Hearth Record

The Neighborhood Center, Inc.

A day care center in Utica, New York 13501

615 Mary St., Utica, New York 13501. (315) 272-2760.

What New York’s list coversOutside New York City

Programs New York State’s Office of Children and Family Services licenses or registers outside New York City, each county added once it is read in full. Programs in the city’s five boroughs, including the day care centers its Health Department regulates, aren’t here yet.

New York’s own record, on hs.ocfs.ny.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. New York’s own record is on hs.ocfs.ny.gov.

The short answer

Record last released by New York State Office of Children and Family Services on Nov 2, 2026.

The last 24 months 49 violations in 10 months of the last 36. Last cited Jun 2026. Every month

Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.

What these words mean4
Inspection (survey)
A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
Deficiency, citation, violation
What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
Licence status
Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
Capacity
The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.

What did inspectors find?

8 inspections in the last three years, the latest on Jun 2, 2026.

56 violations cited in the last three years.

Source:

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

When those violations happened

49 violations in 10 months of the last 36. Last cited Jun 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 2, 2026.

49 violations by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 Dec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.

Each violation, in its source’s words

Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.

Source:

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

Jun 9, 2026: complaint investigation10 violations
  • Staff and volunteers must be mature, of good character and possess suitable personal qualifications.

    Rule 418-1.13(a)(1). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Staff and volunteers must be mature, of good character and possess suitable personal qualifications.

    Rule 418-1.13(a)(1). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children.

    Rule 418-1.8(b). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children.

    Rule 418-1.8(b). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.9(a). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.9(a). From a complaint.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.9(j). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.9(j). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Methods of discipline, interaction or toilet training which frighten, demean or humiliate a child are prohibited.

    Rule 418-1.9(m). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Methods of discipline, interaction or toilet training which frighten, demean or humiliate a child are prohibited.

    Rule 418-1.9(m). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

Jun 2, 2026: monitoring3 violations
  • All rooms, equipment, surfaces, supplies and furnishings accessible to children must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected, using an EPA registered product, as needed to protect the health of children, and in a manner consistent with the program’s health care plan approved by the Office.

    Rule 418-1.11(i)(6).

  • Suitable precautions must be taken to eliminate all conditions in areas accessible to children which pose a safety or health hazard.

    Rule 418-1.5(a).

  • Protective caps, covers or permanently installed obstructive devices must be used on all electrical outlets that are accessible to children.

    Rule 418-1.5(y). Corrected during the inspection.

Apr 24, 2026: complaint investigation8 violations
  • 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:

    Rule 418-1.10(c). From a complaint.

  • Staff and volunteers must be mature, of good character and possess suitable personal qualifications.

    Rule 418-1.13(a)(1). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.14(b). From a complaint.

  • 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,

    Rule 418-1.15(b)(14)(ii). From a complaint.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.8(a). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children.

    Rule 418-1.8(b). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.9(a). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Physical intervention is permitted. Physical intervention is the act of using bodily contact as a short-term immediate response to prevent children from incurring substantial or serious injury to themselves or injuring others. It may involve: picking a child up and moving him or her away from danger or conflict, holding the child’s hands or gently touching the body to direct their movement, rocking a child to soothe them, blocking a child’s path when they are about to injure themselves or others or destroy property. This technique allows the child to regain self-control as quickly and safely as possible. A consultation with a child’s parent is required if the child is not receptive to physical intervention.

    Rule 418-1.9(i). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

Feb 19, 2026: annual Unannounced1 violation
  • Play equipment must be installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and instructions, be in good repair, and be placed in a safe location.

    Rule 418-1.5(n)(2).

Jun 4, 2025: fire Safety - Other2 violations
  • 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: documentation from the local health department or the New York State Department of Health showing that the facility has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Department of Health;

    Rule 418-1.15(c)(22).

  • 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: documentation from service personnel qualified to perform fire suppression systems maintenance, repair and testing showing that fire suppression equipment and systems have been tested and maintained during the current license period in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Fire and Building Code of New York State;

    Rule 418-1.15(c)(32).

