Professional Development/Training
Helping childcare providers increase their professional skills and knowledge
All Registered and Licensed Child Care Providers in New York State are required to obtain ongoing professional development and training hours.
All child care providers, program Directors, and staff must complete a minimum of 30 hours of training every two years. Fifteen hours of this training must be received during the first six months of the program's first year of licensure or during the person's first six months of employment by the program. This initial 15 hours applies towards the total 30 hour minimum requirement for each license period. Training must address one or more of the following 10 topics:
- principles of childhood development, including the appropriate supervision of children, meeting the needs of children enrolled in the program with physical or emotional challenges and behavior management and discipline;
- nutrition and health needs of children;
- child day care program development;
- safety and security procedures, including communication between parents and staff;
- business record maintenance and management;
- child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention;
- statutes and regulations pertaining to child day care;
- statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment;
- education and prevention of shaken baby syndrome;
- adverse childhood experiences, focused on understanding trauma and on nurturing resiliency.
The Child Care Resource Center offers the following types of training to meet these criteria:
- Evening training
- On-line training
- On-site training
- Videoconferences
- Saturday Seminar
- Health and Safety training
To request a specific training topic or category not offered in our upcoming training calendar, fill out this form and fax or mail to a trainer today.
Program Details
Training Resources
Training Calendar
A Training Calendar is distributed semi-annually to all child care providers in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga Counties. The calendar contains a list of all trainings offered at our Johnson City, Norwich, and Owego offices, as well as the approved on-line trainings and information on registering for a training.
Check out the October through December Professional Development Training Calendar.
To register for trainings/professional development opportunities that Family Enrichment Network Child Care Resource Center offers, call Crystal at (607) 723-8313 ext. 829 or email crozelle@familyenrichment.org or sign up in the online portal.
To apply for a Family Enrichment Network Scholarship, complete the FEN Scholarship Application.
Onsite Training
On-site training is available for child care centers and school-age child care programs.
All child care centers in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga Counties are eligible for 1 free onsite training per year. Please fill out the application and return to a Child Care trainer for more information.
Our trainers can tailor on-site trainings to meet the program's needs. Programs can have all their staff hear the same information at the same time. Please call or email a trainer to discuss or request an on-site training.
Online Training
In New York State, online training courses to be used to meet OCFS required professional development/training hours must be approved by SUNY Professional Development Program as an OCFS-approved distance learning course and qualify for EIP funding.
Family Enrichment Network collaborates for online training courses through our national organization, Child Care Aware of America and Smart Horizons. Click here for the opportunies through Child Care Aware of America. These opportunities are not eligible for the FEN scholarship.
OCFS offers free online training opportunities through SUNY PDP. You can find these opportunities here.
Resources for Providers
The Office of Children and Family Services
The OCFS website contains a key resource list and information for child care providers.
https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/
Education Incentive Program (EIP)
EIP is a scholarship program funded by OCFS for child care providers to assist in paying for the training and professional development necessary to provide quality child care to children and to meet the regulation requirements.
https://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/eip.aspx
VOICE/CSEA
The family child care union in New York State offers support and assistance for family child care providers, including training scholarships.
Health and Safety Training
OCFS requires health and safety training for all modalities of child care in New York State. To take the 5 hour online training, visit: www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/elearn_catalog.shtm
or call a trainer today for other options.
Training Registration
To register for trainings/professional development opportunities that Family Enrichment Network Child Care Resource Center offers, call Crystal at (607) 723-8313 ext. 829 or email crozelle@familyenrichment.org.
To apply for a Family Enrichment Network Scholarship, complete the FEN Scholarship Application.
CDA Credential
Applications are currently being accepted for the CDA classes to start in September 2024.
For any information on the CDA classes, please contact Cortney Nornhold at cnornhold@familyenrichment.org.
A CDA credential is a nationally-recognized credential awarded to qualified caregivers who work with children from birth to age five. You can earn a CDA with an emphasis in center-based preschool, center-based infant-toddler or family child care.
For more information on the CDA process, please visit the Council For Professional Recognition.
Call Cortney Nornhold at (607) 687-6721 or email cnornhold@familyenrichment.org with questions.
All new directors for centers, SACC programs, and some legally exempt group program directors are required to take a 15-hour Director Health and Safety course.
Directors are responsible for hiring, training, and maintaining staff who provide a healthy and safe environment for children. This course will help directors look at policies and procedures that reinforce high-quality health and safety practices. Directors will receive in-depth information on the Child Care Development Block Grant training requirements and will be encouraged to examine their policies in order to make positive changes that promote best practice care.
Presenter: Allie Drake
This class is being held virtually at this time.
The next class series will be held in 2025. Classes are held from 8:30 am-11:30 am each day, for 5 days. You must attend all days for credit! You must have access to a computer with a camera and internet to join virtually.
Class cost: $250. (Grants to help with the cost are available for directors in Broome County.)
You must register with both SUNY PDP and FEN for this training. www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/findtraining.aspx
Contact Crystal at (607) 723-8313 ext. 829 to register for FEN and for more information.
Child care providers, who have been in business for years and want to share their expertise on operating their child care business, can complete an application to conduct a Peer To Peer Presentation to the other providers in our area.
All applications can be completed and returned to Rachel Dowd at rdowd@familyenrichment.org.