This essay reviews the history of and reasons for the federal government's reluctance to enforce standards for day care quality. It is argued that the federal government must at least assure that the day care it subsidizes is not detrimental to children. Several revisions in the existing federal standards and the mechanisms for enforcing them are…

This paper examines the current context and historical background of Federal Day Care Standards. Section I briefly defines the term standards, describes different types of standards, and discusses the rationale for minimum day care standards. Also examined in this section are: the process of standard formulation; legal defense of a standard as…

A discussion of the need to develop explicit, enforceable, and economically realistic federal day care standards. (BD)

This volume contains the technical paper prepared by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (DHEW) to give additional data and a more detailed analysis of materials used to study the impact of the Federal Interagency Day Care Requirements (FIDCR) on children in day care. This impact study was part of a larger project to investigate two…

This statement of the enforcement of child day care licensing standards identifies basic concepts of the enforcement process and operational procedures necessary to bring about this process. Two types of enforcement operations, negative and positive enforcement of standards, are identified and examined in detail. Positive enforcement is defined as…

This report presents an evaluation of the Federal Interagency Day Care Requirements (FIDCR) conducted by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The evaluation focuses on the appropriateness of the requirements for federally supported day care programs authorized by Title XX of the Social Security Act. The first chapter of the report…

This article examines findings in three epidemiological studies of day care centers and concludes that higher standards of care can reduce the incidence of hepatitis among parents and staff. (Author/DB)

This volume contains the technical paper prepared by DHEW to give additional data and a more detailed analysis of materials used to study the cost implications of the Federal Interagency Day Care Requirements (FIDCR). This study was part of a larger project to investigate two questions: is the Federal regulation of day care financed under Title XX…

This paper examines federal requirements which promote parent involvement in day care, particularly in services for children under 3 years of age. The rationale for parent participation in poverty programs for children is discussed from three perspectives--political, economic, and socio-psychological--and Project Head Start's application of this…

This study explores the potential benefits of multigenerational day care programs. Two small preschool programs serving predominantly low income black families were chosen for comparison. The programs were matched for child/staff ratio, level of staff professionalism, and characteristics of families served. The programs differed, however, in their…

This report discusses the existence and prevention of major health and safety risks for children in day care and makes recommendations for the Federal Interagency Day Care requirements (FIDCR) concerning health and safety. Section I describes varying concepts of risk related to probability and to possibility of adverse events, and discusses…

This paper is a synthesis of available documents, surviving files and personal interviews pertaining to the history of the Federal Interagency Day Care Requirements (FIDCR). The general outlines of what took place, the principal issues and viewpoints involved and the interplay among these issues are described. Also included are: accounts of the…

This paper reviews the legal aspects of the Federal Interagency Day Care Requirements (FIDCR). Section I describes the scope of the regulations and the sanctions used to uphold them, namely the withholding or withdrawing of federal funds. This section examines some of the potential legal challenges to the regulations, constitutional issues,…

As part of an evaluation of the existing Federal Interagency Day Care Requirements (FIDCR), this paper reviews the current regulations and presents recommendations for modifications in the requirements as they relate to group or family day care services for school age children from 5 to 14 years of age. The paper is divided into five major…

This paper presents a discussion of the impact of the physical design of day care settings on children and adults. Specifically addressed is the question of how the location and design of the facility, the arrangement of indoor and outdoor space, and the organization of the furniture and materials affect the behavior of the adults and children who…