.09 for required temperatures
and safe amounts of time for storing, preparing
and cooking specific foods.
Z Use a thermometer to monitor temperature in hot
and cold storage and during food preparation.
Follow hygienic practices when working with
food [81.13]:
Z Protect food from contamination (spoilage or
introduction of bacteria or foreign objects like
hair or garbage).
Z Do not work if you knowingly have an infection
or contagious illness.
Z Wear hairnets and clean washable clothes,
and change as oen as necessary to prevent
contamination.
Z Wash hands and exposed parts of arms
thoroughly with soap and water before starting
work and aer using the toilet, smoking, sneezing
or coughing, eating, drinking or otherwise geing
hands dirty.
Z Wash hands before puing on gloves.
Z Wear gloves or use other barrier methods, like
tongs or wax paper, to protect ready-to-eat foods
from bare-handed contact.
Have this emergency
equipment on-hand:
t First aid kit
t At least two unexpired
epinephrine auto-injectors
with retractable needles in
each dosage appropriate
for children.
t Automated external
defibrillator (AED) for CPR
t Medevac chair
t Child-size stretchers
t Go Bag
EMERGENCIES
28
Pest Control [Health Code Section 47.51]
(Appendix: Keep Your Child Care Center Free from Pests)
Prevention
Z Store trash, garbage and food in sealed pest-proof
containers with tight lids.
Z Get rid of cluer.
Z Fill and seal any holes and cracks in the floors,
baseboards and around pipes with proper materials.
Z Install door sweeps to keep pests from moving
between rooms.
Z Place glue traps and rodent bait only in
tamper-resistant containers where children
cannot reach them.
Extermination
Z Hire only licensed professionals certified by the
New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation to apply pesticides.
Z Ask exterminators to use the least toxic methods
and substances.
Z Keep a record of all pesticides used. Certain
pesticides are illegal for use in a child care seing.
Z Notify parents no less than 48 hours in advance
of pesticide application, and specify where, when
and what products will be used. Provide the name
and telephone number of a staff member who
they can contact for more information. (You can
find notification language at 47.51 (c)(4).)
Lead Paint and Lead Poisoning Prevention
[Health Code Section 47.63]
Child care facilities must be lead-free. Before opening,
the program operator or building owner must conduct
lead testing or certify the facility is free from lead-based
paint.
Any repairs to prevent lead poisoning must be made
immediately. Hire an EPA-certified contractor for repairs.
Follow the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s
(EPA’s) “3Ts” for reducing lead in drinking water from
faucets and fountains:
Z Train program staff to raise awareness about lead
hazards, their causes and health effects.
Z Test drinking water to identify potential problems
and take corrective action.
Z Tell parents and staff about monitoring
programs, potential lead risks and the results of
testing and remediation.
If drinking water lead level tests at or above 15 parts
per billion (ppb), the permit holder must submit
a CAP to the Health Department and take
corrective action as recommended by the EPA,
such as removing fixtures and finding alternate
sources of water.
29
Plumbing and Bathrooms [Health Code
Section 47.43]
Use only a licensed plumber for sink and
toilet installation.
Post hand-washing procedures over each sink
(bathrooms, diaper changing area, etc.).
Provide one toilet and one hand-wash sink for every
15 children ages 24 months and older.
Keep poies only in bathrooms. Wash and
disinfect them aer each use in a sink that is not
used for handwashing.
Locate bathrooms with toilets and sinks near
classrooms and play areas.
Do not allow hand-wash water to be hoer than 115
degrees Fahrenheit.
Ensure that sinks are equipped with liquid soap
dispensers and individual paper towels or
sanitary driers.
Position sinks, soap and paper towels or driers where
children can reach them.
Provide separate adult bathroom facilities.
Diaper Changing [Health Code Section 47.43 (h)]
Provide a firm, nonabsorbent, easily cleanable
surface and disposable covers for changing diapers.
It should be counter height, in or next to a classroom,
and beside a sink with hot and cold water.
Disinfect the counter using a labeled spray bole
of approved surface disinfectant, and put a new
disposable cover on the surface aer each
diaper change.
Throw out soiled disposable diapers in an easily
accessible container with secure lid and removable
plastic liner. Use another container for cloth diapers.
Wear disposable rubber gloves when changing diapers.
Air and Light [Health Code Section 47.45]
Ventilate every room used by children to prevent
overheating, dras, dust, fumes, odors or
excessive moisture.
