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Childcare No.4 [Binder] [1]
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HRC
CHILDCARE
BOOK #4
# 4 HRC
FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
Childcare
1993-2000
1992
11/18
Children's Defense Fund - Washington DC
1993
1/26
National Child Labor Committee to New York Cares Program - New York, NY
4/2
National Commission on Children Meeting Summit - Washington DC
1994
3/4
Children NOW Advocacy Conference Satellite Feed - White House
9/25
Childcare Action Campaign Benefit - New York, NY
11/18
Children's Discovery Center - Honolulu, Hawaii
12/2
Triangle Christian Families Preservation Network - Los Angeles, California
12/10
First Ladies of the Americas Florida meeting on Children's Education, Health and
Safety - Miami, Florida
1995
2/8
"Young Children - Priority One" Kiwanis Club Council - The White House
2/14
Linn County Day Care Center - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
3/1
Child Welfare League - Washington, DC
3/13
Video - Girl Scouts National Meetings
4/21
Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care - Washington, DC
5/3
Covenant House Kick off and Reception - Washington, DC
5/8
Positive Influences on Children Ad Council Reception - The White House
5/16
Family Circle Lunch - Service to Children and Families - Chicago, Illinois
6/2
Upper Peninsula Children's Coalition - Escanaba, Michigan
6/13
Casey Journalism Center for Children and Families Discussion - White House
8/5
Column on Working Women
9/3
Column on Childcare
1996
3/12
Column on Childcare
4/10
Children First: A Global Forum - satellite feed from the White House
5/22
Colorado Forum for Children's Advocacy - Denver, Colorado
5/30
Children's Action Network - California
6/7
Discussion with Working Families - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
6/14
Youth Talk - A City Listens to Children - Kansas City, Missouri
6/21
Video - National Center for Youth Law
6/24
Mothers Against Violence in America - Seattle, Washington
7/18
Video - National Parenting Instructors Association's Conference "Careers & Kids
Balancing Work and Parenting Responsibilities"
10/4
Harvard JFK School of Government - Children's Issues - Boston, MA
10/22
Barbara Greenspun Lecture - Importance of Children's Issues - Las Vegas NV
1997
2/10
U.S. Kids Care Center Visit - Washington, DC
2/11
Column on Childcare
2/19
"Stand for Children" Kickoff - Children's Mercy Hospital - Kansas City, MO
3/3
Coalition for America's Children - PSA and Event - White House
4/8
Column on Childcare
5/22
Parents' Magazine Luncheon - Support for Children - ???
7/3
Video - San Diego Tribune Community Forum - Service to Families
7/30
Youth Leadership Institute - Washington, DC
9/17
Childcare Meeting - White House
9/24
Childcare Meeting - White House
10/1
Quantico Child Care Event - Quantico, Virginia
Childcare Roundtable - Miami, Florida
10/3
University of Maryland - Education and Childcare Remarks - College Park, MD
10/20
Children's Defense Fund 25th Anniversary Gala - New York, NY
10/22
Childcare Press Briefing - White House
10/23
Childcare Conference - The White House
11/24
California Youth Connection Roundtable - Los Angeles, CA
1998
1/6
Column on Childcare
1/7
Childcare Announcement - White House
1/26
PSA - Lifetime Television
Virtual Y School - Modern Afterschool Programs - Harlem, NY
Early Learning Fund - White House
1/28
Childcare Remarks at Trinity College - Hartford, Connecticut
2/9
Zero to Three 20ᵗʰ Anniversary Gala - Washington, DC
2/10
Column on Childcare
2/18
Childcare and Health Initiative Event - Washington DC
2/19
Martin Luther King Child Development Center Child Care Event - Dallas, TX
3/16
Children's Assessment Center - Houston, TX
4/8
Video - The Children's Defense Fund "Beat the Odds" Banquet
4/22
Column on Childcare
4/23
Rose Garden Child Care Event - White House
Meeting with Treasury Working Group on Childcare - White House
4/27
Community Forum on Childcare - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Children's Defense Fund Tribute to Edelman Dinner - Chicago, Illinois
5/5
Video - First Statewide Conference on Childcare for Florida
5/11
Reiner Foundation Supporters on Childcare - New York, NY
6/2
Childcare initiative - Redbook's "Mother's & Shakers" Award - Washington DC
6/3
Column on Childcare
6/4
McGovern Child Care Event - Attleboro, MA
6/9
Democratic Caucus Childcare Event - Legislation Unveiling - Washington DC
6/21
Childcare Roundtable - University of New Mexico - Albuquerque, NM
6/22
Family Reunion 7 - Vanderbilt University - Nashville, TN
7/21
Video - State Childcare Administrators Meeting - Healthy Child Care America
9/23
Parent's Magazine 1998 Childcare Awards - New York, NY
9/25
Childcare Event with David Wu - Portland State University - Portland, Oregon
10/6
White House After School Programming Event - White House
10/30
Children and Families Initiative - Rob Reiner Residence - Los Angeles, CA
12/1
NYU Child Study Center - New York, NY
12/4
Keynote Address at the Eleanor Roosevelt Lecture on the Rights of the Child -
Georgetown University - Washington DC
1999
1/20
Families Agenda Roundtable - Buffalo, NY and Norristown, Pennsylvania
2/2
Families Agenda Roundtable - Brooklyn, New York
4/7
Videos - "Beat the Odds' Event - Children's Defense Fund
4/12
"Just Us Kids" - Promoting Investment in Childcare - Washington DC
4/19
Jewish Childcare Association - 175th Anniversary - New York, NY
5/10
Listening to Our Children Childline Conference - White House
7/15
Videos - Healthy Families America Awards Dinner
Second Annual Heads Up Project Fair
9/22
Childcare Roundtable - New York, NY
2000
2/2
State of the Union 2000 Highlights
4/18
Hand in Hand Childcare Center - - New York, NY
4/28
Fight Crime - Invest in Kids Event - White House
5/12
Consumer Product Safety Event - White House
COLUMNS
8/5/95
Working Women
9/3/95
Childcare
3/12/96
Childcare
2/11/97
Childcare
4/8/97
Childcare
1/6/98
Childcare
2/10/98
Childcare
4/22/98
Childcare
6/3/98
Childcare
2/2/2000
State of the Union 2000 Highlights
Finished 7/19/00
Katie McCormick Lelyveld
Children & Families: Child Care
Objective:
To make child care better, safer and more affordable for America's working families.
Accomplishments:
White House Conference on Child Care
Hosted Conference with POTUS- two panel discussion, luncheon and reception (10/23/97)
Press Roundtable, morning shows with POTUS (10/22/97-10/23/97)
Ramp-up speech at the University of Maryland (10/3/97)
President's FY 1999 Child Care Initiative
White House announcement of child care budget proposals (1/7/98)
Leadership role in policy development
Leadership in securing in FY 1999 budget negotiations $200 million for after school programs
and $180 million in child care quality
Advocated to strengthen background checks on child care providers; President signed National
Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact to facilitate background checks
Pushed for improvements to federal child care; President signed executive memorandum
(3/10/98)
Op eds in women's magazines (i.e. Parents) and column (1/6/98)
Selected Appearances/ Campaigning to Promote Child Care Investments
Fight Crime Invest in Kids Event (4/28/00)
Participated in Families Agenda Roundtable, Duncan YMCA, Chicago (4/14/99)
Child Care Announcement and Tour at Just Us Kids Child Development Center, DC (4/12/99)
Speech in New York for Parents Magazine child care awards (9/23/98)
Release of grants to promote after school programs through the 21st Century Learning Centers in
Rose Garden ceremony (6/17/98)
White House luncheon with Redbook magazine on child care (6/2/98)
Capitol Hill announcement of House Democratic child care bill with sponsors (6/98)
Child care roundtable with Rep. Tauscher (5/26/98)
Rosie O'Donnell Show appearance on child care and meeting with leaders of Reiner child care
campaign, New York, NY (5/11/98)
White House meeting with Treasury Working Group on Child Care and Rose Garden event with
POTUS to release working group report (4/23/98)
Milwaukee Child Care Conference keynote address (3/27/98)
Hartford, CT Roundtable discussion on child care quality (1/28/98)
Harlem, NY Virtual Y after school program visit and remarks (1/26/98)
For internal use only. Updated 6/1/00.
White House announcement of Mott Foundation commitment to after school programs (1/26/98)
Quantico Marine Base Child Care Center visit and roundtable (9/31/97)
Florida Business Commission on Child Care discussion in Miami (9/30/97)
Speech in DC to Parents Magazine child care awards (5/22/97)
White House luncheon with Working Women Magazine and child care honorees (2/10/97)
Column: Treasury Working Group on Child Care Report (4/22/98), Affordable Child Care
(2/2/2000)
For internal use only. Updated 6/1/00.
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
±6/1/01
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
FINAL
MIAMI, FL/QUANTICO, VA/WASHINGTON, D.C.
MIAMI
JIM LOFTUS
RM#800
LEAD ADVANCE:
BILTMORE HOTEL
305/445-1926
PHONE
305/913-3159
FAX
202/757-9207
CELL PHONE
SITE ADVANCE:
CHRIS WAYNE
RM#330
202/395-1608
CELL PHONE
MWITU NDUGU
RM#1104
202/395-2103
CELL
PRESS LEAD:
SHARON KENNEDY-GILL RM#1203
RON ADVANCE:
BEN METSCH
QUANTICO
LEAD ADVANCE:
SARAH FARNSWORTH
202/387-3768
HOME
SITE ADVANCE:
WENDY ARENDS
202/518-8209
HOME
TRACY OLMSTEAD
PRESS ADVANCE:
BEN AUSTIN
202/223-5220
HOME
SCHEDULER:
JAYCEE PRIBULSKY
202/456-2922
OFFICE
202/456-5340
FAX
202/544-4123
HOME
WHCA PAGER
#4797
PREV RON
Biltmore Hotel
Miami, FL
**BAGGAGE CALL WILL BE AT 9:00AM OUTSIDE KIM WIDDESS' ROOM**
9:00am
DEPART Biltmore Hotel
EN ROUTE Children's Center at Baptist Hospital
[drive time: 35 minutes]
9:35am
ARRIVE Children's Center at Baptist Hospital
Greeters:
-Cory Gold, Executive Director, Children's Center at Baptist
Hospital
-Ms. Jo Baxter, Corporate Vice President of Marketing, Baptist
Hospital
-Phyllis Oeters-Pena, Director of Government and Corporate
Relations, Baptist Hospital
-Alex Pinelas, Mayor of Miami
9:40am-
TOUR OF CHILDREN'S CENTER AT BAPTIST HOSPITAL
9:55am
Children's Center at Baptist Hospital
8900 North Kendall Drive
Miami, FL
HRC Hold: Director's Office
Phone: 305/596-1960 ext. 6961
Fax: 305/273-2452 273-2500
OPEN PRESS (FOR THE SECOND CLASSROOM)
--
The First Lady, accompanied by Cory Gold
Jo Baxter, and Alex Pinelas, tours the infant
classroom.
CLOSED PRESS
--
The First Lady, accompanied by Cory Gold,
Jo Baxter, and Alex Pinelas, tours the pre-
school classroom where children perform a
song.
OPEN PRESS
--
The First Lady, accompanied by Cory Gold,
Jo Baxter, and Alex Pinelas, tours the
toddler classroom.
CLOSED PRESS
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 20 children in each
classroom.
9:55am
DEPART The Children's Center
EN ROUTE The Baptist Hospital
[drive time: 5 minutes]
10:00am
ARRIVE The Baptist Hospital
PROCEED to the Third Floor
Greeters:
-Fred Messing, CEO, Baptist Hospital
-Phyllis Oeters-Pena, Director of Government and Corporate
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
PAGE 3
Relations
10:00am-
MEET AND GREET w/ Hospital VIPS
10:05am
Executive Offices
HRC Hold: Conference Room
Phone: 305/273-2500
Fax: 305/273-2452
CLOSED PRESS
PROGRAM:
-- The First Lady will greet guests from left to
right in a photo receiving line.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 10 people to attend.
10:10am-
CHILD CARE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
11:10am
Auditorium, Children's Center at Baptist Hospital
8900 North Kendall Drive
Miami, FL
HRC Hold: Conference Room
Phone: 305/273-2500
Fax: 305/273-2452
OPEN PRESS
PROGRAM:
-- Joe Chapman delivers welcoming remarks and
introduces the participants.
-- The First Lady delivers brief welcoming
remarks.
-- An open roundtable discussion focusing on
corporate responsibility follows.
NOTE: Joe Chapman will moderate the
discussion.
