Program Name: HabiTots of Medford    License/Registration ID: 857315


 Program Overview
Contact Name: Kathryn Dejesus Contact Title: Acting Director
Program Type: Day Care Center Status: Open
School District: South Country
Site Address: Map
703 E Patchogue Yaphank Road, Medford, NY 11763
First Licensed/Registration Date: Feb 19, 2020
Current Registration Period: Feb 19, 2024 - Feb 18, 2028
Phone: (631) 345-3200
Fax:
Total Capacity: 183
-Infants: 16
-Toddlers: 44
-Preschool: 81
-School-Age: 42
Open Child Care Slots*:
This information was self reported to OCFS on 9/6/2024 2:34:19 PM
-Infants: 0
-Toddlers: 0
-Preschool: 0
-School-Age: 0

*Important Note: This self reported information on open child care slots can quickly change.


Please contact this program for the most current openings.


Care available during non-traditional hours: No
Removed from referral list: No
This facility is approved to administer medications.
This facility has Non-Patient Specific Auto Injectors.

For additional information on this program and compliance history, contact
Office: Long Island Regional Office
Phone: (631) 240-2560
For additional details and to view the checklist used during an inspection, please click on the Inspection ID links below. Inspection checklists are generated per inspection type and reason. Also note, that any regulatory requirement can be assessed and cited during an inspection and as a result, may not be reflected on the inspection checklist. These items would be reflected in the program's compliance history that is posted.

 Inspection History: (Inspections in the past 24 months)

Date Inspection Type Inspection ID Inspection Result  
Dec 17, 2024 Other 2024-I-LIRO-114169 Violations Found
Inspection Conducted Off-Site
Nov 14, 2024 Self Reported Serious Incident 2024-I-LIRO-107820 No violations cited for this Inspection
Oct 28, 2024 Monitoring - Enforcement 2024-I-LIRO-103768 Violations Found
Sep 26, 2024 Self Reported Serious Incident 2024-I-LIRO-097945 No violations cited for this Inspection
Sep 19, 2024 Monitoring - Enforcement 2024-I-LIRO-086493 No violations cited for this Inspection
Aug 9, 2024 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2024-I-LIRO-078704 No New Violations
Jul 31, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-LIRO-076907 Violations Found
Jul 31, 2024 Annual Unannounced 2024-I-LIRO-011915 No violations cited for this Inspection
Jun 25, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-LIRO-052877 Violations Found
Jun 21, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-LIRO-052641 Violations Found
May 20, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-LIRO-048070 Violations Found
May 2, 2024 Other 2024-I-LIRO-045124 No violations cited for this Inspection Inspection Conducted Off-Site
Mar 6, 2024 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2024-I-LIRO-037417 No violations cited for this Inspection
Feb 14, 2024 Other 2024-I-LIRO-025221 No violations cited for this Inspection
Jan 31, 2024 Application - Renewal 2023-I-LIRO-046818 Violations Found
Jan 17, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-LIRO-017572 Violations Found
Dec 26, 2023 Self Reported Serious Incident 2023-I-LIRO-056407 No violations cited for this Inspection
Dec 13, 2023 Complaint (Substantiated) 2023-I-LIRO-054687 Violations Found
Dec 12, 2023 Other 2023-I-LIRO-054688 Violations Found
Inspection Conducted Off-Site
Nov 29, 2023 Self Reported Serious Incident 2023-I-LIRO-053172 No violations cited for this Inspection
Nov 17, 2023 Complaint (Substantiated) 2023-I-LIRO-051785 Violations Found
Nov 7, 2023 Self Reported Serious Incident 2023-I-LIRO-050409 No violations cited for this Inspection
Nov 1, 2023 Monitoring 2023-I-LIRO-049731 Violations Found
Sep 1, 2023 Other 2023-I-LIRO-042540 No violations cited for this Inspection Inspection Conducted Off-Site
Jul 19, 2023 Monitoring 2023-I-LIRO-036974 Violations Found
Jun 22, 2023 Self Reported Serious Incident 2023-I-LIRO-033914 No violations cited for this Inspection
May 19, 2023 Self Reported Serious Incident 2023-I-LIRO-030062 No violations cited for this Inspection
Apr 3, 2023 Other 2023-I-LIRO-023293 No violations cited for this Inspection Inspection Conducted Off-Site
Mar 29, 2023 Annual Unannounced 2023-I-LIRO-012396 Violations Found
Additional Inspection History

*Inspections may be conducted outside of program operating hours and/or off-site(where inspector was not on premises where care is provided) for the following reasons:
-Record/File Review
-Interviewing of Staff
-Or Other Investigative Reasons