Light all these areas well, with lighting that is
bright, evenly spread and free from glare, flickering
or shadows.
Lighting and ventilation may be natural or artificial.
Minimum illumination requirements can be found in
the Health Code at 47.45 (b)(1-6).
Furniture and Equipment [Health Code
Section 47.55]
Tables, chairs and other equipment should be age
and size appropriate, finished with nontoxic,
lead-free surface coverings and cleaned and
sanitized as needed.
For each child who spends more than four hours a
day there, the facility must have a cot, crib, mat or
playpen approved by the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (see Naps, page 19).
Outdoor Space [Health Code Section 47.47]
Programs must provide child-suitable and easily
accessible outdoor play areas, either on-site or nearby,
per the following requirements:
Outdoor areas must be free of broken glass, debris,
poisonous plants, pests or other hazards.
29
30
Rooop play areas are allowed on fireproof buildings
with the approval of the Health Department,
Department of Buildings and the Fire Department.
Outdoor equipment, such as swings, slides and
climbing apparatus, shall be:
Z Age and developmentally appropriate
Z Installed, used and maintained according to
manufacturers’ specifications
Z Free from hazards, including sharp edges and
toxic materials such as lead and arsenic
Fences
Z On-site outdoor play areas must be enclosed by
climb-proof fencing at least 5 feet high.
Z Razors or barbed wire may be used only on fences
that are more than 6.5 feet high.
Z Rooop fences must be at least 10 feet high, with
an added 45-degree inwardly angled panel.
Resilient surfaces, not containing asphalt or
cement, shall be installed under and around elevated
play equipment.
Equipment and surfaces must be approved by the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Water Safety [Health Code Section 47.57 (i)]
Swimming is prohibited without a properly trained
supervisor and pool safety plan. Child care programs
must obtain wrien approval from the Health
Department before offering any swimming or aquatic
activities. Aquatic activities for group child care
programs are limited to learn to swim or water safety
programs that use supervision rules approved by the
State Commissioner of Health. These rules protect
children from injury or drowning. Aquatic activities
must be conducted per the child care program’s wrien
Safety Plan and Health Code section 47.57 (i).
30
To nd this center’s full inspection history or to sign up to receive text
and email updates, visit nyc.gov and search NYC Child Care Connect.
If you have a concern about this child care program, call 311.
Issued on 2/1/18
PSC0001234
CHILD CARE PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
ABC Child Care
123 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11203
Infant/Toddler Program
Permit Number: 12345
0
100
10+
25
Years in Operation at This Location
Teaching Staff
Program Suspensions
(last three years)
Explanation of the suspensions must be posted with this summary
Children Allowed in Care
This
Center
Citywide
Average
Average number of violations per inspection
that needed immediate correction
Average number of other violations per inspection
Total number of violations that needed
immediate correction
12-Month Performance Summary
Coming next year
Every Child Care Program
Can Perform Well
The New York City Health Department now issues and requires
all group child care programs to publicly post a performance
summary card. This card displays important information about
your program and its performance. Follow the steps below to
avoid commonly cited violations. For more detailed information,
visit nyc.gov/health/childcare.
Hire staff with required qualifications
• Sta the classrooms only with teachers who
have the required qualifications for the age
group they supervise.
• Be sure to have a qualified educational director.
This person is responsible for training sta,
developing the educational curriculum, monitoring
the emotional and cognitive development of
enrolled children, and supervising teaching sta.
Keep records showing that all staff have
needed clearances
• Obtain and file written consents for fingerprinting,
screening by the Statewide Central Register
of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR), and
criminal background checks for anyone who
might have unsupervised contact with children.
File all clearances and contact the Health
Department if any findings require notification.
• Obtain and file completed Mandated Reporter
training certificates.
• Obtain and file certificates of medical clearance
from licensed health care providers stating that
sta can perform their duties.
• Make sure that SCR screenings, medical clearances
and Mandated Reporter training certificates are
updated every two years.
Supervise children at all times
• Maintain the minimum sta-to-child ratios. The
number of sta depends on the age of the children.
• Make sure a qualified sta person has a clear line
of sight of all children at all times.
Keep records showing that all enrolled
children have needed medical clearances
• Prior to admission, provide parents with the child
health examination form to be completed by the
child’s health care provider.
• Review each child’s medical record before their
first day, making sure that each child had a
complete check-up, including a physical exam,
required immunizations, nutritional evaluation,
lead screening and developmental assessment.
