This directory includes lists of people, agencies, and organizations that represent many of the key stakeholders in early childhood education career development and training work. It is intended to give activists from all walks of the early care and education field a place to start and a way to know to whom they should be talking both within and…

Training is often difficult to acquire for family day care providers because most training initiatives are workshops or seminars, which require a specific time frame and which are frequently scattered and lack continuity. A practicum project developed and implemented one unit, or module, of a 13-module self-instructional training program using an…

This paper addresses issues related to the care of the aged by informal caregivers, government support of such care, and policy changes that might result in improved care of the elderly population. In its treatment of family responsibility for the elderly, it calls attention to several trends: (1) family members will be increasingly unavailable to…

This document presents the text of a Congressional hearing on the concerns of members of the baby boom generation who find themselves caring for both their elderly parents and their own children at home. After an opening statement by committee chairman Representative George Miller, these witnesses give testimony: (1) Patricia Brady, a stressed…

Describes the significance of culture in infant care. Questions the universality of child development theory and research findings. Discusses cultural issues related to sleeping routines, including co-sleeping arrangements, the role of cultural elders or expert specialists, consequences of co-sleeping, and using an evolutionary, cross-cultural,…

Explores the relationships of caregivers of mentally ill people with professional mental health providers since the introduction of community-based services. Respondents perceived mental health workers to be professional, friendly, respectful and positive in outlook. However they indicated dissatisfaction with accessibility, communication about…

The Caregiver Assessment Scale (CAS) was developed to evaluate caregiver interaction in infant-toddler settings compared to prominent child care guidelines. The CAS covers caregiving skills, enrichment activities, health and safety, and record keeping, and can be used by caregivers, directors, or supervisors. Periodic caregiver assessment is…

Last in four-part series on infant and toddler development, discusses professionalism in the context of required caregiving beliefs and practices in working with infants and toddlers. Presents four "common threads" of professionalism that transcend level of education and experience--specialized knowledge of children's development,…

Identified teacher and program practices in child care programs serving low-income children and families of color, and examined associations among practices, quality, and observed child behaviors. Identified four meaningful groups of practices. Found that children's competent peer behavior and participation in learning activities could be…

Examines tasks for aging policies, programs, and practitioners: (1) meeting needs of elders from diverse groups; (2) managing a diverse elder care work force; and (3) supporting economic achievements of younger people while promoting their sense of solidarity with elders. Discusses the challenges for policy and program development and…

Studied 183 heart patient-caregiver dyads to analyze gender and relationship singly and jointly with respect to process and outcome of caregiving. Determined strains caregivers experienced while caring for older heart patients six weeks and one year after hospital discharge. Findings showed consistent patterns of strain. Women, nonspousal…

Discusses nine key findings of the "Cost, Quality, and Child Outcomes in Child Care Centers" study conducted in 1993. Also highlights a 1994 Child Care Information Exchange survey in which day care center directors rated various determinants of quality in a day care center on a scale of 1 to 10. Center leadership was rated the most…

Describes the steps to increasing levels of teacher involvement in child advocacy. Steps range from "dreamer" with a vision of a better condition, to "volunteer" who gives time and energy without compensation, to "fighter" who uses conflict and dissension to achieve goals. Suggests that this simple continuum encourages teachers to become involved…

Reviews the literature on group interventions with both disabled older adults and their caregivers. Data suggest number of potential advantages of group interventions, which are summarized along with implications for structuring effective group experiences. Concludes with suggestions for further research to enhance group counselor's repertoire of…

Describes the concept of sensitive and competent infant care in group child-care settings. Offers seven principles to provide a more complete picture of sensitive and competent care, covering aspects of caregiving including interactions with the child, providing opportunities for learning, and working with the child's own needs and schedules.…