In an address to local, state, regional, and national groups involved with child care, characteristics of some of the programs are explained in an effort to develop a broad based national coalition for a system of universally available child care. Head Start, Title IV-A of the Social Security Act (amended) day care, and church-related day care programs are described. A statement of principles of the Day Care and Child Development Council of America toward the goal of locally controlled, publicly supported, universally available child care systems is presented, along with actions of the National Parent Federation regarding legislation for these kinds of services. The importance of parent and staff cooperation is stressed in order to achieve an adequate child care program, which is an economic issue, an innovative approach to correcting old social weaknesses, and a political issue. (LH)