Who Cares for America's Children

Few issues have aroused more heated public debate than that of day care for children of working parents. Who should be responsible for providing child care--government, employers, schools, communities? What types of care are best? This volume explores the critical need for a more coherent policy on child care and offers recommendations for the actions needed to develop such a policy. Who Cares for America's Children? looks at the barriers to developing a national child care policy, evaluates the factors in child care that are most important to children's development, and examines ways of protecting children's physical well-being and fostering their development in child care settings. It also describes the "patchwork quilt" of child care services currently in use in America and the diversity of support programs available, such as referral services. Child care providers (whether government, employers, commercial for-profit, or not-for-profit), child care specialists, policymakers, researchers, and concerned parents will find this comprehensive volume an invaluable resource on child care in America. Table of ContentsFront MatterI INTRODUCTION1 Child Care in a Changing Society2 Trends in Work, Family, and Child CareII CHILD CARE AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT3 The Effects of Child Care4 Quality of Child Care: Perspectives of Research and Professional Practice5 Supporting Physical and Psychological Development in Child Care SettingsIII THE CURRENT SYSTEM6 Child Care Services7 Child Care Policies and Programs8 The Child Care Market and Alternative PoliciesIV FUTURE DIRECTIONS9 Recommendations for Data Collection and Research10 Conclusions and Recommendations for Policies and ProgramsAPPENDIX A State Regulations for Family Day Care and Center CareAPPENDIX B Professional Standards for Early Childhood ProgramsAPPENDIX C Participants in Panel WorkshopsIndex