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 Contents


Front Matter
I INTRODUCTION1 Child Care in a Changing Society
2 Trends in Work, Family, and Child Care
II CHILD CARE AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT3 The Effects of Child Care
4 Quality of Child Care: Perspectives of Research and Professional Practice
5 Supporting Physical and Psychological Development in Child Care Settings
III THE CURRENT SYSTEM6 Child Care Services
7 Child Care Policies and Programs
8 The Child Care Market and Alternative Policies
IV FUTURE DIRECTIONS9 Recommendations for Data Collection and Research
10 Conclusions and Recommendations for Policies and Programs
APPENDIX A State Regulations for Family Day Care and Center Care
APPENDIX B Professional Standards for Early Childhood Programs
APPENDIX C Participants in Panel Workshops
Index