Mar 5, 2025: annual Unannounced3 violations
  • 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;

    Rule 418-1.15(c)(5).

  • Suitable precautions must be taken to eliminate all conditions in areas accessible to children which pose a safety or health hazard.

    Rule 418-1.5(a).

  • The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children.

    Rule 418-1.8(b).

Mar 4, 2025: complaint investigation2 violations
  • Staff and volunteers must be mature, of good character and possess suitable personal qualifications.

    Rule 418-1.13(a)(1). From a complaint.

  • The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children.

    Rule 418-1.8(b). From a complaint.

Feb 13, 2025: complaint investigation10 violations
  • The program must obtain a written statement from the parent of each infant in care setting forth the breast milk, formula and feeding schedule instructions for the infant and must be updated as changes are made.

    Rule 418-1.12(w). From a complaint.

  • 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;

    Rule 418-1.13(b)(3). From a complaint.

  • 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,

    Rule 418-1.15(b)(14)(iii). From a complaint.

  • One of the required sinks will serve as a washbasin for bottles and dishes the other for diaper changing needs and hand washing.

    Rule 418-1.3(l)(6). From a complaint.

  • Suitable precautions must be taken to eliminate all conditions in areas accessible to children which pose a safety or health hazard.

    Rule 418-1.5(a). From a complaint.

  • The program must take suitable precautions to prevent the following: serious injury of a child while in care at the program or being transported by the program; and

    Rule 418-1.5(a)(1)(i). From a complaint.

  • Radiators and pipes located in rooms occupied by children must be covered to protect the children from injury when the heating system is in use.

    Rule 418-1.5(d). From a complaint.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.8(a). From a complaint.

  • The child day care center must provide supervision of the staff responsible for the care of children. Workloads and assignments must be arranged to provide consistency of care to children and to allow staff to fulfill their respective responsibilities.

    Rule 418-1.8(c). From a complaint.

  • The child day care center must provide supervision of the staff responsible for the care of children. Workloads and assignments must be arranged to provide consistency of care to children and to allow staff to fulfill their respective responsibilities.

    Rule 418-1.8(c). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

Oct 1, 2024: complaint investigation2 violations
  • Children may not sleep or nap in car seats, baby swings, strollers, infant seats or bouncy seats unless otherwise prescribed by a health care provider. Should a child fall asleep in one of these devices, he or she must be moved to a crib/cot or other approved sleeping surface.

    Rule 418-1.7(m). From a complaint.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.8(n). From a complaint.

Jun 20, 2024: complaint investigation4 violations
  • 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:

    Rule 418-1.15(b)(14). From a complaint.

  • 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;

    Rule 418-1.15(c)(5). From a complaint.

  • Except while sleeping, awaking or going to sleep, an infant must not be left in a crib, playpen or other confined space for more than 30 minutes at any one time. Other than at meals or snack time, a child must not be left in a high chair for longer than 15 minutes.

    Rule 418-1.7(l). From a complaint.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.8(a). From a complaint.

Apr 19, 2024: complaint investigation1 violation
  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.8(a). From a complaint.

Jan 25, 2024: complaint investigation3 violations
  • The following items must be used and stored in such a manner that they are not accessible to children: handbags, backpacks or briefcases belonging to adults; plastic bags; and toys and objects small enough for young children to swallow.

    Rule 418-1.5(aa). From a complaint.

  • All matches, lighters, medicines, drugs, cleaning materials, detergents, aerosol cans and other poisonous or toxic materials must be stored in their original containers. Such 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.

    Rule 418-1.5(v). From a complaint.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.8(a). From a complaint.

Nov 14, 2023: complaint investigation7 violations
  • 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:

    Rule 418-1.11(c)(1). From a complaint.

  • 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;

    Rule 418-1.15(c)(5). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Adequate means of egress must be provided. Children may be cared for only on such floors as are provided with readily accessible alternate means of egress to other floors, in the case of fire-resistant buildings, and to the outside in the case of non-fire-resistant buildings.