NOTE: Mayor Pinelas will observe the
discussion.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 10 people will participate.
11:15am
DEPART Children's Center at Baptist Hospital
EN ROUTE Miami International Airport
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
PAGE 4
[drive time: 40 minutes]
11:55am
ARRIVE Miami International Airport
12:00pm
WHEELS UP Miami, FL
Miami International Airport
FBO: Signature Flight Support
Phone: 305/526-6344
Fax: 305/871-1696
CLOSED PRESS
FLIGHT TIME: 2 HOURS 5 MINUTES (NC)
MEAL: LUNCH
2:05pm
WHEELS DOWN Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P.
Davis Field
FBO: Falconhead
Phone: 703/361-7267
Fax: 703/361-4413
CLOSED PRESS/CLOSED PUBLIC
2:15pm
DEPART Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P.
Davis Field
EN ROUTE Quantico Military Base
[drive time: 50 minutes]
3:05pm
ARRIVE Quantico Military Base, Gate Four
Greeters (at the Child Care Development Center) :
-Brigadier General Frances Wilson, Commanding Officer, Quantico
-Judy Rhodes, spouse, Marine Commandant, Quantico
-Sandy Gojekian, Quantico Child Development Programs
Administrator
-Lt. Colonel Frank Pote, Principle Deputy Staff Officer for Child
Development Programs
-Dr. John Hamre, Deputy Secretary of Defense
-Mrs. Julie Hamre
-Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness
-Mrs. Carolyn Shelton, spouse, General Shelton, incoming Joint
Chiefs of Staff
-General Richard Neal, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
-Mrs. Zandy Krulak, spouse, Commandant of the Marine Corps
-Mrs. Margaret Dalton, spouse, Secretary of the Navy
-Sandy Riordan, Director, Day Care Center
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
PAGE 5
3:15pm-
VISIT TO CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT CENTER
3:35pm
Pre-Toddler Room, Child Care Development Center
Quantico Military Base
HRC Hold: Roberta Simpson's Office
Phone: 703/784-4322 ext. 223
Fax: n/a
CLOSED PRESS
PROGRAM:
-- The First Lady, accompanied by Sandy
Riordan, Dr. John Hamre, Rudy de Leon,
Mrs. Carolyn Shelton, General Richard
Neal, Zandy Krulak, Margaret Dalton,
and Julie Hamre will tour Room 204.
-- The First Lady, accompanied by Sandy
Riordan, Dr. John Hamre, Rudy de Leon,
Mrs. Carolyn Shelton, General Richard
Neal, Zandy Krulak, Margaret Dalton, and
Julie Hamre will proceed outside to the
playground to visit with the pre-toddlers.
-- The First Lady, accompanied by Sandy
Riordan, Dr. John Hamre, Rudy de Leon,
Mrs. Carolyn Shelton, General Richard
Neal, Zandy Krulak, Margaret Dalton
and Julie Hamre will tour room 121, the pre-
toddler classroom.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 5-10 children in each area.
3:35pm
DEPART Child Care Development Center
EN ROUTE Russell Elementary School
[drive time: 5 minutes]
3:40pm
ARRIVE Russell Elementary School
Greeters:
-Samuel Bedford, Principal, Russell Elementary Schools
-Brenda McFerrin, Marine Corps Base SAC Coordinator
-Mrs. Lawanna Mangleburg, Superintendent of VA department of
Defense School Systems
-Dr. Linda Renz, Special Assistant for DOD Domestic Dependent
Elementary and Secondary Schools and Panama/Cuba DOD
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
PAGE 6
Education Activity
-Carolyn Becraft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Personnel, Support, Families and Education
3:45pm-
VISIT TO RUSSELL ELEMENTARY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
3:55pm
Multi-Purpose Room A, Russell Elementary
School
Quantico Military Base
HRC Hold: Mrs. Byrd's Office
Phone: 703/221-4161 ext. 226
Fax: n/a
OPEN PRESS
PROGRAM:
--
The First Lady, accompanied by Brenda
McFerrin, Dr. John Hamre, Rudy de Leon,
Mrs. Carolyn Shelton, General Richard
Neal, Zandy Krulak, Margaret Dalton,
and Julie Hamre will tour the Russell
Elementary After-School Program.
NOTE: The children will be working on the
following arts and crafts projects:
Beads, Sock Dogs, Masks, and Woodworking.
NOTE: The First Lady will have an opportunity
to sit down with the children working on the
arts and crafts projects.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 30 children will be present.
CONTACT:
Lt. Col. Frank Pote
703/784-2354
NOTE: The First Lady will walk directly into the Multi-Purpose
Room B.
4:00pm-
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
5:00pm
Multi-Purpose Room B, Russell Elementary
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
PAGE 7
School
Quantico Military Base
HRC Hold: Mrs. Byrd's Office
Phone: 703/221-4161 ext. 226
Fax: n/a
OPEN PRESS
PROGRAM:
--
Dr. John Hamre delivers welcoming remarks.
--
Each one of the Roundtable Discussion
participants introduces themselves.
--
The First Lady delivers opening remarks.
--
Upon conclusion of the First Lady's remarks,
Dr. Hamre introduces Rudy de Leon and
Carolyn Becraft to deliver brief remarks on
the overall DOD Child Care System.
--
Upon conclusion of their remarks, Rudy de
Leon introduces Lt. Col. Pote to open the
discussion on the Quantico Child Care
program.
--
The parents representatives and child care
providers provide brief observations on the
program.
--
The participants participate in an open
discussion.
NOTE: Carolyn Becraft and Lt. Col. Frank Pote
will co-moderate the discussion.
--
Upon conclusion of the discussion, the First
Lady poses for a group photo with the
discussion participants and departs.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 10 people to participate in
the discussion. (Pls. see briefing book for the
complete list)
5:15pm
DEPART Russell Elementary School
EN ROUTE LeJeune Building
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
PAGE 8
[drive time: 10 minutes]
5:25pm
ARRIVE LeJeune Building, Catlin Avenue Entrance
Greeters:
-Brigadier General Frances Wilson, Commanding Officer, Quantico
-General Richard Neal, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
5:25pm-
DEPARTURE RALLY
5:45pm
Stage in Front of the LeJeune Building
Quantico Military Base
HRC Hold: Officer of Director of Logistics
Room 117
Phone: 703/784-2599
Fax: 703/784-2974
OPEN PRESS
NOTE: The First Lady will hold briefly upon arrival at the
LeJeune Building.
PROGRAM:
-- The First Lady, accompanied by General
Richard Neal, Brigadier General Frances
Wilson and Dr. John Hamre, proceeds to the
stage.
--
General Richard Neal delivers brief remarks
and introduces the First Lady.
--
The First Lady delivers brief remarks.
--
Upon conclusion of remarks, the First Lady
exits stage right and works a ropeline from
right to left.
NOTE: The families of the Quantico staff
working on the event are the first group of
people in the ropeline.
NOTE: The First Lady will pose for a photo
with the Quantico Marine Corps Band on
departure.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 300 people to attend.
5:50pm
DEPART Quantico Military Base
EN ROUTE The White House
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997
PAGE 9
[drive time: 1 hour]
6:50pm
ARRIVE The White House
RON
The White House
WEATHER FORECAST FOR MIAMI, FL
-Partly cloudy. Chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the 80s.
Lows in the 70s.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR WASHINGTON, D.C.:
-Mostly sunny. Wind north-northwest at 5 to 12 knots. Low 55.
High 70.
September 30, 1997
QUANTICO CHILD CARE EVENT
DATE:
Wednesday, October 1
TIME:
3:15 pm - 5:45 pm
LOCATION:
Marine Corps Base
Quantico, VA
FROM:
Brenda Costello
I.
PURPOSE
To visit the Child Care Development Center at Quantico Marine Corps Base,
highlighting the Department of Defense model Child Care program and the upcoming
White House Conference on Child Care.
II.
BACKGROUND
Wednesday's event at Quantico Marine Corps Base is a four-tier event, consisting of a
tour of both the Child Development Center and After-School program, a roundtable
discussion, and a rally with Base personnel on departure.
Child Development Center
You will tour several rooms in the center (CDC), accompanied by Sandy Riordan,
Director of the Child Care Center, Dr. John Hamry, Assistant Secretary of Defense, Mrs.
Carolyn Shelton, spouse of General Shelton, and Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Approximately 5 children will be in the rooms.
After-school program/Russell Elementary school
Your next stop will be at the Russell Elementary School, one of three Department of
Defense Domestic Elementary and Secondary Schools located on base, to view the
School-Age Care (SAC) program. Again you will be joined by Dr. John Hamry, Carolyn
Shelton, and Rudy de Leon, as well as Brenda McFerrin, Marine Corps Base SAC
Coordinator. Approximately 30 children, ages 6-12 will be working on arts and crafts
projects.
Roundtable Discussion
The purpose of the Roundtable discussion is to highlight a successful child care
program. Participants in the discussion are ten parents, child care providers, and
Department of Defense representatives. Lt. Col. Frank Pote and Carolyn Becraft,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense - Personnel Support, Families and Education will
co-moderate the discussion. The discussion will take place in the Multi -Purpose Room
of the Russell Elementary School.
Rally
After the tour and discussion you will proceed to a Departure Rally. General Richard
Neal, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps will open the rally. Approximately
300 base personnel in addition to the Marine Corps Band are expected. You will be
presented with a gift as you're introduced. Following your remarks you will work a
ropeline and pose for a photo with the Quantico Marine Band.
See attached background on the Military Child Care program.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
-The First Lady
-Sandy Riordan, Director of the Child Care Center
-Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness-
-Dr. John Hamry, Assistant Secretary of Defense
-Mrs. Carolyn Shelton, spouse of General Shelton
-Brenda McFerrin, Marine Corps Base SAC Coordinator
-Lt. Col. Frank Pote
-Carolyn Becraft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense - Personnel Support, Families
and Education
-10 Roundtable participants (see bios attached)
IV.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
-See final schedule.
V.
PRESS
Child Development Center:
Pool press.
After-school program:
Open press.
Roundtable Discussion:
Open press
Rally:
Open press.
VI. REMARKS
Talking points provided by David Shipley.
FREE
Department of Defense
Child Development Program
THE
Lessons Learned
Background: Military child care programs have improved dramatically over the last ten years and have
attained a well-deserved reputation for being on the cutting edge of child care in America. During this
time, DoD management and policy makers have learned a lot about what makes a difference in the day to
day lives of children. The military's holistic and systemic approach to meeting the needs of military
families especially those with very young children stands out as a model for state and local agencies.
DoD is committed to providing quality. affordable options for families. Five factors have contributed to
the military success story.
First among five elements is a recognition that quality costs more than most parents can afford to
pay. The DoD is committed to a prescribed level of funding for all Child Development Programs. In
military centers, there is a dollar for dollar match of appropriated funds to parent fees. In family
child care programs we provide indirect financial support through equipment lending libraries. low or
no cost insurance options and training. In many instances we provide direct cash subsidies as
incentives for family child care providers to care for infants. Funds allow both centers and homes to
provide stimulating environments that are staffed with trained personnel and appropriately equipped.
The second element of quality is strict oversight of all programs, and adherence to standards. There
are comprehensive unannounced inspections for all facilities and programs with a mandatory
correction of deficiencies within 90 days. Non-compliance can, and has, resulted in closure. As a
result. facilities and programs are in good repair, and there is high quality, institutional grade
equipment that contributes to the cognitive development of children.
The third and perhaps most critical element directly linked to program quality is the wage and
benefits package that contribute to low staff turnover. Military caregiver wages and benefits average
approximately $10 per hour compared to the minimum wages in the civilian community. While most
civilian child care employers offer few or no benefits to direct care staff, military staff have a full
range of benefits. Because of low turnover children have the continuity of care so vital to their
healthy development.
Fourth and related directly to quality, is training. Training is tied to wages, and an "up-or-out"
personnel policy requiring the completion of training programs. All training is competency based
and caregivers not performing appropriately are not retained.
Finally, the commitment for all military child development centers to meet national accreditation
standards has provided an outside evaluation previously missing. The combination of the DoD
certification and the national accreditation provides a comprehensive review of all center programs.
By sharing the "the military experience" DoD can provide unique expertise to state and local
governments seeking to improve the quality of child care. As a result parents and children not associated
with the Military can benefit from these systems and "lessons learned". As noted in the 1992
Congressional Record "the precedent was set for the military to be the national agent of change in child
care, as it has been in areas such as integration and drug interdiction."