 Compliance History
Date of Last Inspection: Dec 17, 2024 Currently uncorrected violations: Yes
Date Regulation Description Compliance Status as of last inspection
Dec 17, 2024 418-1.15(b)(23)(iv) Upon termination or resignation of the director: An approved, permanent director must be on-site, performing the duties of the position, within 90 days. Not Corrected
Oct 28, 2024 418-1.5(ad) Pursuant to New York Public Health Law Section 2500-h, the program must comply with the anaphylaxis policy jointly issued by the Office and the New York State Department of Health and any amendments thereto. The program must notify the parent of any child in care of the anaphylaxis policy when the child is enrolled and annually thereafter. Notification shall include contact information for parents to engage further with the program to learn more about individualized aspects of the anaphylaxis policy. Corrected
Jul 31, 2024 418-1.8(e) A group teacher, meeting the qualifications of section 418-1.13, is required for every group of children. Corrected
Jun 25, 2024 418-1.8(a) Children cannot be left without competent supervision at any time. Competent supervision includes awareness of and responsibility for the ongoing activity of each child. It requires that all children be within a teacher's range of vision and that the teacher be near enough to respond when redirection or intervention strategies are needed. Competent supervision must take into account the child's age emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Corrected
Jun 25, 2024 418-1.10(c) In accordance with the provisions of Sections 413 and 415 of the Social Services Law, child care center staff must immediately report any suspected incidents of child abuse or maltreatment concerning a child receiving child care to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, or cause such a report to be made, when such staff have reasonable cause to suspect that a child coming before them in their capacity as child care center workers is an abused or maltreated child. This must be done in the following manner: Corrected
Jun 25, 2024 418-1.15(b)(14)(ii) The program must immediately notify the parent and Office upon learning of the following events involving a child which occurred while the child was in care at the program or was being transported by the program: serious incident, Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.5(w) Cleaning materials must be stored in their original containers unless the product's use or the program's health care plan indicates that the product be mixed with water before use. In this case, the container used for subsequent use of the mixed product must state the name of the cleaning material contained within. Cleaning materials must be used in such a way that they will not contaminate play surfaces, food or food preparation areas, or constitute a hazard to children. Such materials must be kept in a place inaccessible to children. Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.7(w) Children unable to sleep during nap time shall not be confined to a sleeping surface (cot, crib, etc) but instead must be offered a supervised place for quiet play. Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.8(a) Children cannot be left without competent supervision at any time. Competent supervision includes awareness of and responsibility for the ongoing activity of each child. It requires that all children be within a teacher's range of vision and that the teacher be near enough to respond when redirection or intervention strategies are needed. Competent supervision must take into account the child's age emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.8(b) The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children. Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.9(a) The program must establish and follow a written plan for behavior management that is acceptable to the office. This plan must include how the staff will approach challenging behaviors, help children solve problems and encourage acceptable behaviors. Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.9(b) The staff must use acceptable techniques and approaches to help children solve problems. Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.9(h) Physical restraint is prohibited. Physical restraint is the act of using force to extremely limit a child's body movements for a lengthy period of time. It involves holding a child against his/her will and putting pressure on the child's chest and/or extremities in an effort to significantly restrict his/her movement, thereby making it extremely difficult for a child to move. It may also involve holding a child flat on the ground and restricting his/her body from movement. Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.9(j) Corporal punishment is prohibited. For the purposes of this Subpart, the term corporal punishment means punishment inflicted directly on the body including, but not limited to, physical restraint, spanking, biting, shaking, slapping, twisting or squeezing; demanding excessive physical exercise, prolonged lack of movement or motion, or strenuous or bizarre postures; and compelling a child to eat or have in the child's mouth soap, foods, hot spices or irritants or the like. Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.10(a) Any abuse or maltreatment of a child is prohibited. A day care center must prohibit and may not tolerate or in any manner condone an act of abuse or maltreatment by an staff, volunteer or any other person. An abused child or maltreated child means a child defined as an abused child or maltreated child pursuant to Section 412 of the Social Services Law. Not Corrected
Jun 21, 2024 418-1.15(b)(4) The staff and volunteers must be in good health and be of good character and habits. Corrected
May 20, 2024 418-1.11(f)(17) Medications must be kept in a clean area that is inaccessible to children. Corrected
Jan 31, 2024 418-1.8(e) A group teacher, meeting the qualifications of section 418-1.13, is required for every group of children. Corrected
Jan 31, 2024 418-1.11(b)(6) The initial medical statement for staff and volunteers must include the results of a Mantoux tuberculin test or other federally approved tuberculin test performed within the 12 months preceding the date of the application. Corrected
