UFT Provider Portal FAQ
Get answers to your questions about how to use the UFT's online portal for child care providers below:
What is the UFT Provider Portal?
The UFT Provider Portal is the provider-facing component of UFT’s NYC Childcare Navigator system that allows providers to create a free, robust custom listing for their childcare program, enabling it to be found by families searching for childcare.
How do I claim/update my childcare’s program page?
To claim and update your program page, start by visiting the UFT Provider Portal online and entering your email address and license number.
What happens if I have multiple programs with the same email address?
If multiple programs share the same email address, the system will notify you upon registration of any additional program registrations.
Where did you get the information on my program that's already in there?
The data that is in the system by default was provided by OCFS and is the same as the basic, publicly-available information on the OCFS website.
How can I add or edit details on my program page?
Your program page may be customized by logging into the UFT Provider Portal and navigating to the "Update Program" tab. We encourage you to customize your program page and log in regularly to maintain updated and accurate information.
Why can I not edit all the fields on my program page?
You will notice that some fields are locked from editing - the data that you are unable to edit in the provider portal comes directly from OCFS and must be changed in their database. To update your locked information, contact your registrar or licenser at the NYC Department of Health. Once updated by your registrar or licenser, the updates will appear automatically in this system within 1-2 weeks.
Who can see my program page?
When initially launched in Summer 2024, the listings were available to be searched by 180,000+ UFT members, but NOT to the public at large. Given the initial success of the initiative and the fact that most of our providers would benefit from having more families searching for available childcare slots, we decided to make a big leap and open up the platform to all 8 million residents of NYC! This expansion is tentatively slated for August 2025. Until that date, the listings will remain available to just the 180,000+ UFT members mentioned above.
How are programs ranked in the search results?
If a user searches for providers within a certain distance of a given zip code, only providers in that geographic area will appear.
Providers who demonstrate strong engagement with our union and with the Provider Portal itself can obtain higher visibility in the search results by participating in one or more of the following:
- Being a UFT member (Family Child Care Providers Chapter).
- Have one or more children of a UFT member already in care (you can specify if you do in the Provider Portal where you update your other information).
- Being affiliated with our provider network, the United Network for Early Childhood Education (UNECE).
- Being affiliated with our CACFP Food Program.
- Taking UFT Professional Development courses.
- Being an active participant in the union (e.g. regularly attending meetings and events)
- Keeping your open slots information on our platform up-to-date (at least once per month).
How can I rank higher in the search results?
The easiest way to improve your ranking is to keep your vacancy data populated by updating it at least once every 30 days through the provider portal. In addition, each of the above activities that you participate in will improve your visibility.
I submitted information on open spots in the past, but now I don't see it. Where did that information go?
To ensure families who are searching find the most accurate information, the Provider Portal resets vacancy data every 30 days. But here's the good news: The Provider Portal will send you an email once-per-month to remind you to update your vacancy information. What's more, this email will contain a special link that will enable you – with just a few clicks/taps – to either confirm that your past vacancy information is still correct or update… all without having to log in to your account!