September 1997
Department of Defense
LET
Child Care System
The Department of Defense (DoD) Child Care System is the largest employer sponsored
program in the country serving over 200,00 children (ages birth -12) daily. It includes child
development centers, family child care homes, school-age care programs, and information and
referral services. Through these delivery systems DoD offers full-day, part-day, and hourly child
care, part-day preschools, before and after school programs for school-age children, and extended
hour care which includes nights, weekends, and care for shift workers. There are approximately
1.29 million children (ages birth to 12) of active-duty personnel. Based on this number and a
projected military force of 1.4 million, DoD needs 297,635 spaces. DoD's goal is to provide at
least one affordable child care option for every member who needs it. As of 1996, there were
166,322 spaces.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS at over 300 locations provide care for children 6
weeks to 12 years of age. Most child care facilities operate between the hours of 6:00 a.m.
and 6:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Over the past 15 years the Services have tested 24-hour care
in centers. The results repeatedly show low usage and exorbitant costs. Because the mission
can require unusual hours including shift work, nights, and weekends, DoD has developed an
extensive network of Family Child Care Homes to provide this care.
FAMILY CHILD CARE (FCC) programs consist of in-home care provided by certified
providers living in government-owned or -leased housing. There are 9,793 licensed and
trained FCC providers. Families rely upon FCC to provide night, weekend, and unusual
hours care. To ensure comparable quality of care, FCC programs are inspected in the same
manner as the center programs. All providers have completed background checks, and
receive a comparable amount of training as those working in the centers.
SCHOOL-AGE CARE PROGRAMS (SAC) are offered for children (ages 6 to 12 years)
before and after school, during holidays, and summer vacations. This need is the last to be
addressed and these programs are experiencing growing pains. A 1995 SecDef budget
initiative and the subsequent QoL initiative funded over 20,000 new SAC spaces. DoD
policies encourage use of youth centers and other suitable facilities for SAC rather than take
child development center space. The DODI 6060.3, "School-Age Care Program Instruction,"
December 19, 1996 was published February 1997.
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL (R&R) PROGRAMS for on-base programs are available
at most military bases. Additionally, many offer referrals to child care in the local
community. Since it is impossible to meet 100% of the need on the installation, R&R
services are critical to our ability to refer families to quality child care off the base when care
is unavailable on base.
September 1997
I
AUTHEIT TEE
Department of Defense
STATE
Funding for Military Child Development Program
BACKGROUND: Military Child Development Program has three major components: Child
Development Centers (CDC), Family Child Care (FCC) homes and School-age Care (SAC) programs.
Through this system. the Military Services provide over 166,000 child care spaces. Although each
program component receives appropriated funds budgeted annually at the installation level, the amount and
type of support varies depending on the component. While all parents pay for child care, the fees depend
on the setting.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAMS:
The Military Child Care Act of 1989 established a policy which requires DoD to ensure appropriated
funds available to centers are at least equal to the amount raised in parent fees.
Parents fees for child care are based on total family income not the age of the child. Fees paid by
parents to CDC's and SAC programs are called "non-appropriated funds" and are used to pay the
wages of those personnel (child caregivers) who care directly for children.
All other expenses including some caregiver wages are paid by appropriated funds. These funds go
directly to the program to support training, administration, equipment and supplies and food service.
Maintenance and utilities are paid with appropriated funds. Construction of new CDC's are paid from
military construction funds - also appropriated funds.
Child care fee ranges are set annually by the Secretary of Defense's office for all military CDC's.
Installations are given five income categories and corresponding fee ranges from which to determine
their local fees. The average weekly fee paid for child care in a military center in 1996 was $65. Fees
range from a low end of $37 to a high of $98 per week for 1997-98.
Family Child Care: FCC providers reside in government housing on Federal property. All costs of
administration, oversight and training of FCC providers are paid with appropriated funds. These functions
are viewed as an appropriated fund expense because they are conducted in the best interest of the
government. In addition, appropriated funds are used to provide on an "on loan" basis certain materials,
supplies and safety equipment through lending libraries. Collectively, these are considered "indirect"
support.
FCC providers are viewed as private contractors and as such, negotiate all fees directly with the parent
except when the providers are receiving direct cash subsidies from the government. The Military Child
Care Act of 1989 authorized but did not mandate the use of appropriated funds to directly subsidize FCC
providers. The goal was to provide assistance to providers so that care provided is at a cost comparable to
military centers. The use of this subsidy authority varies widely from base to base.
School-age Care: SAC programs are funded similar to the CDC's with a mix of parent fees and
appropriated funds. A change in DoD policy now requires graduated fees based on total family income.
This new policy will go into effect in 1998.
Total Appropriated Fund Budget for all Child Care Programs for Fiscal Year 1997 is 273M.
September 1997
OF OF
Department of Defense
Child Development Center Fee Policy
STATE
BACKGROUND:
The Military Child Care Act of 1989 required DoD to prescribe uniform fees for Military
Child Development Centers. Fees must be based on total family income and includes basic
subsistence and quarters allowances. The policy applies to children who regularly attend.
The Act also required a dollar for dollar match of appropriated funds to parent fees collected.
The first DoD fee policy was issued in 1990 and consisted of four income categories. Today,
there are five income categories with corresponding fee ranges. The fee ranges for 1998 are:
Category
Family Income
Weekly Fee Per Child
High Cost Range
(optional)
I
$0 - 23,000
$37 50
$42 52
II
$23,001 - 34,000
$47 60
$52 64
III
$34,001 - 44,000
$57 72
$63 77
IV
$44,001 - 55,000
$70 82
$76 88
V
$55,000 +
$83 94
$87 98
For the past two years, fee increases have been tied to the inflation rate submitted in the
President's budget.
Commanders set their installation fees within these ranges. Commanders have the authority
to offer a 20 percent fee discount for each additional child from the same family.
Commanders may also grant hardship waivers for families in financial need.
Last year, the average DoD weekly fee was $65. This fee included up to 11 hours of care and
United States Department of Agriculture approved meals (breakfast, lunch and two snacks).
Nationally, the average weekly fee for comparable center care ranges from $100 for infant
care to $85 for pre-school age care. ("Cost, Quality and Child Care Outcomes in Child Care
Centers Study," University of Colorado at Denver, CO June 1995).
September 1997
DEF 44
Department of Defense
Military Child Development Program
CHE
15
AMERICA
National Accreditation
BACKGROUND: The Military Child Care Act (MCCA) of 1989 required DoD to conduct a
program to require 50 military child development centers meet standards necessary for
accreditation by an appropriate national early childhood program accrediting body and achieve
accreditation. The 50 accredited centers were to serve as "demonstration programs" from which
other non-accredited centers could learn about best practices. DoD identified the standards
established by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs as the accrediting standards
DoD centers would meet. These standards were developed in 1985 and are recognized nationally
as standards of excellence in programs for young children. By the end of 1992, 55 DoD child
development centers were accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC).
The Rand Corporation conducted a study on accreditation for DoD, entitled "Examining
the Effects Accreditation on Military Child Development Operation and Outcomes," published
1994. The study affirmed that accreditation improved the quality of care and child outcomes.
Increased parent communication and staff morale were also cited as benefits of accreditation.
CURRENT STATUS: The 1996 Defense Authorization Act which codified the Military Child
Care Act of 1989, required all eligible military centers meet standards necessary for
accreditation. Currently over 75 percent of all eligible military centers have achieved
accreditation from NAEYC as compared to the national average of 5 percent.
ACCREDITATION RATE BY MILITARY SERVICE:
Service
Eligible Centers
Accredited Centers
Percent Accredited
Air Force
145
145
100%
Army
154
126
82%
Navy
135
68
42%
Marine Corps
31
14
45%
DoD TOTAL
466
353
76%
The remaining 113 centers are in the required self-study process, waiting for a validation visit or
the results of their validation visit from NAEYC.
September 1997
ETMENT OF FILSE
Prevention of Child Abuse
In Military Child Care Programs
LIMIT
BACKGROUND: Within DoD the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) has the primary responsibility for
addressing child physical and child sexual abuse and neglect. The goal is to prevent abuse whenever
possible, recognize where it exists, and provide treatment as appropriate. There is FAP at each
installation that provides training and resources to Child Development Program staff, family child care
(FCC) providers and families.
A series of highly publicized child sexual abuse cases in military child development centers during the
mid - 80's resulted in Congressional hearings during the summer of 1989. As a result of these hearings
DoD implemented changes in child development program child abuse prevention and oversight.
STATUS: DoD takes allegations of child abuse seriously. Depending upon the jurisdiction (federal or
state) all child abuse allegations are thoroughly investigated by military and/or civilian authorities. DoD
policy establishes procedures for background checks, management and training practices which include:
Background Check Requirements:
Background checks meet the requirements of 1990 Crime Control Act and are conducted prior to
hire; FBI fingerprint check; state criminal history repository check, installation record checks; DoD
central registry of Child and Spouse Abuse check.
All FCC providers and family members have background clearances.
Management Practices:
Facilities are designed for maximum supervision, e.g., vision panels in all classrooms, video
monitoring equipment, alarms on exterior doors.
All visitors must sign in- and out-, wear visitor badges and are escorted while in the facility.
Strict enforcement of adult:child ratios which ensures children are supervised at all times.
Observations of staff working with children.
Monthly unannounced visits to family child care homes;
Strict parent sign in-and out procedures.
An open door policy for all parents.
A DoD-wide 1-800 Child Abuse and Safety Violation Hotline - all allegations are thoroughly
investigate in a timely and confidential manner.
Training:
Mandatory annual training for staff and FCC providers in child abuse identification, reporting and
prevention procedures, guidance, and how to appropriately touch a child.
September, 1997
DEF AP OFFICER SF
Department of Defense
Questions and Answers
on the
Military Child Care Program
QUESTION: How large is the Military Child Development Program?
ANSWER: DoD has the largest employee sponsored child care program in the country serving
over 200,000 children (birth - 12 years of age) daily. The program consists of child development
centers, family child care homes, school-age care programs and information and referral services.
Through these delivery systems DoD offers full-day, part-day and hourly care, before-and after
school programs and extended hour care for nights, weekends and shift work. Our active duty
members are parents to 1.29M children. Generally military parents are young, often far from
home, and without the support of families and neighbors. Child care for infants and toddlers is
hard to find and expensive. Because 65% of military spouses are in the work force, quality,
affordable child care is an economic necessity and quality of life issue for military families. By
providing child care we help military families balance the competing demands of the family,
accomplish the military mission, and improve the economic viability of the family.
QUESTION: Describe the history of Military Child Development Programs.
ANSWER: Military Child Development Programs evolved from on-post drop-in "nurseries",
operated by private organizations which provided hourly care for volunteers and during social
events such as teas and luncheons. The nurseries were often housed in the least desirable
facilities on base and received little, if any financial or logistical support from the installation.
Low parents fees were the primary source of funding. Many "nurseries" were located in
converted stables, quonset huts, basements and attics.
In 1988, a series of Congressional hearings were held on military child care programs. The
hearings led to the enactment of the Military Child Care Act (MCCA) of 1989. The MCCA had
a far reaching impact on military child care and the early childhood profession. For example,
early childhood professionals had been struggling with the issue of low pay of child care
workers. Military caregivers, like their civilian private-sector counterparts, received minimum
wage and few benefits. They left child care jobs as soon as they could with overseas areas
having as high as 300% annual tumover.
The MCCA tasked DOD to test the effects of improved caregiver wages tied to successful
training and performance. The test was successful and led to DoD becoming the leader in child
care compensation.
In 1992, the House Armed Services Committee stated in the Congressional Record its goal that
military child care be on the "leading edge of child care in America."
September, 1997
1
The quality of child development programs has steadily improved over the years. Over three
quarters of the eligible DoD child development centers are nationally accredited and the
remainder are going through the accreditation process.
QUESTION: Does the Military Child Care Program meet DoD's child care needs?
ANSWER: We currently have child development programs at over 300 locations with 811 child
development centers and 9,793 family child care homes. We are meeting 56% of the need with
166,322 spaces; there is a need for 297,635 spaces. Our goal is to meet 65% of the need by 1998
and 80% by 2005.
QUESTION: Is child care an entitlement?
ANSWER: DoD Child care is not an entitlement. We strongly believe child care is a work force
issue and priority for child care is given to working families. But even for these families military
child care is not always available. The demand is high and spaces are limited. Through our
information and referral services we make every effort to help families locate at least one
affordable child care option.
QUESTION: Who is eligible to use the program?
ANSWER: Our eligible patrons are: active duty members and DoD civilian personnel,
reservists on active duty and DoD contractors. Each installation commander is responsible for
establishing a priority system when space is limited.
