Hearth Record

First Step Day Care, Inc.

A day care center in Watertown, New York 13601

317 Washington St, Watertown, New York 13601. (315) 788-5437.

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 Oct 27, 2026.

The last 24 months 19 violations in 7 months of the last 36. Last cited Sep 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?

12 inspections in the last three years, the latest on Jul 10, 2026.

19 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 19, 2026. Updated daily.

When those violations happened

19 violations in 7 months of the last 36. Last cited Sep 2026. The last 3 years, to Oct 27, 2026.

19 violations by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 NovDec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct

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 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Sep 11, 2026: complaint investigation4 violations
  • The staff and volunteers must be in good health and be of good character and habits.

    Rule 418-1.15(b)(4). 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.

  • 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.

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

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

Jan 8, 2026: annual Unannounced1 violation
  • 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).

Aug 22, 2025: monitoring1 violation
  • A firm clean crib, cot, bed or washable padded mat of age appropriate size and construction must be provided for all children requiring a rest period.

    Rule 418-1.3(e). Corrected during the inspection.

Jun 5, 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).

Feb 7, 2025: annual Unannounced1 violation
  • 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). Corrected during the inspection.

Oct 15, 2024: complaint investigation1 violation
  • Food must be prepared and stored in a safe and sanitary manner and served at appropriate intervals.

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

Aug 9, 2024: self Reported Serious Incident2 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: children’s individual health care plans; parental consents for emergency medical treatment; child’s medical statement, immunizations, and any available results of lead screening for children not yet enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade only; the name and dosage of any medications used by a child, the frequency of administration of such medications, and a record of their administration by child care center staff; daily health check documentation; a record of illnesses and injuries occurring while in care; and any indicators of child abuse or maltreatment;

    Rule 418-1.15(c)(6).

  • 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).

Aug 2, 2024: complaint investigation7 violations
  • The Health Care Plan.

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

  • When disposable diapers are used, soiled diapers must be disposed of immediately into an outside trash disposal, or placed in a tightly covered plastic-lined trash can inaccessible to children until outdoor disposal is possible.

    Rule 418-1.11(i)(18)(v). From a complaint.

  • Equipment that is frequently used or touched by children on a daily basis must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected, using an EPA registered product, when soiled and at least once weekly.

    Rule 418-1.11(i)(7). From a complaint. Corrected during the inspection.

  • 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.

  • The resting/napping places must: be at least two feet apart from each other.

    Rule 418-1.7(r)(7). From a complaint.

  • 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.

    Rule 418-1.7(w). 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.

All 15 visits on record
Visits on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Sep 11, 2026ComplaintComplaint (Substantiated); 4 violations cited
Jul 10, 2026MonitoringNo violations found
Apr 9, 2026Mid-PointNo violations found
Apr 9, 2026MonitoringNo violations found
Jan 8, 2026Annual Unannounced1 violation cited
Oct 17, 2025MonitoringNo violations found
Aug 22, 2025Monitoring1 violation cited
Jun 5, 2025Fire Safety - Other2 violations cited
Jun 5, 2025MonitoringNo violations found
Feb 10, 2025Fire Safety - Alternate YearNo violations found
Feb 7, 2025Annual Unannounced1 violation cited
Oct 15, 2024ComplaintComplaint (Unsubstantiated); 1 violation cited
Aug 9, 2024Self Reported Serious Incident2 violations cited
Aug 2, 2024ComplaintComplaint (Unsubstantiated); 7 violations cited
Mar 25, 2024Annual UnannouncedNo violations found

Is it licensed?

  • Day Care Center, open since Aug 19, 1991.
  • School district: Watertown.
  • Capacity, in New York’s words: 8 Infants, 8 Toddlers, 33 Preschoolers and 15 School-Aged Children.
  • Keeps epinephrine auto-injectors for emergencies.
  • Licence 40860, issued Aug 1, 2023, expires Jul 31, 2027.
  • Capacity: 64 children.
Source:

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Child Care Regulated Programs. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Has New York acted against it?

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

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Child Care Regulated Programs. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

On record, newest first
DateWhatDetail
Sep 11, 2026Complaint (Substantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Substantiated).
Oct 15, 2024Complaint (Unsubstantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Unsubstantiated).
Aug 2, 2024Complaint (Unsubstantiated)New York’s status for this complaint: Complaint (Unsubstantiated).

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?

  • Takes 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 19, 2026. Updated daily.

How does it compare nearby?

  • Among 98 child care providers in Jefferson County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 2; this one had 19.
Source:

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Program pages: inspection and complaint history. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

11 of the 98 in Jefferson County, as the source lists them, same ZIP code first
PlaceViolations cited in the last three years
Ward, Jan5
Jefferson Campus Care0
The Duck, Duck, Goose Day Care1
Makuch, Christy0
Pfister, Patti0
Watertown Family YMCA, Inc.15
New Day Children’s Center42
First Step Day Care, Inc. This child care provider19
Campaney, Fiona2
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, Inc.25
Watertown Family YMCA, Inc.16
Watertown Family YMCA, Inc.24

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 Oct 27, 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.

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