    Rule 418-1.4(f). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.8(a). From a complaint.

  • The child day care center must employ staff who will promote the physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional well-being of the children.

    Rule 418-1.8(b). From a complaint.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.9(a). From a complaint.

  • The staff must use acceptable techniques and approaches to help children solve problems.

    Rule 418-1.9(b). From a complaint.

All 18 visits on record
Visits on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Jun 9, 2026ComplaintComplaint (Investigation Pending); 5 violations cited
Jun 9, 2026ComplaintComplaint (Substantiated); 5 violations cited
Jun 2, 2026Monitoring3 violations cited
Apr 24, 2026ComplaintComplaint (Investigation Pending); 8 violations cited
Feb 19, 2026Annual Unannounced1 violation cited
Dec 3, 2025MonitoringNo violations found
Aug 26, 2025MonitoringNo violations found
Jun 4, 2025Fire Safety - Other2 violations cited
Jun 4, 2025MonitoringNo violations found
Mar 5, 2025Annual Unannounced3 violations cited
Mar 4, 2025ComplaintComplaint (Substantiated); 2 violations cited
Feb 13, 2025ComplaintComplaint (Substantiated); 10 violations cited
Oct 1, 2024ComplaintComplaint (Unsubstantiated); 2 violations cited
Jul 11, 2024Annual UnannouncedNo violations found
Jun 20, 2024ComplaintComplaint (Substantiated); 4 violations cited
Apr 19, 2024ComplaintComplaint (Substantiated); 1 violation cited
Jan 25, 2024ComplaintComplaint (Substantiated); 3 violations cited
Nov 14, 2023ComplaintComplaint (Substantiated); 7 violations cited

Is it licensed?

  • Day Care Center, open since May 1, 1991.
  • School district: Utica.
  • Capacity, in New York’s words: 16 Infants, 30 Toddlers, 66 Preschoolers and 10 School-Aged Children.
  • Approved by New York to give medication.
  • Keeps epinephrine auto-injectors for emergencies.
  • Licence 39953, issued May 1, 2023, expires Apr 30, 2027.
  • Capacity: 122 children.
Source:

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Child Care Regulated Programs. Released Nov 2, 2026. Updated daily.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

Has New York acted against it?

  • 10 complaints in the last three years. New York’s status for each: Complaint (Substantiated) (7), Complaint (Investigation Pending) (2), Complaint (Unsubstantiated) (1).
Source:

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Child Care Regulated Programs. Released Nov 2, 2026. Updated daily.

On record, newest first
DateWhatDetail
Jun 9, 2026Complaint (Investigation Pending)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Investigation Pending).
Jun 9, 2026Complaint (Substantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Substantiated).
Apr 24, 2026Complaint (Investigation Pending)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Investigation Pending).
Mar 4, 2025Complaint (Substantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Substantiated).
Feb 13, 2025Complaint (Substantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Substantiated).
Oct 1, 2024Complaint (Unsubstantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Unsubstantiated).
Jun 20, 2024Complaint (Substantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Substantiated).
Apr 19, 2024Complaint (Substantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Substantiated).
Jan 25, 2024Complaint (Substantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Substantiated).
Nov 14, 2023Complaint (Substantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Substantiated).

Who does the caring?

  • New York doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual programs.

Who owns it?

  • New York’s open data doesn’t list owners.

How is it rated?

  • Doesn’t take part in QUALITYstarsNY, New York’s quality rating program.
Source:

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

How does it compare nearby?

  • Among 174 child care providers in Oneida County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 2; this one had 56.
Source:

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • New York doesn’t grade violations by severity, so read what was cited.
  • New York’s records give the regulation behind each violation, not what the inspector saw.
  • New York’s program pages cover four calendar years; this page shows the last three years.
  • New York doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual programs.

Sources

If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: New York State Office of Children and Family Services. New York’s own record is on hs.ocfs.ny.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Nov 2, 2026.

From the provider

The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.

Replies

None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.

Paid listing

None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.