QUESTION: Isn't the Military Child Care Program competing with civilian child care
programs?
ANSWER: There is a critical shortage of affordable quality child care, especially for infants and
toddlers. With the current welfare to work legislation States are being required to quickly
expand child care services. We believe we have valuable experiences and "lessons learned" to
share with the civilian sector that will help them expand the availability and improve the quality
of care for our Nation's children.
QUESTION: Why aren't your programs state licensed?
ANSWER: In many cases states lack jurisdiction on federal property. In lieu of State licensing,
military programs follow DoD and Service standards to provide continuity of care around the
world. Military members need similar programs wherever they go, and State standards vary
dramatically from State to State, making oversight and program accountability difficult. State
September, 1997
2
standards do not exist in many countries where military child care is provided. Military
standards are based on and represent the median of State standards.
QUESTION: Are military child care standards higher than state standards?
ANSWER: DoD standards are neither high nor low but represent a "middle ground" or median
standard relative to state standards.
QUESTION: Do you support family child care as well as you support center-based care?
ANSWER: Department of Defense fully supports Family Child Care (FCC). FCC is a full
partner in military child care. Providers receive comparable training. The same inspection
process is used to inspect both programs. Parents and the military appreciate that FCC is a
flexible system that can easily accommodate specialized child care needs such as infant/toddler
care, extended hours, overnight, special needs, and mildly ill care. We also support FCC
providers through indirect subsidies which support lending libraries, training, technical
assistance, referrals, and insurance costs. In some cases we provide direct cash subsidies to
providers who provide specialized child care needed by the installation, e.g., infant/toddler care.
QUESTION: How do you ensure quality in FCC homes?
ANSWER: More than a third (35%) of care in DoD Child Development Programs is in certified
Family Child Care Homes. Family Child Care provides flexibility of program and hours of
operation that meet the needs of service members who have shift work, extended hours, and
temporary duty away from their home station. FCC homes and providers are screened prior to
certification and are trained in the same way as are caregivers in child development centers.
Additionally, FCC homes are monitored for compliance with standards and receive the same
unannounced inspections as centers.
QUESTION: How much do parents pay for child care?
ANSWER: The MCCA required DoD to establish a uniform fees based on family income.
Patrons who use DoD child development programs pay for services. Last year the average
weekly fee was $65 per week. Parent fees account for approximately 50% of the cost of child
care.
QUESTION: If the parents only pay half of the cost of care, where does the rest come from?
ANSWER: The other 50% of child care costs is paid for with appropriated funds authorized by
Congress.
September, 1997
3
QUESTION: How much does your program cost taxpayers?
ANSWER: The Department of Defense views child care as a work force issue that is critical to
the overall accomplishment of the military mission. All DoD families pay for child care. We
offer sliding scale fees based on total family income. Depending upon their income category, in
SY 97-98 families pay between $37-94 per week, last year the average weekly fee was $65. The
cost of DoD child care is a shared expense between military parents and the government, with
each paying approximately half of the cost for care. The mobile military life style can be
stressful for young families, on the average military families move every 2.9 years. They do not
have the stability of neighbors or family near by to help them with child care responsibilities.
Increased deployments and separations make military life very demanding. By providing quality
child care we are helping military members balance the competing demands of the military
mission and their family responsibilities. We strongly believe this contributes to readiness and
the retention of a highly skilled work force.
QUESTION: What is DoD's Curriculum Philosophy?
ANSWER: The DoD views quality, developmentally appropriate early childhood programs as a
top quality of life priority. The DoD has supported a developmental approach to early childhood
programs for over 15 years and subscribes to the guidelines in the National Association for the
Education of Young Children (NAEYC) publication Developmentally Appropriate Practices for
Early Childhood Programs. DoD recognizes the importance of experiences during the earliest
years. All programs offered to children under three are both individually and age-appropriate to
meet each child's development and growth.
QUESTION: All the recent research indicates a need for a careful look at programs for children
0-3. What is the military doing to ensure quality in infant/toddler programs.
ANSWER: Since infant and toddlers comprise over 40% of all children served in military child
development programs, quality infant/toddler programs are imperative. There are standards for
infant/toddler programs that are based on a sound understanding of infant/toddler needs. It is a
requirement that when infants and toddlers are awake, they are out of cribs and interacting with
the caregiving staff. Environments are stimulating and based on infant needs. Feeding and
sleeping schedules are based on infants' demand. Caregivers read, sing and talk to infants
regularly during routines such as when they are being changed, fed, rocked and permitted to
crawl around specially designed padded indoor and outdoor play areas. There are DoD
infant/toddler training modules from which caregivers learn appropriate activities and interaction
with our youngest children. Staff-to-child interactions are observed regularly by Training and
Curriculum Specialists who are the "quality assurance" staff in military programs.
September, 1997
4
QUESTION: Why did you decide to require national accreditation of the military child care
centers? How many are currently accredited?
ANSWER: In the 1996 Defense Authorization Act, Congress codified the Military Child Care
Act (MCCA), and required that all programs meet the standards of accreditation. The 1989
MCCA required DoD to-demonstrate the effect of accreditation on 50 military child care
programs. The Rand Corporation studied the effect of accreditation on the quality of these
programs, and contrasted these programs with those who were not accredited. In its published
report, Rand pointed to accreditation's having positive effects on the quality of the program.
Currently, 76% of military child development centers are accredited.
QUESTION: How do your staff salaries compare to those in civilian programs?
ANSWER: Our caregivers start at approximately $6.50 per hour and increase progressively to
$9 per hour, as they complete training and demonstrate competency. The $7 per hour pay scale
was the quoted in the 1988 National Child Care Staffing Study as the hourly rate at which more
staff was retained. The study noted that, when paid at a lower rate, 77% of caregivers left for
higher salaries. The Staffing Study also found that higher staff salaries were associated with
better quality child care centers. Since implementing our wage and benefits plan, our staff
turnover has significantly decreased. In 1996, the annual rate was 30% compared to, as high as,
300% ten years ago.
QUESTION: What are the educational/training/experience requirements for Military Child
Development Program staff?
ANSWER: Our management staff, which include child development center directors, family
child care directors and other program directors are required to have a bachelors degree or
equivalent. In lieu of degreed teachers in every classroom, each military Child Development
Program has a professional early childhood educator called a Training & Curriculum (T&C)
Specialist. The T&C Specialists provide training to staff and providers. The T&C Specialists
also develop curriculum, model developmentally appropriate practices, and coach staff while
they are learning to implement good caregiving techniques. Additionally, they assist caregivers
working toward the nationally recognized Child Development Award (CDA) credential
Caregiving staff and providers receive orientation training before caring for children, and 24
hours of training within the first 18 months on the job. They also receive annual ongoing
training
QUESTION: How does the Military Child Care training program differ from other programs in
the country?
ANSWER: One of the unique aspect of the military child care training programs is that it is
directly linked to wages and promotion - in other words - we have an "up or out" policy which
September, 1997
5
requires completion of "competency-based" training for all child caregivers who work directly
with children. The training (regardless of setting) is based on the Child Development Associate
Credential competencies and 13 functional areas. Since completion of training results in a pay
increase, there is a real incentive to complete training.
QUESTION: Are your training materials available to those outside of DoD? The taxpayers
paid for them.
ANSWER: A major effort is underway to make Military Child Care Program information and
materials available and accessible. This effort includes: the expansion of the existing DoD
Office of Family Policy website at <http:\\dticaw.dtic.mil\mapsite)> to include a variety of
information and training documents, the establishment of the DoD Child Care Program
Clearinghouse with toll-free access at 1-888-237-3040, and the development and publication of a
comprehensive bibliography which will include how and where to obtain the 13 module program
we use to train our providers.
QUESTION: Given the ongoing concern about terrorist activity, how safe are military child
care programs?
ANSWER: This is a very important issue. We consider safety the key element in the planning,
design, location, and operation of our child care program. Our physical plant and playground
designs meet or exceed all federal requirements. Our centers are almost exclusively operated in
their own separate building. Our personnel are required to meet federal and DoD background
check requirements, and our personnel training program emphasizes child safety in all aspects of
care.
QUESTION: How many child abuse cases have you had?
ANSWER: Just like the private sector we too, have had child abuse cases. We take allegations
of child abuse very seriously. Depending upon the jurisdiction (Federal or State) all child abuse
allegations are thoroughly investigated by military and/or civilian authorities. To minimize the
risk of child abuse in our program we have implemented strong management practices which
include:
extensive background checks and screening procedures which are conducted on all staff and
family child care (FCC) providers (and provider family members over the age of 12) prior to
caring for children;
facilities designed for maximum supervision, e.g., view panels in all classrooms, video
monitoring equipment;
enforcement of adult-to-child ratios to ensure children are supervised at all times;
observation of caregivers and providers working with children;
field trip procedures;
September, 1997
6
monthly unannounced visits in family child care homes:
parents signing their children in- and out- of the center or home daily;
training for staff and FCC providers in child abuse identification, reporting and prevention
procedures, training is updated annually;
training for staff and FCC providers in positive guidance techniques and appropriate ways to
touch a child;
an open door policy - parents are always welcome;
a DoD-wide 1-800 Child Abuse and Safety Violation Hotline
QUESTION: What supports the notion that Military Child Care Programs are better?
ANSWER: Military care programs are nationally recognized as models by early childhood
advocates and professional organizations.
Dr. Shirlee Sveska, principal investigator of the GAO study on military child care stated
"Military child care has undergone extraordinary changes over the last 15 years. I believe
we have witnessed here a fundamental revision of attitudes about the communities
responsibility for children. We have seen with this experience that widespread change and
large-scale action is possible in a relatively short period of time when there is informed and
committed leadership willing and ready to invest resources to make a difference in the lives
of children."
Publications such as Working Mother have held up military programs as being model
programs.
A ground-breaking April 1994 Carnegie Corporation Report, Starting Points --Meeting the
Needs of Our Youngest Children, followed by a subsequent report in 1996, Years of Promise,
mise, pointed to military child care programs as models.
In a cover story in Frankly Speaking, a publication of the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill the author, Thelma Harms stated: "State government, which is responsible for
child care facilities, keeps the regulation of family child care to a minimum in contrast
(DoD) has developed a family child care system that far exceeds the civilian sector in its
level of support and expectations of quality of care. For the past 15 years, (DoD) has been
improving its child care standards. and expanding support to family child care homes in an
effort to deliver high quality child care to .families. (DoD) has undoubtedly become a
prime example of employer commitment to quality child care."
Helen Blank- Director, Child Care Division, Department of Programs and Policy, Children's
Defense Fund says: "Most of my speeches refer to the military child care system as a model
that should be emulated in every state in this country. I believe that their child care system -
which not only recognizes that children need good care, but also that such care cannot be
provided without a sound structure that recognizes that the skills and compensation of a
September, 1997
7
child's caregiver is central to their development - should be replicated and funded in every
state. The military not only focuses on ensuring that child care is available and affordable to
its families but also ensures that each child will get a supportive and nurturing child care
experience. It is fortunate for military families but unfortunate for civilians that the best
chance a family has to be guaranteed of affordable and high quality care in this country is to
join the military."
September, 1997
8
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October 2, 1997, Thursday, Late Edition - Final
SECTION: Section A; Page 13; Column 1; National Desk
LENGTH: 800 words
HEADLINE: First Lady Is Low Key On Overhaul Of Child-Care
BYLINE: By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
DATELINE: QUANTICO, Va., Oct. 1
BODY:
In a day packed with a half-dozen public events to promote good child care, Hillary Rodham Clinton
demonstrated today that she had learned some lessons from the failure of her 1994 campaign to enact
national health insurance.
She told an audience in Miami that advocating a number of big changes at once can overwhelm people
and that small, incremental changes were more realistic. And she spent the afternoon at the sprawling
Marine base here in Virginia highlighting the commitment to child care of an important political ally --
the military, which runs the nation's largest child-care system. (At Quantico, child care costs $120 a
week, with the Government paying half.)
In a colorful, toy-filled child-care center, Mrs. Clinton chatted with children and joined them in stringing
beads onto necklaces.
Later, in a brief speech outside the base's brick headquarters, with a brass band lending a pep-rally
atmosphere, Mrs. Clinton praised what she called the Marines' "model program" of child care. "I wanted
to come here to see how we're taking care of the families who are on the front lines for America," she
said.
Mrs. Clinton has clearly undertaken a mission to improve the often unreliable, expensive and low quality
of child care in America, just as she sought to overhaul health care in the nation and education in
Arkansas when her husband was Governor there.
