Maria Otto

Founder, Family Child Care Association of New York State  ·  1975

The Family Child Care Association of New York State, Inc. was founded in 1975 by Maria Otto. Her goals were to ease the isolation of providers, develop a support system, encourage licensing, and create a space to discuss pertinent issues facing family child care.

As a strong and committed leader from the Bronx, New York, Maria was loved and respected — not just for being such a positive role model in the African American community, but because she maintained high standards for all providers, supporting, empowering, and challenging them to achieve higher levels of quality in their family child care homes.

She was a true inspiration to us all.

THE MARIA OTTO AWARD

When Maria Otto passed away in 1999, FCCANYS honored her extraordinary contribution to the organization and the profession of family child care by establishing an award in her name. Today, the FCCANYS Board of Directors is privileged to continue this work and remains deeply grateful for all that Maria offered.