Maintain a clean facility
• Keep all indoor and outdoor rooms, play areas,
furniture and equipment clean and in good
condition.
• Clean floors either at the start or end of each day.
• Provide sinks with hot (not exceeding 115
o
F) and
cold running water near all toilets. Make sure that
sta and children wash hands before and after
using the toilet or changing diapers.
Be prepared in case of fire
• Maintain working, approved and inspected fire
extinguishers.
• Properly install and maintain an interior fire
alarm system.
• Conduct at least one fire drill per month and
keep drill records, noting the date, time, number
of participants and outcome.
• Post clear and visible exit signs, and make sure
exits are unobstructed, or clear of obstacles,
at all times.
31
32
This checklist will help make sure your child care program is in compliance with Article 47 of the New York City
Health Code. Routinely review the questions on this checklist to make sure that you can answer yes (Y) to all
of them. This checklist covers many, but not all, requirements for group child care programs. For a complete
description of all requirements described in Article 47, visit nyc.gov/health and search for Health Code.
Y/N
Does your program have a qualified Education
Director on-site during child care hours? §47.13
Are the number of children present NOT more than
the capacity number on your permit? §47.05
Do staff on-site have the required qualifications?
§47.13, §47.15, §47.17
Do staff on-site have the required, up-to-date
criminal justice and child abuse clearances? §47.19
Does your program have the required staff-to-child
ratios? §47.23
Does a qualified staff person have a clear line of
sight of all the children at all times? §47.23
Does your program have at least one staff person
present who is certified in CPR and first aid, and
at least one staff person present who is trained
in administering emergency medications? §47.23,
§47.29
Do you have an up-to-date, comprehensive written
safety plan on-site? §47.11
Do you have on-site, required medical records,
including immunization records and documentation
of medical exams, of all the children in your care?
§47.25
Do you keep a daily attendance record of all the
children in your care? §47.27
Do you check daily on the health of all the children
in your care? §47.27
Do you have an adequate area for keeping
separate children who are sick? §47.27
Do you keep a written emergency plan, with
emergency and general contact information,
on-site? §47.29
Stang and Child SupervisionSafety and Health
DAILY SELF-INSPECTION CHECKLIST
FOR GROUP CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
Y/N
Do you have at least two epinephrine auto-
injectors with retractable needles on-site that
are stored away from the children and have not
expired? §47.29
Do you have a complete first aid kit that is
accessible but out of the children's reach? §47.29
Do you maintain a medication administration log?
§47.31
If your program is approved to administer
medication, do you have a medication storage
area that is clean and not accessible to the
children, with refrigerated medications kept
separate from foods? §47.31
Do your staff and the children in your care wash
their hands thoroughly after visiting the toilet,
after diaper changing, after contact with any
child who is sick, after playing outdoors and
before handling food? §47.35
Do handwashing sinks have liquid soap dispensers
and paper towels or sanitary dryers that are
accessible to the children? §47.43g
Are there clearly posted handwashing signs at
each toilet and at each sink in the child care
service area? §47.35
Are disposable covers used in the diaper
changing areas, and are they changed after each
use? § 47.4 3
Is there a diaper disposal container next to
the diaper changing area; does it have a tight-
fitting lid and plastic liners; and is disinfectant
provided? §47.43
Do staff who are changing diapers wear
disposable gloves? §47.43
Safety and Health
Hygiene Practices
Y/N
If you have potties in the toilet areas, are they
properly washed and disinfected after each use?
§47.4 3
Is there a change of clothes available so that any
child who soils clothing may be changed? §47.35
Do you have a clean sheet and Health
Department-approved cot or other sleeping
arrangement for each child who spends more
than four hours in your care? §47.55
Do you prohibit smoking of tobacco or other
substances in all child care service areas, both
indoors and outdoors? §47.35
Are all indoor and outdoor areas clean and in
good repair? §47.47, §47.49
Are all furnishings clean and in good repair?
§47.55
Are trash and garbage stored in rodent-proof
containers with tight-fitting lids? §47.49
Is the facility free of rodents, insects and other
pests, and free of conditions that may attract
pests? §47.51
Are hallways, stairs and exits clear of obstacles
at all times? §47.41
Are approved window guards present in all
windows except the fire-escape windows? §47.41
Are entrances and exits monitored and secured?