But there has been no splashy announcement, as there was when President Clinton pronounced his wife
the most capable person to lead the health-care fight, saying, "Of all the people I've ever worked with in
my life, she's better at organizing and leading people from a complex beginning to a certain end."
Rather, the First Lady has set out in a relatively low-key way to prove that she is not trying to usher in
the kind of radical changes that her health-care critics accused her of. And she appears eager to signal
that she has learned her lesson.
As part of her drive to change health care, Mrs. Clinton gathered a select group of experts, met in secret
and emerged with one huge proposal to change the system from top to bottom. Now, with child care, she
is slowly gathering ideas in public events, asking questions and refraining from putting forth a big
legislative agenda.
She is convening a conference at the White House on Oct. 23 to promote further discussion. Marsha
Berry, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Clinton, said it was too early to say if any legislative proposals would
emerge.
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To be sure, Mrs. Clinton has not glossed over aspects of child care that could become extremely
controversial. She said today that she wanted to explore Government subsidies for day care and that she
was seeking ways to limit liability for child-care providers.
"You can't expect businesses or private homes to offer child care unless they have some assurance that
they can be protected from the unforeseen and accidental kinds of mishaps that happen in anybody's
household," Mrs. Clinton, an erstwhile litigator, said in Miami. "And trying to walk that line between
taking out the grossly negligent, reckless, intentional mistreatment from the every-day kinds of problems
that we encounter is something we have to deal with on the national level."
In addition, Mrs. Clinton expressed interest in devising a national registry of child-care workers so that
parents could check on their employment histories. She said such a registry might include not only
people convicted of crimes but those against whom there are only allegations.
But she appears to be avoiding the kind of confrontational approach with Republicans on Capitol Hill
and lobbyists for small businesses that marked the health-care debate.
Today Mrs. Clinton said she recognized the difficulties that small businesses have in responding to
national policy, and she appealed to community leaders to help devise creative ways for small businesses
to be able to afford child care.
"They get spooked off by the nay-saying voices who tell them it's going to be impossible, and it is
impossible, if you think about it in a rigid way," she said this morning at a round-table discussion at the
Baptist Hospital in Miami. "With small businesses, we often hit the wall."
Later, in a discussion about public interest commercials on radio and television to warn parents about
abuse, Mrs. Clinton acknowledged that making 30-second commercials was expensive. When a local
television executive suggested that the nation take the money it spends operating Congress and divert it
instead to such commercials, Mrs. Clinton instantly warmed to the idea.
"Well, I'll tell you what," she began eagerly, as if a chance to abolish were abolish Congress were a
dream come true. But she stopped herself, grinned broadly and let the moment pass in laughter with the
audience.
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Civilian day-care centers looking to learn something from Quantico probably can't expect such public
funding, but there are other things that can be copied, she said.
The Marine child development center center adheres to a strict ratio of one adult for each 15 children.
Surprise inspections are the norm, and the inspectors will not hesitate to close down a center if it does
not meet standards.
Five years ago, in fact, the Quantico center was closed and the building housing it condemned after a
surpise inspection found wide-spread deficiencies. An infusion of money combined with a new
commitment from the Marines led to the turnaround, Becraft said.
The Quantico program also subjects day-care workers to strict background checks, and pays them well
compared their civilian counterparts. Starting pay is $ 6.15 an hour and it can go as high as $9 an hour.
Emphasis is also placed on education. While the adults talked about day-care issues yesterday, the
children barely noticed. They were gathered around four tables, doing arts and crafts, stringing beads for
homemade necklaces and using wood blocks to make cars and boats.
"It really isn't just child care," said Lt. Col. Frank Pote, director of manpower at Quantico. "What the
kids our doing in our care is not just being watched. They are being taught."
One group of youngsters stuffed cotton inside white tube socks, attached pieces of cloth for ears and
buttons for eyes and fashioned homemade dolls called "puppy pals." One of the dolls, signedc by each
member of the class, was happily given to Clinton to take back to the White House.
The first lady said she will also return with some new ideas about how child-care systems in the country
can be improved. She particularly lauded the ideas of background checks for day-care workers and
unannounced inspections of day-care centers.
"There may be people who say the military has a lot of advantages, because of the obvious consideration
of chain of command and other kinds of controls you have, and much better funding than is available in
the civilian sector," she said. "My response is we ought to try to clear the air of excuses about why
things can't be done and look for how we can achieve the best outcomes for our kids."
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Copyright 1997 The Richmond Times Dispatch
The Richmond Times Dispatch
October 2, 1997, Thursday, ONE STAR EDITION
SECTION: AREA/STATE, Pg. B-4
LENGTH: 784 words
HEADLINE: QUANTICO DAY CARE CAPTURES SPOTLIGHT;
MRS. CLINTON TO TAKE IDEAS TO CONFERENCE
BYLINE: Paul Bradley; Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
DATELINE: QUANTICO
BODY:
First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton wore no flak jacket or hard hat yesterday as she strolled into one of
the most important installations on the sprawling Quantico Marine Corps training base.
Nor was she greeted by stern-faced, spit-and-polish Marines. Instead, she was welcomed by the smiling
faces of their offspring, engaged in the organized chaos of an after-school day-care program.
The on-base Russell Elementary School is home of Quantico's Child Development Program, which is
being held up an an example for high-quality day care. Mrs. Clinton plans to use her observations during
a White House child development conference to be held later this month.
"What we are hoping is the models you have developed will be applicable in the civilian sector as well,"
she said. "These are all elements of good child care. Unfortunately, we don't find them as often as we'd
like in child care settings around the country."
Marines whose children are enrolled in the program, which takes pupils aged 6 to 12 before and after
school, shared her enthusiasm. "The first day they cried because I left them here," said Staff Sgt. Leroy
Head, the single father of two young girls. "The second day, they cried when I came to pick them up."
Captain Sylvia Ross said the quality day care afforded by the Marines has made it easier to do her job as
a Marine lawyer.
"I've found I can go to work and not worry about my son," she said. "My son is not with a babysitter. He
is with someone who really cares about him."
To Deputy Defense Secretary John Hamre, looking after the children of military personnel is a matter of
readiness. Soldiers who are suddenly deployed to faraway places need the peace of mind that their
children are secure, he said.
The day care provided for the Marines at Quantico reflects a growing emphasis on day care in all
branches of the military. The Department of Defense, in fact, is the world's largest day-care provider,
looking after more than 200,000 children in 300 day-care centers around the world.
Last year, the military spent $ 263 million on day care, up from $ 89 million 10 years ago, he said.
That subsidy, in part, is what makes the Quantico system work, said Carolyn Becraft, a deputy assistant
secretary of defense. Marines whose children are enrolled in the program pay on a sliding scale based on
their salary. The average charge is $ 65 per week per child, she said.
1 of 2
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OCOPY
RVATION
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1997
FINAL
WASHINGTON, D.C./COLLEGE PARK, MD/WASHINGTON, D.C.
COLLEGE PARK
GRAHAM STREETT
CHILD CARE CTR.
202/332-5651
HOME
SITE ADVANCE:
COLLEGE PARK
STEVE DIMINICO
SPEECH
202/219-8271
OFFICE
SITE ADVANCE:
703-221-4161
HOME
1-800-759-4726
PIN#207-0225
PRESS ADVANCE:
RICHARD STRAUSS
202/638-0200
OFFICE
LUDTKE BOOK PARTY
DAN WEXLER
LEAD ADVANCE:
202/456-2467
OFFICE
SCHEDULER:
JAYCEE PRIBULSKY
202/456-2922
OFFICE
202/456-5340
FAX
202/544-4123
HOME
WHCA PAGER
#4797
PREV RON
The White House
9:30am
DEPART South Portico
EN ROUTE University of Maryland at College Park
[drive time: 35 minutes]
10:05am
ARRIVE University of Maryland at College Park
Greeters:
-Dr. William Kirwan, President, University of Maryland
-Mrs. Patty Kirwan, spouse
-Dr. Fran Favretto, Director, Center for Young Children
-Carol Seefeldt, Professor, Human Development Department
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1997
PAGE 2
10:10am-
TOUR OF THE CENTER FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
10:30am
Center for Young Children
University of Maryland at College Park
HRC Hold: Conference Room
Phone: 301/405-3171
Fax: n/a
CLOSED PRESS
PROGRAM:
-- The First Lady, accompanied by Dr. William
Kirwan, Mrs. Kirwan and Dr. Favretto, tours
the kindergarten classroom.
NOTE: Three students ask the First Lady 3
questions.
-- The First Lady, accompanied by Dr. William
Kirwan, Mrs. Kirwan and Dr. Favretto,
proceeds to the atrium where the pre-school
students at the Center for Young Children
sing a song.
-- The First Lady, accompanied by Dr. William
Kirwan, Mrs. Kirwan and Dr. Favretto,
proceeds to the foyer.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 106 children in the Center.
10:30am-
MEET AND GREET
10:40am
Center for Young Children
University of Maryland at College Park
HRC Hold: Conference Room
Phone: 301/405-3171
Fax: n/a
CLOSED PRESS
PROGRAM:
--
The First Lady greets students and faculty
from the University of Maryland's Department
of Human Development.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 10 people to attend.
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1997
PAGE 3
10:45am
DEPART The Center for Young Children
EN ROUTE The Tawes Theatre
[drive time: 5 minutes]
10:50am
ARRIVE The Tawes Theatre
Greeters:
-Neel Bahattacharjee, student
-Congressman Steny Hoyer
11:00am-
CHILD CARE SPEECH
12:10pm
Tawes Theatre
University of Maryland at College Park
HRC Hold: The Green Room
Phone: 301/405-8362 or 405-8363
Fax: n/a
OPEN PRESS
PROGRAM:
-- Neel Bahattacharjee, student will deliver an
announcement of the First Lady, accompanied
by Congressman Steny Hoyer, Dr. William
Kirwan, President, University of MD and Carol
Seefeldt, Professor, Human Development.
NOTE: The First Lady will seated next to
President Kirwan and Congressman Hoyer.
--
Carol Seefeldt introduces Congressman Steny
Hoyer.
--
Congressman Steny Hoyer delivers brief
remarks and introduces President Kirwan.
--
Dr. William Kirwan, President, University of
MD, introduces the First Lady.
--
The First Lady delivers remarks.
--
Upon conclusion of remarks, the First Lady
takes questions from the audience.
NOTE: There will be two University of
Maryland representatives with two microphones
who will coordinate the question and answer
session.
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1997
PAGE 4
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 1,200 people to attend.
12:15pm
DEPART University of Maryland at College Park
EN ROUTE The White House
[drive time: 30 minutes]
12:40pm
ARRIVE The White House
2:00pm
PRIVATE MEETING
2:30pm
Map Room
CLOSED PRESS/WH PHOTO ONLY
3:00pm-
CHICAGO MEETING
4:00pm
Residence
CLOSED PRESS
6:15pm
DEPART South Portico
EN ROUTE Private Residence
[drive time: 15 minutes]
6:30pm
ARRIVE Private Residence
6:30pm-
LUDTKE BOOK PARTY
8:00pm
3120 Woodley Road, N.W.
HRC Hold: Bedroom
Phone: 202/333-8860
Fax: n/a
CLOSED PRESS
PROGRAM:
-- Ellen Hume will introduce Melissa Ludtke.
-- Melissa Ludtke will do a brief reading from
her book.
-- The First Lady will have an opportunity to
deliver brief remarks.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 70 people to attend.
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1997
PAGE 5
8:00pm
DEPART Private Residence
EN ROUTE The White House
[drive time: 15 minutes]
: 15pm
ARRIVE The White House
RON
The White House
WEATHER FORECAST FOR WASHINGTON, D.C.:
-Sunny becoming partly sunny. Wind variable to south-southwest
at 5 to 10 knots. Low 49. High 72.
October 2, 1997
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AT COLLEGE PARK
CHILD CARE ADDRESS
DATE:
Friday, October 3
TIME:
10:10 am - 12:10 pm
LOCATION:
University of Maryland
College Park, MD
FROM:
Brenda Costello and Noa Meyer
I.
PURPOSE
To visit the Center for Young Children and deliver an address to students, faculty, staff,
and prominent professionals in the child care field at the University of Maryland,
College Park.
II.
BACKGROUND
Center for Young Children
The Center for Young Children's mission is to educate the children of the university
community, train early childhood teachers, and conduct research. The Center traces
back to the University of Maryland Kindergarten which was established in 1948. Today
the Institute for Child Study/Department of Human Development, College of
Education oversees the administration of the CYC. The Center moved to its current
location in 1993.
