Legally exempt care is a great option for parents who have special transportation, schedule, or budget needs.
To start the process, the parent of the child must go downtown to the Day Care Unit of Erie County’s Department of Social Services, located at 95 Franklin Street, Room 449, Buffalo, NY 14202. They may be reached at 716-858-8953, and are open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. If the parent is looking to receive assistance for legally exempt care, a child care assistance program case MUST be established with the Department of Social Services (DSS).
The parent must then choose their provider; this can be a family member, close friend, or neighbor they know.
Once the provider is chosen, the parent and the provider must complete an application together. It may be mailed to Child Care Resource Network or delivered in person at 1000 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216. Our Legally Exempt department may be reached at 716-877-6666 ext. 2594. A Legally Exempt Specialist from our staff will go over the application with you.
Once your application has been accepted and approved, it will take approximately 6-8 weeks to begin receiving payment.
Do you have more questions on the Legally Exempt process, and what is involved? See our complete guide to Legally Exempt Care HERE.
Who must be trained?
All legally enrolled child caregivers must be trained. Also, employees with caregiving roles, and volunteers with the potential for regular and substantial contact with children are required to participate in this health and safety training.
Who does not have to be trained?
The only exception to this training is a grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling (if living in a separate residence), aunt, or uncle who provides care for only a child(ren) related to them. If you fall in one of these categories, you do not have to complete this training requirement.
When does training have to be completed by?
Training should be completed before enrollment is completed. Classes are offered every last Saturday of each month.
What happens if I don’t take the training?
Legally enrolled child care programs whose required individuals do not complete the required health and safety pre-service training within the designated time frame may not be eligible to receive child care subsidies. Failure to obtain the training may result in the termination of the child care program’s enrollment to provide subsidized child care.
How Do I Take The Health And Safety Training?
ReadThere are a few different options individuals may utilize to complete this required health and safety pre-service training:
In the Classroom
Child Care Resource Network is offering a FREE Health and Safety training for Legally Exempt Providers at our office. Register using the buttons below:
There are currently no Health & Safety trainings scheduled for Legally Enrolled Providers.
After you’ve completed your training at CCRN, legally exempt providers must submit a copy of their certificate and the Legally Enrolled Child Care Training Record Form (OCFS Form 4699.3) to their enrollment agency.