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“I’ve totally washed away the dream of having one more child.” “I had never intended to be a stay-at-home-parent, but the cost of child care turned me into one.” “We had to pull our toddler out of his program because we couldn’t afford to have two kids in high-quality care.” These are not the voices of those down on their luck, but the voices of America’s middle class. The lack of affordable, available, high-quality childcare is a boulder on the backs of all but the most affluent. Millions of hard-working families are left gasping for air while the next generation misses out on a strong start. To date, we’ve been fighting this five-alarm fire with the policy equivalent of beach toy water buckets. It’s time for a bold investment in America’s families and America’s future. There’s only one viable solution: Childcare should be free.

Why the United States has failed to establish a comprehensive high-quality child care program is the question at the center of this book. Edward Zigler has been intimately involved in this issue since the 1970s, and here he presents a firsthand history of the policy making and politics surrounding this important debate. Good-quality child care supports cognitive, social, and emotional development, school readiness, and academic achievement. This book examines the history of child care policy since 1969, including the inside story of America's one great attempt to create a comprehensive system of child care, its failure, and the lack of subsequent progress. Identifying specific issues that persist today, Zigler and his coauthors conclude with an agenda designed to lead us successfully toward quality care for America's children.

The revolution in women's lives has created an unprecedented demand for non-parental child care, and sparked a growing child care industry run by both public and private providers. In this book, two esteemed economists examine the causes and potential cures of the child care problems that face this country today. Writing for policymakers, parents, and providers alike, Suzanne W. Helburn and Barbara R. Bergmann provide the first in-depth look at the child care industry, identifying crucial problems such as quality of care and the high cost of even mediocre care. Moreover, the authors identify sources for change–including stronger regulatory procedures on providers and suppliers of care–and more government subsidies. America's Child Care Problem examines the views of key players in all facets of the child care industry: CEOs, politicians, policy advocates, foundation directors, child care providers, and parents; and offers specific advice and guidelines for parents to use when selecting care. The book helps parents understand the hidden costs of child care; the pros and cons of child care centers versus care by nannies, relatives, and family-run centers; and danger signals that indicate a low quality of child care.

Because nonprofit and voluntary organizations are primary vehicles of citizen action and participation, they serve as important mechanisms to understand how the needs of children can be heard in the policymaking process and how the quality of children's lives can be improved. In Who Speaks for America's Children, leading experts in children's health policy, education policy, community organizing, and sociology focus on the ways nonprofit organizations and community groups influence policymaking on children's issues. Seven chapters frame the issues, raise critical questions, and explore opportunities for further study.

Confronting the Child Care Crisis is an outstanding, historically important analysis of childcare dynamics and a practical guidebook for change is essential reading about unmet needs of childcare. Based on years of personal, professional experience, facts and problems show how inadequate childcare significantly contributes to a national dilemma of increased family stress. Recounting experiences in the federal government, Dr. Auerbach reveals red-tape, overlapping services, mismanagement, wasted resources, and how lack of interest and consistent political support stalled critically important legislation, hampering vital programs that could make a huge difference. Dr. Auerbach shows how childcare leaders can respond to improve services at federal, state and local levels, suggesting ways to build bridges of cooperation between government, industry, and local resources to make important changes and improvements. This book includes President Richard Nixon’s 1971 veto message after the bi-partisan approved and endorsed childcare legislation (Title V Child Development Programs of S 2007-Economic Opportunity Amendment). Full statements are included from Senators Walter Mondale and Alan Cranston plus The National Plan of Action presented by the National Women’s Conference, held in November, 1977.

Valerie Polakow spent a year traveling around the country listening to low-income women from diverse backgrounds tell their stories of struggle, resilience, distress, and occasional success as they encountered ongoing child care crises. The resulting work is both a compelling account of the lived realities of the child care crisis, and an incisive critique of public policy that points to the United States as an outlier in the international community. Drawing on historical and international perspectives, Polakow creates a groundbreaking analysis of child care as a human right, persuasively arguing for a universal child care system. “Who Cares for Our Children? is one of the most disturbing books I have read in a long time. It should have a major impact on debates over poverty and social policy.” —From the Foreword by Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed “In this beautifully written and provocative volume, Polakow deftly steps aside and lets real mothers, struggling against the odds to keep their families safe and sound, speak for themselves about what they need. This book delivers a timely message: Child care should be viewed as a human right.” —Martha F. Davis, Northeastern University School of Law “A collection of moving and often chilling personal narratives. . . . Who Cares for Our Children? is a powerful and well-documented analysis of the worlds of low-income families.” —Beth Blue Swadener, Arizona State University “Thoroughly researched and grounded in a heartfelt sympathy for the struggles of families . . . that face such painful choices and dilemmas in meeting the needs of their children.” —James Garbarino, Loyola University Chicago

Women, Family, and Work is a collection of original essayson a wide variety of topics related to the economics of gender andthe family. Written by leading thinkers in the field, the essaysapply traditional economic theory to unconventional topics, whilealso developing neoclassical economic thought to provide a bettermodel of economic interactions. 12 newly-commissioned essays on the economics of labor, gender,and family life. Juxtaposes various viewpoints, allowing readers to weigh thebenefits and drawbacks of each model. Applies traditional economic theory to unconventional topics,while also revisioning neoclassical economic thought.

This highly topical book presents recent, significant research from eight nations where childcare markets are the norm.

"This volume is exemplary in synthesizing research and condensing pertinent data on early childhood services both for practitioners and policymakers." -Charles Bruner, Director, Child and Family Policy Center "Any school district struggling with low test scores, high mobility, and/or high poverty should consider the benefits of early intervention-and read this book." -Mathieu Aubuchon, Preschool Coordinator The Early Childhood Center at Gregory Hill, Westminster, CO Your research-based reference for developing quality early educational experiences! School and district administrators, as well as policymakers, are increasingly recognizing that early education and intervention services for young children have a direct and positive impact on later school performance and quality of life. But which programs and services should be operated and funded? To answer that question, this book highlights the principles that characterize effective practices and programs for children ages 3-8. Written specifically for busy administrators, Evidence-Based Practices and Programs for Early Childhood Care and Education synthesizes what works, what doesn′t, and what we still need to know based on the reviews of scientific literature by an expert panel of contributors. Key topics include: Definition and assessment of readiness of children and schools Early intervention for children in poverty, English language learners, and students with special needs Publicly funded, home-based, school-age, and out-of-schooltime programs The future of personnel preparation and professional development The result is a highly readable presentation of the evidence needed to make informed practice, program, and policy decisions in early care and education.