The expanded center, now called the Center for young Children, is open to students
whose parents are faculty, staff, or students. The Center's enrollment represents a
diverse student body of 120 children, ages three to six.
Children enrolled in the Center for Young Children participate in highly regulated
research studies that increase information about how children learn and develop.
Studies are conducted solely with the consent of the parents. Many studies are
observational in nature and do not require the child to leave the classroom.
University of Maryland at College Park
University of Maryland at College Park is a large, ethnically diverse public university
founded in 1784 when Washington College in Chestertown and St. John's College in
Annapolis combined. Women were admitted for the first time in 1916. Total
enrollment at U. of MD is over 32,000, with 24, 300 undergraduates and 8,500 graduate
students. Of those, 48 percent are women and 52 percent are men, with minorities
making up 37% of the student body. Sixty percent of all students receive some form of
financial aid, and 60 percent of those students receive federal aid.
In 1995-96, the university was cited as a national model by the Ford Foundation for its
efforts in achieving diversity, and was awarded a grant for further development of the
initiative. In the spring of '95, the Supreme Court let stand a Fifth Circuit Court ruling
against the University's Benjamin Banneker scholarships which made race-based
scholarships for African-Americans unconstitutional.
According to university officials, students are involved in a number of service projects
which include Advocates for Children College Park Scholars, a program in which
students practice advocacy through work in schools, community agencies, institutions,
and other organizations dedicated to improving children's lives. Other community
service programs include a Home Liaison Program, a math and science tutoring
program for at-risk children, and a crime intervention prevention/program.
Additionally, the S.A.V.E. Coalition provides mini-grants to other student groups
planning community service projects. The university is also the home of the Casey
Journalism Center for Children and Families, which you discuss in your book "It Takes
a Village" as a model for responsible journalism.
As you know, Bill Galston, one of the key architects of the student volunteer initiative
which has since evolved into Ameri Corps, has rejoined the Maryland faculty. The
service project MSTART is an Ameri Corps-funded program which involves
AmeriCorps members in tutoring and mentoring middle school students and in
recruiting high school students to also act as peer mentors and tutors.
As you will recall, you delivered the Commencement address at College Park in May,
1996.
Note: Jody Kaplan, currently working in the First Lady's correspondence Office, is a
University of Maryland graduate.
Format
When you arrive at the University of Maryland, College Park campus you will receive a
tour of the kindergarten classroom, where three students (ages 4-6) will ask you
questions, followed by a song by pre-school students. Dr. Fran Favretto, Director of the
Center for Young Children will guide you around the Center, accompanied by Dr.
William Kirwan, U of MD President and his wife, Patricia (Patti). Approximately 25
children will be in each class.
Following the tour you will meet approximately 12 U of MD students and faculty from
the University's Department of Human Development, as well as Bill Galston. You will
then proceed to the auditorium for your speech where Dr. Kirwan will introduce you.
Carol Seefeldt, Professor of Human Development, and Rep. Steny Hoyer are also in the
speaking program. Approximately 1,100 child care specialists, students, and faculty
are expected at your speech. Following your remarks, you will take questions from the
audience, coordinated by two U. of MD representatives.
Note: An overflow room on campus in the Student Union will be set up where
additional students will watch your remarks on a video screen.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
Center for Young Children
-Dr. William Kirwan, President, University of Maryland
-Mrs. Patricia "Patti" Kirwan, spouse
-Dr. Fran Favretto, Director of the Center for Young Children. (See attached bio.)
Meet and Greet
-See attached list
Speaking Program
-Neel Bahattacharjee, senior, U. of MD
-Carol Seefeldt, Professor of Human Development
-Rep. Steny Hoyer, (D-MD)
-Dr. William Kirwan, President, U. of MD
-The First Lady
IV.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
-- Center for Young Children
The First Lady, accompanied by Dr. William Kirwan, Mrs. Kirwan and Dr. Fran
Favretto, tours the kindergarten classroom. (Students ask questions)
The First Lady, Dr. William Kirwan, Mrs. Kirwan and Dr. Fran Favretto proceed
to atrium where pre-school students sing a song
The First Lady, Dr. William Kirwan, Mrs. Kirwan and Dr. Fran Favretto proceed
to foyer
-- Meet and Greet
The First Lady greets students and faculty
-- Speech
Neel Bahattacharjee announces program participants
Note: You will be seated next to President Kirwan and Rep. Hoyer
Prof. Carol Seefeldt intros Rep. Hoyer
Rep. Steny Hoyer delivers remarks and intros President Kirwan
Dr. William Kirwan will make brief remarks and intros the First Lady
The First Lady delivers remarks
Upon conclusion of remarks, the First Lady takes questions from the audience
The First Lady departs
V. PRESS
Center for Young Children:
Closed press/WH Photo.
Meet and Greet:
Closed press/WH Photo.
Tawes Theater
Open press.
VI. REMARKS
Prepared by David Shipley.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q.
I read the article in The New York Times and understand that you are
considering a national registry to check child care providers' backgrounds.
Can you tell us more about that?
A.
We should all remember how important child care providers are for our children
and families. Millions of people dedicate their lives to caring for children, often at
low wages and in difficult work conditions. We need to support them, and we are
looking at ways to do that. Naturally, parents also want assurance that their
children are safe while in child care. We are exploring a range of ideas to improve
the safety and quality of child care but have not yet settled on any one solution.
Q.
What does the government do now in child care?
A.
The federal government spends about $3 billion each year to provide subsidies for
child care to low-income working families and parents moving from welfare to
work. Since 1993, federal support has increased by about 68% and now reaches
about one million children. In addition, President Clinton has worked to promote
health and safety in child care by issuing regulations to ensure that children
receiving federal child care assistance are properly immunized and by launching
an initiative to promote partnerships between child care and health agencies. The
Administration has also significantly increased investment in Head Start and
created Early Head Start to serve young children from birth to age 3.
Q.
Are you going to propose legislation at the Child Care Conference?
A.
Our goals for this conference are to bring national attention to child care and to
launch a policy discussion on child care. After the conference we intend to consult
with Governors, Members of Congress, business, labor, experts and others. We
may well propose policies that require legislative change at the end of that process.
Q.
Can you be more specific about the policies you are considering?
A.
As I said, this conference is just the beginning of a discussion about child care.
We plan to address three areas: affordability; health, safety and quality --
particularly for infants and toddlers; and care for school-age children. As we
consult with Governors, Members of Congress, business, labor, experts and others
after the conference, we will look at proposals in each of those areas.
DHHS/ASPA
002
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S RECORD ON CHILD CARE AND HEAD START
nce 1993, the President and the First Lady have worked to expand access to quality child care. With
reased funding for Head Start and other child care programs, a new focus on children age zero to
otree, and new partnerships with states and the private sector, the Clinton Administration has worked to
help parents improve their children's development and learning.
Expanding and Improving Head Start
Providing An "Early Head Start" to Children Zero to Three The Early Head Start program, created in
1994, provides early, continuous and comprehensive child development and family support services for
low-income families with children ages zero to three and pregnant women. Designed as a major
expansion of Head Start's traditional program for three to five-year-olds, the program promotes the
physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth of infants and toddlers to prepare them for a lifetime
of learning and development.
Currently there are 143 Early Head Start programs in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico, serving over 23,000 children and families. Today, the First Lady announced the availability of
approximately $26 million for new Early Head Start grants, which will increase the 1997 enrollment to
27,000 children and families. When combined with the funds requested in the President's Fiscal Year
1998 budget, 35,000 children and families will be served by Early Head Start, an increase of
approximately 50% from FY 1996.
Working With Other Partners Last month HHS announced that Head Start expansion funds will be
used for the first time to build partnerships with child care providers to deliver full-day and full-year
Head Start services. Through these new expansion grants, Head Start and child care agencies will
combine staff and funds to provide high quality services. Children will stay in one place all day, rather
than attending Head Start for half a day and then moving to child care for the remainder of the day. In
addition, the expansion funds will provide for increased Head Start slots for children. By the end of FY
1997, some 800,000 children are expected to be enrolled in Head Start, an increase of 50,000 from the
beginning of the fiscal year
Improving Performance Standards In November 1996, HHS published revised Head Start Program
Performance Standards, developed with the consultation of thousands in the child development, family
support and health fields, that improve on the program's existing quality standards. These revised, more
user-friendly standards remove rigid and prescriptive requirements, integrate infants and toddlers into
the Head Start program, promote collaboration with other community programs, and draw on medical
expertise.
Increasing the Federal Investment in Child Care
Under the Clinton Administration, funding for Head Start has grown $1.8 billion over the past five
years, from $2.2 billion in FY 1992 to nearly $4 billion in FY 1997, an increase of more than 80
percent. These additional funds have enabled Head Start to serve 180,000 more children and their
families, enhance the quality of Head Start services, and improve program research - with the goal of
expanding Head Start to serve over one million children by the year 2002.
At the President's insistence, the new welfare reform legislation also increases child care funding by
nearly $4 billion over 6 years, allowing more single mothers to leave welfare for work. The fiscal year
1997 funds alone provide up to $2.9 billion to states, a significant increase over the estimated 1996 level
of $2.35 billion.
DHHS/ASPA
003
Giving Parents Access To Health and Safe Child Care
May 1995, HHS launched the Healthy Child Care America Campaign to promote partnerships
etween child care and health agencies to ensure that children in child care are in safe and healthy
environments and receive the health services they need. The American Academy of Pediatrics has
recently joined the campaign to provide technical assistance and to encourage health professionals
involvement in child care programs.
To support the Campaign, in October 1996, HHS made available $2.5 million in grants to States and
Territories to support and encourage the development of statewide strategies and planning for healthy, safe
child care programs. Forty six states have now launched Healthy Child Care America Campaigns at the
state and/or community levels.
In 1994, HHS launched the National Child Care Information Center to help providers start up child care
centers; assist parents in locating child care in their communities, and give researchers and policy
makers access to statistical information about child care. HHS also provides important technical
assistance to improve and expand the child care delivery systems of states, tribes and territories for low-
income families through the Child Care Technical Assistance Project.
Facts and Figures
The Need for Child Care (Source: Census Bureau)
In 1993, there were approximately 9.9 million children under age five who were in need of child
care while their mothers were working.
Of those children, 31.1 percent received care in organized child care facilities, up from 23 percent
in 1991.
Funding for Child Care
Since 1993, federal direct assistance for child care (discretionary spending and the Child Care
Development Fund) has increased by more than $1 billion.
The newly established Child Care Development Fund authorized by the welfare reform law, has
made available $2.9 billion to states to assist families moving from welfare to work.
The President's FY 1998 budget request includes a $144 million increase in federal child care
funding.
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DISTRICT
HOYER
Maryland
r
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For immediate release
Contact:
Jerry Irvine
April 30, 1997
Phone:
202/225-4131
HOYER INTRODUCES BILL TO REINVENT SOCIAL SERVICES,
COORDINATE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) yesterday introduced
legislation that will create incentives for coordinating social service programs to better serve
children and families. The Family Services Improvement Act of 1997 eliminates federal red tape
and unnecessary regulation to give local programs the flexibility they need to address problems
unique to their region.
Specifically, the bill removcs Federal road-blocks to coordinating service delivery for
families receiving assistance in a wide range of areas, including education, Head Start, maternal
and child health, job training, housing. family support, and preservation, and drug prevention and
treatment. Through a simple system of funding incentives, the bill establishes the framework by
which Federal, State and local agencies can morc efficiently deliver services to those in need.
The bill would also eliminate duplicative paperwork for those individuals attempting to gain
assistance.
In introducing the bill. Hoyer said, "Our service system is too disconnected and
confusing. If we want to help people become more self-sufficient and eventually move them off
of assistance, wc must help these families by reinventing our social services and creating a
coordinated, one-stop system."
The Hoyer legislation would establish a Federal Coordination Council which would act
as a clearing-house and facilitator for agencies that move in the direction of coordinating their
services. A "consortium" system would he established, by which three or more social service
agencies (Head Start, job training, maternal and child health, etc.) could establish their own one-
stop model. Local agencies would bc given ample flexibility to set-up their consortium to meet
the needs of their specific arca.
Last year, Hoyer pretended that he was a welfare parent for a day. He needed help with
child support cnforcement, housing, school registration, child care, and heating for his home. He
pent over half his day driving through his congressional district - valuable time that a single-
parent could otherwise spend working, receiving job training, or caring for his or her child.
"We've got to end the current practice, where case workers spend far too much time
dealing with red tape and paperwork, multiple cligibility criteria, application processes, and
service rcquirements," said Hoyer. "These workers may not know about each other or talk to
each other, even when they are helping the same families."
