Notes a need for policies to provide comprehensive health, social work, and early-education services for young children and their families. Presents a decision-making matrix, which displays major policy options for early childhood and a range of criteria by which to judge the relative efficacy of those options. (Author/LPP)

Designed for use by those interested in child care issues, this guide is a basic description of the state of child care in Ontario, Canada. Chapter 1 addresses the issue of the need for universal child care. Chapter 2, "Child Care Services in Ontario," discusses legislation governing child care, licensed and unlicensed child care, and…

This book of case studies highlights 26 municipalities involved in activities related to child care. Cities selected were of different sizes; were located in different parts of the country; and used diverse approaches for developing ways to improve access to affordable, high-quality child care. Each case study was developed through a telephone…

This book presents a comprehensive collection of information concerning different forms of child care, the quality and availability of care, the functioning of the child care market, and programs that the government uses to support this market. Following an introduction that outlines the negative consequences of splitting education and child care,…

Alternative early childhood education policies that states might consider are discussed in this five-part report. Likely consequences, and pros and cons of each alternative are outlined. Section I presents various funding options, including the funding of existing programs, voucher mechanisms, project grants, and formula funding. Section II…

In 1988, the Michigan Community Coordinated Child Care (4C) Association was established to help develop a statewide child care policy and to provide support to a network of 13 local and regional 4C agencies. One of the association's first major tasks was to describe the state of child care and related services in Michigan and to make…

Accounts of achievements in early childhood care and education in developing countries supplement a discussion of optimal programming. The document begins with background information on problems in educational provision and a rationale for a national focus on early education. Discussion then turns to: (1) parents as prime educators; (2)…

Prepared as part of an effort to attain minimum quality standards for Brazilian day care centers, this document focuses on day-to-day provision of day care services for children from birth to 6 years old as well as broader day care administrative concerns. The first version of this document was prepared as part of a training project for day care…

In 1992, the Council of European Community Member States adopted the Childcare Recommendation, describing the elements of effective childcare systems, to assist in the development of public policy to help parents reconcile work and family roles. This guide provides detailed suggestions for implementing these elements. Following an introduction…

This guide delineates steps for state involvement in early childhood and family education and related services, and synthesizes many state and federal activities that support at-risk children from birth through five years and their families. The guide is designed to help states expand early childhood and family education policies and programs by…

Participants in this pediatric round table met to (l) detrivialize child care; (2) advance the concept of child care as a continuum of services; (3) establish the role of health care professionals in the design and implementation of high quality child care; and (4) develop action guidelines for use by professionals attempting to provide high…

Intended for those interested in building a collaborative system of services for young children and their families, this guide describes models used in developing Oregon's coordinated Head Start and early child care programs. Chapter 1, "Introduction and Overview," sets out the goals of the Oregon Child Care/Head Start Collaboration Work…

This report outlines what is known about the requirements for optimal development during the first 3 years of life, considers the ways in which society might reverse the trends toward risk for families and children, and describes the necessary conditions for families to function well in the interests of their young children. Part 1 describes "the…