Program Name: V.O.A. Children's Center    License/Registration ID: 43997


 Program Overview
Contact Name: Sharifa E. Whitt Contact Title: Director
Program Type: Day Care Center Status: Open
School District: Rochester
Site Address: Map
214 Lake Ave, Rochester, NY 14608-1208
First Licensed/Registration Date: Sep 28, 1998
Current Registration Period: Sep 1, 2022 - Aug 31, 2026
Phone: (585) 402-7220
Fax: (585) 647-9175
Total Capacity: 287
-Infants: 16
-Toddlers: 12
-Preschool: 234
-School-Age: 25
Open Child Care Slots*:
This information was self reported to OCFS on 12/7/2024 9:01:18 AM
-Infants: 0
-Toddlers: 3
-Preschool: 15
-School-Age: 10

*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: Rochester Regional Office
Phone: (585) 238-8531
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  
Mar 12, 2025 Complaint (Substantiated) 2025-I-RRO-028170 Violations Found
Feb 24, 2025 Complaint (Substantiated) 2025-I-RRO-024764 Violations Found
Feb 10, 2025 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2025-I-RRO-022928 No New Violations
Jan 8, 2025 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2025-I-RRO-017803 No New Violations
Jan 6, 2025 Annual Unannounced 2025-I-RRO-002262 No violations cited for this Inspection
Dec 27, 2024 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2024-I-RRO-114897 Violations Found
Sep 27, 2024 Complaint (Investigation Pending) 2024-I-RRO-097026 Violations Found
Sep 25, 2024 Fire Safety - Other 2024-I-RRO-096827 No violations cited for this Inspection
Sep 10, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-RRO-084668 Violations Found
Sep 10, 2024 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2024-I-RRO-084050 No violations cited for this Inspection
Aug 9, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-RRO-078870 Violations Found
Jul 18, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-RRO-074838 Violations Found
Jul 11, 2024 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2024-I-RRO-073615 No New Violations
Jun 10, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-RRO-050852 Violations Found
Jun 6, 2024 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2024-I-RRO-050329 No violations cited for this Inspection
Mar 1, 2024 Complaint (Substantiated) 2024-I-RRO-031961 Violations Found
Mar 1, 2024 Annual Unannounced 2024-I-RRO-001880 No violations cited for this Inspection
Dec 1, 2023 Fire Safety - Alternate Year 2023-I-RRO-054161 Violations Found
Oct 31, 2023 Complaint (Substantiated) 2023-I-RRO-049480 Violations Found
Oct 31, 2023 No Approved Director 2023-I-RRO-046836 No violations cited for this Inspection Inspection Conducted Off-Site
Oct 31, 2023 Annual Unannounced 2023-I-RRO-001336 No violations cited for this Inspection
Sep 29, 2023 Complaint (Unsubstantiated) 2023-I-RRO-045870 Violations Found
Sep 18, 2023 Serious Injury 2023-I-RRO-044032 No violations cited for this Inspection
Jun 30, 2023 Complaint (Substantiated) 2023-I-RRO-034051 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: Mar 12, 2025 Currently uncorrected violations: Yes
Date Regulation Description Compliance Status as of last inspection
Mar 12, 2025 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. Not Corrected
Mar 12, 2025 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. Not Corrected
Mar 12, 2025 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. Not Corrected
Feb 24, 2025 418-1.7(h)(1) Television and other electronic visual media must be turned off when not part of a planned developmentally appropriate program activity. Not Corrected
Feb 24, 2025 418-1.8(n) The use of any type of personal electronic media device for social or entertainment purposes, including but not limited to, listening to music on headphones, playing screen games, surfing the internet, sending e-mails, or making personal calls while supervising children is prohibited. The use of mobile phones is permitted as necessary to promote the children's safety and ensuring the orderly operation of the program. Not Corrected
Dec 27, 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
Sep 27, 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
Sep 10, 2024 418-1.11(b)(9) Consumption of or being under the influence of an illegal drug by any staff person or volunteer is prohibited during child day care hours. Corrected
Aug 9, 2024 418-1.9(b) The staff must use acceptable techniques and approaches to help children solve problems. Corrected
Jul 18, 2024 418-1.5(a) Suitable precautions must be taken to eliminate all conditions in areas accessible to children which pose a safety or health hazard. Corrected
Jul 18, 2024 418-1.7(q) Cribs, bassinets and other sleeping areas for infants through 12 months of age must include an appropriately sized fitted sheet, and must not have bumper pads, toys, stuffed animals, blankets, pillows, wedges or infant positioners. Wedges or infant positioners will be permitted with medical documentation from the child's health care provider. Corrected
Jul 18, 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 10, 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 10, 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. Corrected
Jun 10, 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
Mar 1, 2024 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
Dec 1, 2023 418-1.4(b)(4) The program must maintain on file a record of each evacuation drill conducted, using forms furnished by the Office or approved equivalents. Corrected
Dec 1, 2023 418-1.4(e) All fire suppression equipment and systems must be tested and maintained in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Fire Code and Building Code of New York State or other applicable fire and building codes when the Fire Code and Building Code of New York State is not applicable. Corrected
Dec 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
Oct 31, 2023 418-1.5(a) Suitable precautions must be taken to eliminate all conditions in areas accessible to children which pose a safety or health hazard. Corrected
Oct 31, 2023 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
Oct 31, 2023 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. Corrected
Sep 29, 2023 418-1.13(b)(3) Child day care centers must review and evaluate the backgrounds of all applicants for staff and volunteer positions. All applicants whose backgrounds must be checked are required to provide the following: a sworn statement by the applicant indicating whether, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, such applicant has ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in New York State or any other jurisdiction and fingerprint images as required to comply with the requirements of 413.4 of this Title; Corrected
Jun 30, 2023 418-1.5(a) Suitable precautions must be taken to eliminate all conditions in areas accessible to children which pose a safety or health hazard. Corrected
Jun 30, 2023 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
*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: Rochester Regional Office
Phone: (585) 238-8531

 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 April, 2020: Yes