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SENT BY:
STENY H
DISTRICT
HOYER
Maryland
P
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For immediate release
Contact:
Jerry Irvine
April 17, 1997
Phone:
202/225-4131
HOYER JOINS DELAURO, MCGOVERN TO INTRODUCE
EARLY LEARNING AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) today introduced
comprehensive legislation to help America's children get a good start in life, particularly in the
critical early years from birth to age three.
Hoyer joined Congresswornan Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) and Congressman James P.
McGovern (D-MA) to introduce the Early Learning and Opportunity Act. The announcement
comes at a time when the nation is increasingly focused on the importance of development
during a child's first three years. The President and Mrs. Clinton arc hosting a White House
Conference today on Early Childhood Development lo highlight these issues.
"This bill provides the necessary fuel to innovate and streamline programs and services
for children under three," said Hoyer. "There is mounting scientific evidence that shows that
there is no greater return on an investment than the resources devoted to our nation's youngest
children By investing wisely today, we will reap huge returns down the road with a healthier and
better educated America."
The DeLauro-Hoyer-McGoven bill would improve the quality and availability of care
for children under age three, and improve the coordination and effectiveness of family support
services to parents with children in that age group.
"This bill helps focus the country on the incredibly vital issue of early childhood
development," said Hoyer. "As we enter the 21st Century, we must increase our commitment to
enhancing and improving the education and general care of our children at the earliest possible
stages."
- more -
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SENT BY:
DeLauro-Hoyer Bill, Add One
The DeLauro-Hoyer-McGovem legislation will:
Create a flexible competitive state grant to:
improve the quality and availability of care for children under age three;
improve the quality and availability of support services to families with children
aged zero to three;
encourage states to improve coordination of existing scrvices to these families to
reduce duplication and improve their efficiency.
-
Amend the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover companies with more than 20
employees. This will extend parcntal leave privileges to an additional 13 million working
women.
Increase funding for Head Start and, over four years, more than double funds available
for the Early Start program which provides education, health, nutrition and parent support
services to children aged zcro to three.
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 3, 1997
REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
ON CHILD CARE
The University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland
MRS. CLINTON: Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Neil. Thank you, Professor Seefeldt. Thank you, Congressman Hoyer. Thank
you, President Kirwan.
As I was sitting up here and Steny was introducing the President's family, when he
introduced his wife, President Kirwan turned to me and said, you know, I met her in junior
high school. (Laughter.) He said, she sat behind me and she couldn't stand me. (Laughter.)
And I thought, that's exactly the kind of memories I have from junior high school you
know, the boy you really liked at the end of the year was the one you couldn't stand at the
beginning of the year.
But this junior high school romance has certainly stood the test of time. And I'm delighted
to be here with your family and with the family of this great university.
I came here today for a number of reasons. Part of it, as the President suggested, is because
I enjoyed my visit to be the commencement speaker so much and was very honored to
receive an honorary degree, and also because I have followed with great interest the work
that is being done at this university in many areas. But in particular, I have been impressed
by the work that has been done in the area of human development, social and public policy.
And we, of course, as you know, we're blessed in the White House by having Professor
Galston with us for a number of years, so I feel a real kinship with the work that is done
here and the people who are part of this great university community.
So when the opportunity arose for me to come and speak with you about an upcoming
White House Conference on Child Care, I immediately seized it, because, as the
Congressman said, the President and I are hosting a White House Conference on Child Care
on October 23rd, and I wanted to come and tell you why this is an issue that deserves White
House attention, deserves the attention of our nation, one that we hope will raise awareness
of these issues around our country.
Some of you may recall that last spring the President and I hosted a Conference on Early
Learning and Brain Research, and we brought to the nation's attention the very exciting
work that has been done by researchers here at NIH and elsewhere across the country that
demonstrates clearly how important it is that we take the first three years of life, because of
what is happening in a child's brain. And we wanted to get that information out because,
although many people intuitively knew that, and experts like Professor Seefeldt taught that,
there wasn't the hard data that supported that information until recently, with the kind of
work that has been going on in brain research.
And so, for a lot of reasons, this is a time when all of us have to focus on what we best can
do in our own homes and families, as well as in our larger society, to ensure that each child
has a chance to live up to his or her promise.
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I saw that in action this morning here at the Center for Young Children. What a wonderful
facility you have here -- a child care center that is warm and inviting, with workers that are
creative and energetic and focused, a range of books and toys and crafts materials.
I answered question from the five-year-olds who wanted to know, among other things, what
my favorite food was, what my favorite color was -- and then a real stumper was what my
favorite roller coaster was. (Laughter.) I had to confess to this little boy that it has been so
long since I've been on a roller coaster I couldn't remember the names of any of the roller
coasters I like. But I certainly had the feeling that this is a place where children are
treasured and valued and stimulated, a place that any of us would happily stay for juice and
nap time any day.
But that center is far too rare, even though more and more families are seeking child care.
In fact, over half of the infants under age one are in day care; 12 million children under the
age of six, and 17 million more age six through 13, have both parents or their only parent in
the work force. The plain fact is that there is simply not enough quality care for the children
who need it. Quality child care is financially out of reach for the hard-working American
families whose children deserve the best attention they can receive.
So today I come with a very straightforward proposition that this situation must change for
the sake of our children and our future. And there are ways I want to suggest that each of us
can participate in this change.
Every working parent in this room and in this country knows how urgent the matter is. Any
mom or dad who has ever left a child with a care-giver for even a minute has felt at the gut
level the importance of quality care. The stress around child care affects families ranging
from the poorest all the way to the most affluent. It is a daily pressure for parents with
preschoolers and parents with children in school who, for whatever reason, cannot get home
to supervise a child themselves.
For more than 25 years, I have worked on issues affecting children and families. But in the
last four and a half years I've been privileged to travel around our country on my own and
with my husband, listening and talking with parents about their economic concerns, the
issues that affect them on the streets where they live, whether it's crime or the environment,
and I've heard over and over again how important child care is. Yet, despite its importance
in our everyday lives, it is not an issue that has been dealt with effectively by our society.
Now, there are many reasons for this oversight, and some of you who are students of
human development and child care could recite many of them, I'm sure. But I think it's fair
to say that until the demographics of our citizenry changed, until economic forces and
women's choices led so many mothers into the work force, this was not an issue that many
people thought was serious. It was, like many issues affecting children in the past, viewed
as a soft issue that was of disproportionate concern to women. Yet now we know it is one
of the hardest issues we face and it is an issue that has economic and social implications
that go far beyond the individual concern that each of us brings to it.
Fortunately, times are changing -- partly because of the work that many of you are doing,
partly because more and more parents are speaking out, partly because America's employers
have come to understand that the strength of their bottom lines depends on workers who are
not absent, who will have their mind on their work when they're there, whose child care
needs are being met; and partly because we have people in leadership like the President of
this university, like this member of Congress before you who represents you, and because
of my husband and members of Congress and state legislators of both parties and many
governors who have made this a priority.
All of this brings us together in the name of a shared belief that the children of our country
deserve child care as fine as that provided right here at this university. In fact, American
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children deserve the best care in the world.
Now, there are many reasons to put our children's needs first, but let me just mention a few
of them. One reason, as I've already stated, is because we know that how we care for our
children is critical to their intellectual and emotional development. You know, it wasn't so
long ago -- and I can actually recall when I was younger and thinking about children a lot
and even pregnant with my own -- that it used to be kind of a joke among a lot of fathers
that I knew that they would say, well, you know, let's wait until he can throw a ball or she
can talk to me and then I'll pay attention. And it was the kind of attitude that had been
prevalent for most of history that very young children should be cared for by their mothers,
other women, that there wasn't much for fathers to do because there wasn't much happening
until a child started to in some way assert a personality, act on his or her own. Well, now
we know clearly that that was mistaken. As we talked about at the White House Conference
on Early Childhood Development in April, what happens to a child in those earliest years
can make all the difference for a lifetime.
Just 15 years ago, even scientists thought that a baby's brain structure was virtually
complete at birth. Now, neuroscience tells us that it is a work in progress and that
everything we do with a child has some kind of potential physical influence on that rapidly
forming brain. As one participant at the White House Conference put it, nature and nurture
don't compete, they cooperate.
Children's earliest experiences the sights and sounds and smells and feelings they
encounter, the challenges they meet --they determine how their brains are wired. For those
of you who know a lot more about computers than I know, we're talking about how the
brain shapes itself through repeated experiences. The more something is repeated, the
stronger the neurocircuitry becomes. And those connections, in turn, can be permanent. In
this way, even the seemingly unimportant, totally forgettable events of our first years are
anything but trivial. It is during this time that children learn to soothe themselves when
they're upset, to empathize, to get along with others, to become and we hope they will
human beings of the finest order.
Experiences in those first three years of life can also determine how well a child learns.
When someone speaks, reads or plays with an infant or toddler, her or she, whether it is a
parent, a grandparent, an older sibling or a care-giver, is activating the connections in that
child's brain that will one day enable her to think and read and speak and solve problems
herself. Now, what that means is that sub-par care, whether in the home or in a child care
setting, means that a young brain is being deprived of what it needs to live up to its natural
potential.
Now, that is a very serious conclusion for us to reach, and now we have no more excuses. If
we know that ignoring the child, being impatient, pushing off an 8-month-old or a
16-month-old, failing to invest the time that is necessary in that two-and-a-half-year-old,
then we have to acknowledge it's not just a momentary action, but it adds to the past and the
present and the feelings that that child is internalizing, and it also, literally, affects the
brain.
Another reason we need to act is that we now have evidence that child care is too often
inadequate. Research presents a troubling picture. A recent national study of child care
centers found that 70 percent of children are in care that is barely adequate; 10 percent are
in care that is dangerous to their health and safety. Infants and toddlers are at the greatest
risk, with 40 percent in care that poses a threat to their health and well-being. That means
that they spend hours of their days with care-givers who do not follow basic sanitary
practices, who rarely cuddle, talk to or play with these infants and toddlers, in rooms that
lack toys and other materials to encourage development, and in places where the ratio of
children to adults is too high for individual attention. Only 20 percent of our children are in
what we could call "high quality care," such as what I saw this morning.
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A study of child care in family-based settings found equally disturbing patterns. Only 56
percent of these programs provided adequate care. Thirty-five percent were deemed
inadequate, which means, as we now know, that the hours spent there could actually
undercut a child's development. And only nine percent offered high-quality care, which was
defined as enhancing the growth and development of children. And even where quality care
is available, it is often financially out of reach for parents, particularly low-income parents.
According to the 1995 census, families earning under $1,200 a month pay an average of 24
to 25 percent of their income for child care. That takes a big chunk out of a household
budget. But it was still not enough to ensure quality care. I asked about the cost of the child
care centers here on this campus, and there is a sliding scale, which is very important, but it
still costs between $340 and $600 a month. Middle class families are hit hard as well.
Families earning up to $36,000 pay out 12 percent of their income for child care without
any guarantee that that 12 percent is buying quality. It is difficult to think of a consumer
situation in America where so many people are paying so much and too often getting so
little.
Another reason we need to act is that we now know from another study that was just
completed by the National Institute for Child Health and Development that good child care
can be beneficial to young children, whether it is care given at home or in a day care center.
Now, there's not doubt that the most important, lasting influence on any child is that child's
family. But we do know that good, quality child care can improve a child's chances, if that
child is in a difficult family situation or enhance a chid's learning and maturity if that child
is in a good family situation. And for children who come out of family situations that are
not always conducive to their well-being, bad child care can make a difficult situation even
worse.
Now, a final reason we need to act is because of the changing nature of the work force. We
know that the American work force has changed dramatically in the past 40 years and that
has meant dramatic changes in family life. Half of all mothers with children under the age
of one are working outside the home, and not only are more parents working, they are
working longer hours. So this issue must become a policy challenge for all of us because it
clearly affects the well-being of children, American workers, and the dynamism of our
economy itself.
I would imagine that many of you who are parents and those of you who are students, not
yet parents, can equally shut your eyes and imagine or think back to one of those
work-family conflicts that has occurred in all of our lives. Even though my daughter is a
freshman in college, I still remember vividly the days when my child care arrangements fell
through and I was not able to do anything about them. Now, luckily for me, those were
very few because I had the kind of job where if my daughter were sick or if she had a
special occasion that I wanted to take advantage of in her preschool or her school years, I
could arrange my schedule. That is not the case for the vast majority of working moms and
dads.
