This study examined child care providers' use of different HIV/AIDS information sources in relationship to their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and their response to common childhood behaviors and classroom situations involving an HIV-infected child. Results suggest that different types of information sources were associated with different aspects of…

The Stepfamily Enrichment Program is a multi-couple group intervention intended to help stepfamilies successfully negotiate the early stages of family formation. Theory, research, and clinical findings were integrated in this intervention designed specifically for remarried couples. Emphasis is placed on strengthening and improving family…

This report reflects the first year of a multiyear effort to examine B.A. completion cohort programs in early care and education in four California counties. The six programs under investigation were developed with similar goals: (1) To increase and retain a pool of B.A.-level professionals in the ECE field with culturally, linguistically, and…

This Child Development Associate training module explores the multifaceted aspects of family child care, including zoning, certification, insurance, hours of care, fees, advertising, programming, and parent/provider agreements. The module's purpose is to help individuals interested in a career in family child care understand the CDA requirements…

Intended for students, professionals responsibile for policy development, and advocates for children and family, this selected annotated bibliography cites a variety of publications, journals, and books concerned with social policy and child care. The 58 entries highlight issues such as: (1) quality from the child's perspective; (2) caregiver…

Serving as a vehicle for raising the profile of and thereby gaining recognition for the important research and development work being conducted in Canada in support of children and families, the "Research Connections Canada" series compiles research and/or development papers as well as background papers, analytical literature reviews,…

This study by the Scottish Executive examined attainment of Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) (types of educational qualifications) by child care providers in Scotland, noting the perceptions of key participants. The study had five key objectives: (1) to determine levels of uptake and, if possible,…

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…

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…

Outlines some of the challenges facing tertiary education courses in early childhood in Australia, including the competency movement, university and TAFE (technical and further education) restructuring, articulation between courses, and effective communication in a field which spans children from birth through age eight. Notes that outcomes of…

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)

Examined effects of a 120-hour preschool training course on caregivers' behavior and children's development in early-years settings in Ireland. Found that caregivers who received training made significant gains in positive relationship and decreased in detachment levels. Children in their care made significant gains in complex social and cognitive…

This manual for professionals who offer, or are interested in offering, educational programs for family caregivers identifies obstacles to offering such programs and describes effective practices for dealing with these obstacles. The document's emphasis is on the process of providing educational programming, and not the content of the programming.…