A: Children as young as two months old may be enrolled in our Infant Care program. Enrollment is also open to Toddlers and Preschoolers aged 12 – 36 months. Additionally, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, we offer free, full-day, high-quality 3K and Pre-K programs to all age-eligible children who reside in New York City. (Please note that 3K and Pre-K students are not subject to income eligibility requirements for our free School Day/Year programs.)
How to Enroll
Please see below some of our most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about enrollment, and their corresponding answers. To speak to us directly please call: (718) 638-8686 or email: Info@fochnyc.org. Using our Center Locator, you may also directly contact any of our Educational Centers for more information.
Q: At what age can I enroll my child for subsidized care in a Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center?
Q: How do I apply to enroll my child?
A: Your child’s enrollment begins with a telephone call or visit to any Friends of Crown Heights Center of your choice. (You may use our Center Locator to select the Center that is most convenient for you). Our fully licensed and certified professional staff of Child-care and Early Education specialists will be happy to walk you through the process, step by step. Our Center staff will also provide you with a free, individualized consultation to help you obtain any government subsidies or other assistance for which you and your family may be eligible.
Q: What are some of the eligibility guidelines for receiving subsidized child care?
A: Our highly experienced and knowledgeable staff will work with you in a one-on-one consultation to help determine if you qualify for a subsidy, based on your personal circumstances. As a general rule, in order for a family to receive subsidized child-care services, the family must meet certain financial and social eligibility criteria that are determined by federal, state, and local regulations:
Financial eligibility is determined by a family’s gross income, with consideration of family size. Fees for child-care services are based on a sliding scale.
Social eligibility requires that a family have an approved “reason for care,” such as
- You are working or in an approved training or educational program; or
- Your child or family is receiving services from either ACS or the Human Resources Administration (HRA), or other social services agency.
In other words, in addition to meeting the income requirements, if you can answer YES to at least one (1) of the following questions, you may qualify for subsidized child care:
- Are you working 10 hours or more a week?
- Are you attending an approved school (high school, high school equivalency, 2-year College) or full-time training program?
- Are you receiving preventive or protective services for your child / children?
- Do you receive services such as cash assistance, TANF or other public assistance?
Please note that if you are on disability, you are not eligible at this time for assistance through this program. However, you may be eligible for limited child-care services (timeframe ranges from 6 months to 1 year) if you are actively seeking employment. You will need to complete the CFWB026 form.
- If you are homeless/unhoused, you automatically qualify for child-care services through the subsidized child-care program. To establish your eligibility under this provision, you will need to provide a letter indicating that you are currently residing in a shelter. This letter can be provided to you through your Caseworker in your temporary housing facility.
Our dedicated staff will help walk you through this process.
Q: Will I have to produce any specific documents to support my application for subsidized
child care?
A: Yes. The New York City Department of Education’s Child Care Eligibility Unit has a list of approved documents for this purpose. We will assist you in this process as well. For your general information, here is a list of approved documents:
Proof of Identity
You may provide any one (1) of these documents:
- Copy of your child’s / children’s Birth Certificate(s) or Copy of Baptismal Record. (To verify your own identity, you may present either a valid passport or New York State-issued photo ID)
- You must also verify birth for ALL your children under 18 who reside with you to prove your family size. (You have the option of providing the Social Security numbers for all your children under the age of 18).
Applicant’s Proof of NYC Address
You may provide any one (1) of these documents:
- Copy of current utility bill or pay stub (if your address is printed on stub)
- Rent receipts or copy of a lease showing your current address
- Section 8 award letter or NYCHA certificate
Proof of legal residence in the United States
(Please note that the parent’s immigration status does not impact eligibility. Eligibility is based on the status of the child. The child needs to be either a U.S. citizen or legal resident).
You may provide any one (1) of these documents as proof of legal residency for your child:
Birth Certificate; Immigration Department form I-94 *• Alien registration card • Naturalization papers, U.S. Passport or Lawyer’s letter.
Proof of Income and Benefits
To show you qualify for subsidized child care, you must verify all income and benefits for your family.
- a) If you are employed (working at least 10 hours per week): assemble your pay stubs to show your income sources. If your gross pay is the same every time you get paid, provide copies of consecutive pay stubs for the last 4 weeks. If you receive different amounts of pay from week to week, provide copies of consecutive pay stubs for the last 12 weeks. If you don’t get pay stubs, we will help you obtain the appropriate form (Referral to Employer Form CFWB 015) for this purpose.
- b) If you are self-employed: provide copies of your business and personal tax returns. If you have been self-employed for less than 3 months, provide a notarized statement of income. If you have been self-employed for 3 – 12 months, provide an accountant’s statement.
- c) If you receive Alimony or Child Support: you will be required to complete Form 1081(we will help you obtain the form).
- d) If you are receiving Social Security, SSI, Disability, Retirement, Pension/Annuity Income: you may not be not eligible for assistance through this program. However, you may be eligible for limited child-care services (timeframe ranges from 6 months to 1 year) if you are actively seeking employment. You will need to complete the CFWB026 form.
- If you are homeless/unhoused: you automatically qualify for child-care services through the subsidized child-care program. You must provide a letter indicating that you are currently residing in a shelter. This letter can be provided to you through your Caseworker in your temporary housing facility.
Please remember that our staff will help you navigate this process. Just call or visit any Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center of your choice, and we will help you take care of the rest!