This report presents findings relating the reduction of crime and violence with access to good educational child care programs. The report discusses the affordability of such programs, suggests that federal and state governments are not adequately funding educational child care programs, and argues that investing in high-quality child care and…

Current social policy supports neither high quality infant day care nor alternatives to day care. Psychologists should take action on research evidence showing the importance of quality infant care, by proposing and supporting policies that would grant voluntary, partially paid, six-month leaves to working parents for infant care. (Author/MJL)

This article recounts the experiences of a pioneer of the Head Start program, a program developed to provide disadvantaged young children with school readiness skills. Influences in the early development of the program are discussed, along with program challenges. The need for standardized performance measures and program evaluation is urged. (CR)

Examines the recent history of early childhood intervention efforts; discusses principles that guided the formation of intervention programs in the 1960s and 1970s; describes the Head Start program and lessons learned from its development; considers issues in evaluating intervention programs; and presents suggestions for future directions in early…

Explores why mental health has been a contested issue in Head Start and describes recent efforts to bring mental health closer to the center of the program agenda. Describes areas of challenge and innovation that might further the program goal of improving the well-being of parents and children in poverty. Concludes with recommendations for…