Overcapacity and Ratio Allegations in NY Daycare Cases
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Facts matter. Read full disclaimer.
Quick Takeaways Overcapacity and staff-to-child ratio issues are treated as high-risk because they can be framed as an “imminent danger” condition in OCFS enforcement actions.Emergency OCFS Suspension in New York: What “Imminent Danger” Means + The 10-Day Deadline to Request a Hearing
An emergency OCFS suspension or limitation can shut down (or sharply restrict) a New York child care program before you ever get a hearing. In plain terms: if OCFS finds “imminent danger,” it can temporarily suspend or limit your license/registration on written notice, and the program stays suspended while the case...
OCFS Daycare Penalties in New York: When License Revocation Is Excessive (and How to Fight It)
If you operate a daycare in New York, an OCFS enforcement case can move fast: a violation letter becomes a proposed penalty, then a hearing notice, and suddenly your livelihood is on the line. This post focuses on one issue providers often overlook until it’s too late: penalties. Even when OCFS proves...
OCFS Daycare Enforcement Hearings in New York: Evidence Rules, Burden of Proof, and What Actually Moves the ALJ
If you run a licensed or registered child care program in New York and OCFS sends you a Notice of Hearing, you are no longer in the “fix it with a Corrective Action Plan” phase—you are in a formal enforcement case that can decide whether you stay open.
These hearings are not exactly...
Indicated by ACS? A 30-Day Checklist to Protect Your Name, Job, and Family in New York
Getting a Notice of Indication from ACS (or learning you’re listed on New York’s State Central Register) can feel overwhelming—especially if you work with children, are applying for a license, or are in a Family Court case.
This post is a practical, time-sensitive checklist for what to...
Article 78 After an OCFS Fair Hearing: How to Build a Record for Reversal (Without Relying on Luck)
When someone loses an OCFS/SCR fair hearing, they often assume the case is over. But a fair hearing decision is not the last word. In many cases, the next step is an Article 78 in New York Supreme Court.
This post is a practical guide to (1) how courts...
Before You Appeal an Indicated ACS/SCR Report, Get the Record: A Practical Guide to Requesting ACS and SCR Files
If you try to fight an indicated SCR report without the underlying record, you are arguing blind. The fastest way to waste an OCFS fair hearing is to show up with opinions but no documents.
Whether you are a parent, a childcare professional, a foster parent applicant, or a...
The 8-Year Rule for Indicated Maltreatment Reports: What Automatically Changes – and What Does Not
If you have ever been indicated in the New York State Central Register (SCR), you already know the fear that comes with childcare-related background checks. People often hear a version of: 'It stays on your record forever.'
The reality is more nuanced. New York law treats certain indicated maltreatment-only...
The OCFS “Relevant and Reasonably Related” Decision Is Not Automatic: A Factor-by-Factor Strategy (and What Hastings v. OCFS Teaches)
If you are the subject of an indicated SCR report, you are usually told (directly or indirectly) that there are only two outcomes: win the hearing and clear your name, or lose and live with the consequences. That framing is wrong.
In many cases, the "relevant and reasonably related"...
Family Court vs Criminal Court for Family Offenses in New York: Concurrent Jurisdiction, Transfer, and Strategic Risks
When someone is accused of a family offense in New York, one of the first strategic questions is where the case will be heard: Family Court, Criminal Court, or both. New York law allows overlap, and the forum can change the burden of proof, procedures, and consequences. For the court’s overview, see...