We are pleased to feature Nora Yates, Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Child Care Services at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), as a guest contributor to announce a significant five-year investment in QUALITYstarsNY and our colleagues at the Early Childhood Career Development Center.

This investment from OCFS comes at a vital moment for our work at QUALITYstarsNY following a period of historic growth, thanks to funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which concluded last year. With this five-year investment from OCFS, QUALITYstarsNY will be able to sustain our support for the nearly 2,000 participating programs we now serve, helping the dedicated educators at these programs and their Quality Improvement Specialists and Program Quality Coaches continue their important work together.

QUALITYstarsNY looks forward to continuing to work alongside OCFS and New York’s Early Care and Learning Council and Child Care Resource Centers (CCRCs) to strengthen our state and regional collaboration to give early childhood programs and educators the support and services they need to create high-quality early childhood experiences for our youngest learners.  

By Guest Contributor: Nora Yates, Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Child Care Services at the NYS Office of Children and Family Services

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is proud to invest $85 million over the next five years into QUALITYstarsNY and the Career Development Centers, reinforcing the state’s commitment to improving early childhood education and strengthening the connections to child care licensing and regional partnerships. This substantial funding will allow QUALITYstarsNY and the Career Centers to provide critical resources and support early childhood programs across New York State and build the workforce.

OCFS has invested $2M annually of this allocation in the statewide career development centers; one located in each of the 10 economic regions. These career centers play a vital role in supporting the early childhood workforce in one-on-one career and academic advising, hosting workforce event and providing “Career Conversations”, which focuses on a specific topic that is useful for the workforce, such as resume writing, and how to manage difficult conversations.

QUALITYstarsNY plays a vital role in enhancing program quality by offering coaching, professional development, and materials that help early learning providers create enriching environments for children. This funding will help align QUALITYstarsNY more closely with OCFS child care regulatory infrastructure, ensuring that participating programs not only meet but exceed regulatory standards for health, safety, and education quality.

OCFS directed this investment to ensure strong regional partnerships between QUALITYstarsNY, OCFS regional offices, and local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies. These collaborations will enhance program support, streamline communication, and ensure a coordinated approach to improving child care quality across the state. By working together, these partners will help providers navigate the quality improvement process and support child care programs growth and development.