§47.41
Is the outdoor play equipment well-maintained
and free of hazards? §47.47
Are cleaning products, such as detergent and
bleach, stored in a place that is not accessible to
the children? §47.49
Do all exits have clear and visible exit signs
posted? §47.59
Do you have working, unexpired and inspected
fire extinguishers? §47.59
Are the facility and its property free of electrical,
chemical, mechanical and other hazards? §47.59
Do you have working carbon monoxide and smoke
detectors with clear and loud alarms? §47.59
w
Hygiene Practices
MaintenanceFire Safety
Y/N
Is drinking water always available and accessible
to the children, and if used, is the bubbler fountain
well-maintained? §47.61
Is all served food prepared and stored safely
(according to Article 81 of the Health Code)? §47.61
Is milk stored below 41 degrees Fahrenheit and
used by the expiration date? §47.61
Are dry foods stored in insect-proof and
rodent-proof containers? §47.61
Are utensils, dishes and other materials used in
food preparation cleaned and sanitized after use
or discarded? §47.61
Do your program’s activities promote the physical,
intellectual and emotional well-being of the
children in your care? §47.67
Do you have a behavior-management policy posted?
Are hitting, threatening and humiliating the children
prohibited? Are the children comforted when in
distress? §47.67
Do you maintain a written, daily schedule that
includes indoor and outdoor activities, meals, rest
periods and opportunities for learning? §47.67
If your program cares for infants, do you provide a
safe sleep environment, and place infants on their
backs to sleep? §47.67
Does your program provide at least 60 minutes of
daily physical activity for children 12 months and
older, of which at least 30 minutes is structured
and guided for children 3 years and older? §47.71
Is the play equipment age-appropriate and
designed to support physical and motor
development? §47.71
Do you have daily, scheduled outdoor play (except
when the weather is bad)? Are the children dressed
appropriately when playing outdoors? §47.71
Do you prohibit television and video viewing for
children under 2 years, and do you limit viewing to
30 minutes of educational programming per week
for children 2 years and older? §47.71
Do you make sure that the children do not sit
without physical activity for more than 30 minutes
at a time, except during scheduled rest or
naptime? §47.71
Food Safety
Physical Activity
Child Development
34
Geing Started
Health Code Article 47
Performance Summary Card
Following the Law
Inspections and Violations
Business Owner’s Bill of Rights
Office of Administrative Tribunals and Hearings (OATH)
Site Inspection Request
Corrective Action Plan
Parental Access and Right to Know
NYC Child Care Connect
Qualified Staff
Staffing Qualifications and Training
The Aspire Registry for New York’s Early Childhood Workforce
Criminal Justice and Child Abuse Screening
Criminal Justice Clearance (Fingerprinting)
SCR Guidelines: Responding to a State Central Registry for
Abuse and Maltreatment Inquiry
Safe and Healthy Kids
Medical Care
Medical Requirements for Child Care and New School Entrants
Immunization Information
Communicable Disease Chart for Child Care Providers
Epinephrine Auto-injector
Daily Aendance
Daily Aendance Record Form
Authorized Escorts
Authorized Escorts List Form
Trips
Guidelines for the Trip Coordinator
Lost Child Plan Guideline for Programs
Transportation
Daily Transportation Log Form
Nutrition
Nutrition Guidelines for Parents
Physical Activity
Nutrition and Physical Activity Best Practices for Programs
A Safe and Healthy Place
Indoor Facility
Site Viability Checklist
Alarms
Application for Certificate of Fitness for Supervision of
Fire Alarm Systems and Other Related Systems (S-95)
An individual holding a Certificate of Fitness for conducting
a fire drill must be on site during service operating hours.
(F-07 or W-07)
Kitchen Safety and Food Handling
Health Code Article 81: Food Preparation and
Food Establishments
What to Expect When You’re Inspected: A Guide for
Food Service Operators
Pest Control
Fact Sheet: Keep Your Child Care Center Free From Pests
Lead Paint and Lead Poisoning Prevention
Annual Survey of Paint
Wrien Safety Plan
Safety Plan Guideline
Appendix:
Forms, Guides and
Other Helpful Documents
This Appendix lists the forms and other helpful documents referenced in this guide. To access or print out these
documents, visit nyc.gov/health/childcare and click on “Information for Child Care Operators.” These tools will
help you achieve Code compliance. For any questions about Article 47 of the Health Code please contact 311 or
send an email to childcar[email protected]yc.gov.
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