Provides a history of early childhood care and education in pre- and postindependent India. Outlines current education schemes and examines the contribution of research to this area, suggesting that the current interaction between researcher and policymaker may result in more concrete promotion of early childhood programs. (TJQ)

Drawing on in-depth interviews with 20 family child care providers of diverse race, ethnicity, immigrant status, and social class, this book explores the social, political, and economic forces and processes that draw women into the work of family child care. The articles dispel not only myths about why women choose to be family child care…

Discusses the rationale for preservice training for child care workers and outlines elements of an effective preservice training program. Maintains that successful programs teach new caregivers to: identify developmental stages of children; use positive guidance techniques; plan age-appropriate activities; promote health and safety; foster…

Reliable child care services are widely viewed as pivotal to the success of welfare reform because most welfare recipients depend on child care in order to seek, gain, and maintain employment. Others of the working poor need it to avoid dependency on public assistance. As a result, current policy decisions and research efforts are largely focused…

The FAAIR Coalition was created to address the growing career development movement and its impact on family day care. FAAIR is an acronym for Flexibility, Attainability, Affordability, Inclusiveness, and Respect for others. The coalition was founded in 1992 in response to a draft Professional Development Model for family day care providers…

This article is concerned with the continuing staff shortages in Australian long day care services. To expand possibilities for addressing this ongoing problem, the article advocates the use of discourse as a theoretical and practical tool for reframing discussions about staff shortages. Drawing on discourses of crisis and professionalism as…

Models of state involvement in training child care providers are briefly discussed and the employers' role in training is explored. Six criteria for states that are taken as models are identified, and four are described. Various state activities are described for each criterion. It is noted that little is known about employer and other private…

The purpose of this practicum was to develop an on-site training program for latchkey family day care home providers. Practicum objectives were to (1) develop a pilot project involving three family day care homes in Pinellas County, Florida; (2) assist caregivers in meeting the annual training requirements; (3) design and implement, on-site, a…

The article conceptualizes case management in the context of the health service delivery system as a set of goal-oriented activities which organize, coordinate, and monitor service delivery based on measurable objectives intended to meet the needs of chronically ill children and their families. The functions, objectives, and procedures associated…

This report of the Quality 2000 Initiative documents the quality crisis in early care and education in the United States, discussing the reasons for this crisis and suggesting a plan for improvement. Part 1 of the report: describes the mediocre quality of care cited in the Cost, Quality, and Child Outcomes Study, the erosion of quality since 1980,…

As the interdependence of nations becomes increasingly evident and necessary, so too must our understanding about education become shared property. This monograph examines the early childhood education and care systems in four English-speaking nations with strong elements of common heritage. Systems in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada,…

The Families Matter series of papers from the Harvard Family Research Project advances the concept of family-centered child care, advocating an approach to early childhood education that addresses the development of the child and family together. Grounded in family support principles, which build on family strengths and work from a community's…

Describes the development and features of an innovative field experience program, in the form of an internship, for early childhood student teachers, as part of a four-year Bachelor of Education Degree at Australia's University of Newcastle. Discusses participants' perceptions of the internship as a professionalizing experience. (HTH)

Public Act 05-245 called for the establishment of a committee to assess pathways to baccalaureate degree programs in early childhood education; make recommendations to increase access to initial certification in early childhood or child development; and make recommendations for strengthening articulation between two-year and four-year early…

The Regional Training and Resource Centre (RTRC) is a 5-year program that began in 1989. A consultative group to the program consists of members from the countries of Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Kenya. The functions of the RTRC are to: (1) disseminate information concerning projects supported by the Bernard van…