This text of a statement presented at U.S. Senate hearings on child care and development describes the operations of the Childcare Switchboard and other programs providing child care information and referral services and urges public financial support for statewide and national information and referral networks. The goal of the Childcare Switchboard, a private foundation-supported agency, has been to make available to parents (at all income levels) up-to-date information about the full range of child care services in San Francisco and to provide better utilization of available public and private child care openings, with emphasis on parent choice. The Switchboard has made over 15,000 child care referrals in its 5 years of operation. It also offers information on other services for parents including health, legal and welfare counseling. For child care providers, the Switchboard offers training seminars, monthly forums, a bi-monthly newsletter, a toy center and other services. For legislative and social policy planners, services such as the Childcare Switchboard can make available a steady flow of information on child care issues to help avoid the crisis orientation currently common in child care decision-making. Such services could provide a significant body of comparative data, including specific demographic and geographic information. Results of a client-followup survey ("What happens to people who cannot find child care?") are appended. (BF)