IQ + A

Interview with Michelle Minaya, trainer and business counselor at the Childcare Business Development Program about the new electronic registration system at OCFS.

Michelle Minaya, childcare provider, says she tries to provide the best education and overall quality for the families I work with.  That’s her philosophy because that’s how you retain clients.

Q: Do you have a relationship with your licensor?

A: Yes, I have a good relationship with the OCFS. Cynthia Vebona has been very helpful.  She shared her direct phone and email with me so I can contact her if I have any questions or concerns.

Q: When you were starting your childcare business, did you visit the (OCFS) offices?

A:  Not then, no. I emailed my application.  However, later I did visit in order to complete the paperwork and then again to pay. At that point, there was no electronic process to apply for a license. That was developed during the pandemic, and just went live in December 2023.

Q:  Have you used the new electronic application website?

A:   Yes, because I train childcare providers about the many issues involved in starting and running a home based childcare business, and so I have worked with my trainees to complete their applications in the new system.  It has some challenges. For example, you would get fingerprinted after submitting the application before, but now with the electronic application, you have to get yourself and your assistant fingerprinted first, before you can submit your application. 

Q:  Overall, how would you rate the new procedure?  Is it better or worse than the old system?

A:  Better overall.  For example, with the old system, if there was a problem with one section of the application, you had to take the whole application back, which is over 100 pages, and resubmit it.  Now, you can fix that section and upload just that section. Additionally, if the licensor reviewed the application, they will tell you which sections were accepted.

Q:  Do you have a favorite part of the new licensing process? 

A:  Yes, the healthocare forms is now a word document that you can fill out, as opposed to printing forty pages and scanning them back in.  Another great aspect of the new procedure is that it is no longer necessary to develop the behavior plan, and then go through the back and forth to find out what is acceptable, or unacceptable about it.  The OCFS offers you a behavior plan which you can decide whether you find acceptable or unacceptable. 

Q:  Do you have any advice for new applicants?

A:  Absolutely.  Firstly, it’s best to go section by section, filling them out in order, not skipping around from one to another.  Second, check over all of your documents before uploading them and be sure they are in order, or they will get back to you concerning anything that is missing, which will cause a delay.  Third, go onto the website and download the documents you need, so you can be prepared ahead of time.  Fourth, and last but definitely NOT least, I do not recommend inputting the hourly schedule.  For a GFDC, it is required  for the provider to have different schedules for different age groups, the system doesn’t allow you to put in different schedules!  So just make several time schedules. You should not upload your own schedule with the different activities for the different age groups.Childcare Newsletter

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