Jan 31, 2024 418-1.11(c)(1) The licensee must prepare a health care plan on forms furnished by the Office. Such plan must protect and promote the health of children. The health care plan must be on site, followed by all staff and available upon demand by a parent or the Office. In those instances in which the program will administer medications, the health care plan must also be approved by the program's health care consultant unless the only medications to be administered are: Corrected
Jan 31, 2024 418-1.14(b) Each applicant for, or individual in the position of director, teacher, or volunteer must complete Office-approved training that complies with federal minimum health and safety pre-service or three-month orientation period requirements. This training must be obtained pre-service or within three months of starting such position. Corrected
Jan 31, 2024 418-1.14(c)(1) Each staff person and volunteer must complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training every two years. The required thirty (30) hours of training every two years is subject to the following conditions: Fifteen (15) of the required thirty (30) hours of training must be obtained during the person's first six months at the program. Corrected
Jan 17, 2024 418-1.9(a) The program must establish and follow a written plan for behavior management that is acceptable to the office. This plan must include how the staff will approach challenging behaviors, help children solve problems and encourage acceptable behaviors. Corrected
Dec 13, 2023 418-1.3(a)(3) Child care can only be provided in the areas that have been included in the diagram and approved as child care space. Corrected
Dec 13, 2023 418-1.15(c)(5) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the Office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner: daily attendance records, which must be filled out at the time a child arrives and departs, and must include arrival and departure times; Corrected
Dec 12, 2023 418-1.15(b)(23)(ii) Upon termination or resignation of the director: The appointment of the acting director must be shared with the Office by the next day of business. Corrected
Nov 17, 2023 418-1.15(b)(14)(iii) The program must immediately notify the parent and Office upon learning of the following events involving a child which occurred while the child was in care at the program or was being transported by the program: serious injury, Corrected
Nov 1, 2023 418-1.4(h) The director or a designated qualified staff member must conduct monthly inspections of the premises to observe possible fire or safety hazards. Any such hazard must be corrected immediately. Corrected
Jul 19, 2023 418-1.5(ad) Pursuant to New York Public Health Law Section 2500-h, the program must comply with the anaphylaxis policy jointly issued by the Office and the New York State Department of Health and any amendments thereto. The program must notify the parent of any child in care of the anaphylaxis policy when the child is enrolled and annually thereafter. Notification shall include contact information for parents to engage further with the program to learn more about individualized aspects of the anaphylaxis policy. Corrected
Jul 19, 2023 418-1.14(c)(1) Each staff person and volunteer must complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of training every two years. The required thirty (30) hours of training every two years is subject to the following conditions: Fifteen (15) of the required thirty (30) hours of training must be obtained during the person's first six months at the program. Corrected
Mar 29, 2023 418-1.3(h) Peeling or damaged paint or plaster must be repaired. Corrected
Mar 29, 2023 418-1.5(b)(5) The program must maintain on file a record of each shelter-in-place drill conducted, using forms provided by the Office or approved equivalents. Corrected
Mar 29, 2023 418-1.13(g)(2)(iii) To be qualified as a group teacher for a preschool class, a person must possess either: 9 college credits in Early Childhood, Child Development or a related field, with a plan of study leading to a Child Development Associate Credential, other Office-recognized credential specific to the preschool developmental period, or an Associate's degree in Early Childhood, Child Development or a related field; and two years of experience related to caring for children. Corrected
Mar 29, 2023 418-1.13(g)(3)(iv) To be qualified as a group teacher for an infant or toddler class, a person must possess either: 9 college credits in Early Childhood, Child Development or a related field, with a plan of study leading to an Infant and Toddler Child Care and Education Credential, Infant Toddler Child Development Associate Credential, other Office-recognized credential specific to the infant/toddler developmental period or an Associate's degree in Early Childhood, Child Development or a related field; and two years of experience related to caring for children, one of which must be related to caring for infants or toddlers. Corrected
*Violations are posted on this web site after the inspection results have been finalized in a report mailed to the provider. Violations are listed here as 'Corrected' after the Office has verified corrections with the provider, and a letter confirming the corrections has been mailed to the provider.
For additional information on this program and compliance history, contact
Office: Long Island Regional Office
Phone: (631) 240-2560

 Enforcement History
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services uses a range of tools to help bring child care programs into compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

The enforcement actions listed on this website only include denial, revocation or suspension of a child care program's license or registration. Fines are not shown on this website. OCFS stops referring families to the program if a program's license or registration is closed, revoked or suspended.

Other enforcement actions such as Corrective action plans and fines are not shown on this website.
Enforcement Actions since December, 2019: Yes