I also had the advantage, except for two years of her life, to live in a Governor's Mansion
where there were lots of people around. That is not a common experience for most working
mothers. And so I'm very aware that my situation was unique. But even with it, I recall
vividly those few times when, despite my best efforts and a very supportive husband and all
of the balancing we all do, it just all fell through and I had to scramble like crazy to make
up for it.
One time in particular when I couldn't cancel something or just not go into work or go in
late I had to be in court at 9:00 a.m. and Chelsea was up all night sick and my
baby-sitter was sick, probably with the same thing Chelsea was sick with, and my husband
was out of town and my family wasn't around, and I called one of my best friends and she
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wasn't available. And it was just a real terrible feeling that you get when you know that you
want to be with your child and because of work demands you can't. And I was lucky
enough to find a neighbor who could come in and sit with her. And I called home every
chance I had a break and rushed home when I finished to find her very well taken care of.
But that is not what is available to most parents. And I know it is infinitely tougher for most
women who every day are trying to do the best they can. And I honestly don't know how
single parents do it. And I think we ought to be very sympathetic and very supportive of all
parents, but particularly of single parents.
Too many children end up because of their parents' challenges, caring for themselves or
being supervised by older siblings. And we know what happens when children are left
unsupervised. According to the FBI, it is during the late afternoon that our youngest
children, those who are in their preteens or early teens, are most likely to experiment with
drugs, to become involved with criminal gangs, to get pregnant, to commit violence or to
get in trouble in other ways. So, when that 3:00 p.m. bell rings, kids are relieved, but a lot
of working parents panic. And we have to find a way to help parents with school-aged
children as well.
So we know we need to act, but where do we start. Well, we can learn from models of
excellent child care around our country. They can provide the energy and expertise and
inspiration for what we need to do now. One very bright spot is the military's child care
system. Our Defense Department runs the largest child care system in the world, taking care
of the children of the parents who are in the front lines of America. I was privileged just
two days ago at Quantico Marine Base to be able to see firsthand what is being provided for
the children of our Armed Forces and I have to say I saw what every parent would want for
her child a beautiful facility, well-trained workers, high standards, unannounced
inspections both in the center and in the family day care settings, a toll-free number for
parents to call with their concerns, mandatory training for everyone that comes into contact
with and works with a child, and, most importantly, good wages and solid benefits and
respect for staff. Now, that has resulted in lower turnover and more experienced
care-givers.
Now, that wasn't always the case, and I learned in a very open discussion that the military's
child care was not always what we would hold up as an example. In fact, even the center
that I visited at Quantico is brand-new because the previous one had to be shut down
because it didn't make the grade a few years ago. But, the leadership of our military knows
that readiness depends upon mothers and fathers being able to do their work without
worrying about who's caring for their children. So the military made a commitment to
turning its child care system around and Quantico is now a shining example of what can be
done.
I want to tell two stories that I heard. The first, from one of the commanders there was what
happens before good child care in the military. I heard about a mother and a father who
were both called to duty on an emergency basis at the same time. I believe they were both
pilots. They had to be in the air at the same time. When that happened, they had to bring
their two infants in bassinets to the office of their commander (laughter) leave those
bassinets in their commander's office with instructions for care and feeding. Now, that beats
any story about child care challenges that I've ever heard.
The second story is about what happens now that there is quality care available, no matter
what the occasion. I met a staff sergeant, a single dad raising two little girls. He said that
when he took his daughters to day care the first day they cried when he dropped them off,
but the second day they cried when he came to pick them up. (Laughter.) I was especially
impressed by this very tough Marine who's obviously put in his time at the weight training
facility, talking with great pride about how he mastered pigtails and ponytails for his
daughters. But I think part of the reason his confidence is so high about embarking on the
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rather daunting task of being a single dad of two little girls is because he's gotten a lot of
support from the child care facility and the care-givers who have been there, helping him
along, encouraging him, giving him advice, helping to create that village.
On a serious note also, we were privileged to have Lt. Colonel Pote (phonetic), who I see in
the audience here, speak about the perspective of the child care system from the perspective
of a commander. He said that his soldiers are more productive when they don't have to
worry about their children. Now, I probably should say his Marines are more productive
when they don't have to worry about their children. And the result of that is a much higher
level of preparedness 24 hours a day.
Now, there are certainly differences between the military and civilian sector, but I believe
that the military's experience can serve as a beacon for the American workplace in general.
When parents don't have to come to work feeling concerned about how their children are
doing, they can make a much more positive contribution which benefits all of us.
Just before I visited Quantico I was in Miami at Baptist Hospital there that also has made a
commitment to child care. I saw another first-class facility. I learned about how they had
adjusted the hours because, just like the military, they have 24-hour work days in a hospital.
And I heard a lot of detail from the chief executive officer about why it is good economic
sense to provide this service.
I met at the hospital with the Board of Directors of something called Florida's Child Care
Executive Partnership, a group of business executives appointed by Governor Lawton
Chiles to address child care issues. In creating this partnership, Florida put aside $2 million
the first year to match dollar for dollar corporate contributions for child care. And the board
was charged with engaging the private sector in this effort.
Once asked, the Florida business community responded quickly and generously, and this
year the legislature and the business community are doubling their commitment so that
we're taking both public dollars and private-sector dollars and pooling them to create more
affordable quality child care. And because of this effort, thousands of more working
families in Florida now have access to the kind of care I saw at Quantico, I saw at Baptist
Hospital, and I saw here at the university.
Because we know that providing good child care requires community involvement. The
grant money in Florida only goes to communities where businesses have come together
with child care organizations to forge a plan of action. And when I asked these business
leaders why they thought the partnership was successful, they didn't hesitate to answer in
very businesslike terms; they said it was good for the bottom line. They said they didn't
have to spend as much time recruiting new workers who left because of child care
problems, they didn't have to spend as much money recruiting new workers who had to be
trained, they didn't have to worry about absenteeism, which had been cut dramatically.
Now, that was also the experience of many other businesses with whom I have met, and I
just find it being repeated over and over again.
So, because I find the partnership concept so impressive, I'm very pleased to announce
today that the Department of Health and Human Services is awarding a half million dollar
grant to the Families and Work Institute, the National Governors Association, and the
Finance Project, to assist states in developing these partnerships with the private sector.
And the President has, earlier this year, tasked the military, the Department of Defense, to
work with the private sector to take the experience they've gained, their guidelines which
have been carefully written, and bring those to the table to discuss with more child care
centers and family day care providers what can be done to use money like that available in
Florida to make models that can be replicated. Because all sectors of society have to be
involved -- businesses, schools, police departments, religious organizations, libraries,
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citizens organizations, the federal, state and the local governments.
We hope that the White House Conference will be a catalyst to bringing many of these
sectors together. I also hope that at the White House Conference we will discuss ways that
could assist parents who wish to make the choice to stay at home with their children more
economically feasible, because it's not just creating good child care centers and family day
care centers outside the home; how do we create real choices that are available to working
families so that they, in the privacy of their family, can make a decision that it is
economically feasible for one parent to be there for their children.
It is important to remember that this conference is a starting point. I hope that it marks the
beginning of national discussion and action. And I hope that its focus on the three key areas
will spark individual ideas around the country. Now, the three key areas are the lack of
affordable child care, quality concerns, and the need for school-age care.
We have already discussed affordability, and we've made some progress. The President
took some steps to address this need. For starters, he expanded federal funding for child
care. In fact, since 1993, child care funding has risen by approximately 68 percent, and it
now reaches more than one million children through subsidies which is critical if they're
going to have financial access to quality care. And I'm encouraged, too, that in the last four
years more states are committing their own resources to help working people pay for
quality child care.
In the balanced budget agreement, the $500 child tax credit will go to 27 million families
with 45 million children under the age of 17. Now, for the typical American family with
two kids, this child tax credit will mean $1,000 more in take-home pay per year. That is
especially important for low-income families who are also going to benefit from this child
tax credit. Thirteen million children from families with incomes below $30,000 will receive
the credit. That's a lot of young teachers, police officers, farmers, nurses, and others who
will have some extra income to put into whatever their family decides, but certainly one of
the great expenses is improving child care. Also, through the expanded Earned Income Tax
Credit, more working families have had a cut in their taxes, which has on average meant an
increase in their income of over $1,000.
So there have been real steps forward so that there is more child care available, it's
subsidized, and there is more of an opportunity for families with children to take advantage
of these programs.
The President has also made child care an essential component of welfare reform. He
insisted that welfare reform include spending for child care because we're putting a lot more
women, single women with children, into the work force. So it will be increased by nearly
$4 billion over the next six years.
But that is still not enough and we have a long way to go to explore how better to enable
parents to meet their child care costs.
Quality is the second key issue. We have to do more to support child care providers. We
have not done a good job of lifting up the profession that is so important in taking care of
our children and matching that with increased income and job opportunities and benefits.
I've been to a lot of child care centers and I've met many, many terrific people running and
working in them. But their salaries are woefully low, and many leave the profession
because it's not one that enables them to support themselves and their own families. I
remember one provider who told me with tears in her eyes that with the birth of her second
child, she had to leave taking care of children, which is what she loved to do more than
anything, and go to work in an office because she needed to make more income.
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So we have to do all we can to encourage and support child care workers to get training, to
build their skills and increase their knowledge, which will demand higher salaries and
benefits. We have to find the very best people to take the jobs of caring for our children
because parents should not have to worry whether their child is safe at day care. And the
vast majority of teachers are absolutely superb in caring for their children, but there are a
few who we need to make sure do not go into the classrooms of our day care centers.
And we also have to help parents do a better job of searching out good child care. In survey
after survey, when parents are asked, they really don't know what they're looking for. They
don't know what kind of equipment should be there; they don't know what kind of training
they would be demanding for the child care workers. Too often, parents are better informed
about what kind of car to buy than what kind of child care to choose. So we have to help
parents become more informed consumers to create that demand that will absolutely say to
the marketplace: we must have higher quality for the money we're paying.
One of the interesting results of a lot of the research that has been done recently is that good
quality child care is generally, but not always, more expensive than inadequate child care.
And in the middle, there is a lot of child care that could be vastly improved with some good
training and better guidance, that would make a big difference for the money that is being
paid.
Now, I hope that we will continue to focus on safeguarding the health and safety of children
in our disparate system around the country. Certainly, the President earmarked money
going to the states for child care for quality improvements. And this summer he proposed a
new rule requiring that child care programs that receive federal dollars make sure that all
children are immunized.
And in 1995 the administration launched the Healthy Child Care America Campaign, which
promotes partnerships between child care centers and health agencies. That initiative, now
in 46 states, teaches child care centers how to create safe healthy environments. A lot of
times when we do these surveys and we get the results, and people go in and say, this isn't
sanitary, this is not appropriate the child care workers don't know that; nobody's told
them; they're not sure about what they're supposed to be doing. So through the Healthy
Child Care America Campaign, we intend to do a better job of educating child care
workers.
And, finally, school-age care, a critical issue for millions of working American families. I
have visited some excellent school-age child care programs. The other day in Quantico, I
visited one of their schools and saw what was available for the children there. But most
children and their parents do not yet have access to good school-age child care -- places
where the children can do homework or play sports or learn to play a musical instrument.
"Home Alone" might have been a hit movie, but it is not a good script for real children's
lives, and we need to move to make sure more children can safely and productively spend
those after-school hours in a place like a school or a library or some other setting that is
good for them.
I'd like to close with one thought and then invite your questions. We are privileged to live
in a time of tremendous bounty in our country. We are at peace. Our economy is booming.
Social problems that for years held us back are receding. The crime rate is down. The
teenage pregnancy rate is down. On so many fronts we're making progress together. And a
time such as this presents a special opportunity. Free from crisis, we can do work that might
not be possible in stormier moments. So we should use this good fortune to make a
difference, to lay the groundwork so that the generations of children to come will be able,
themselves, to build a country that has so many opportunities and take advantage of the
blessings that we all have.
So turning to child care is not just something that is a nice issue to talk about. It is, as the
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President calls it, the next great frontier of public policy. To build up and strengthen our
families, to give them more support so they can do their jobs both at home and in the
workplace will help us chart that frontier not only so that we are led to a better world for
the children I saw today, but for generations of American children to come. And I invite all
of you to be part in taking action to make sure that happens.
Than you all very much. (Applause.)
I'm glad there were babies here. That's a wonderful reminder of why this is SO important.
(Applause.)
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Copyright 1997 The Washington Post
The Washington Post
View Related Topics
October 04, 1997, Saturday, Final Edition
SECTION: A SECTION; Pg. A09
LENGTH: 478 words
HEADLINE: First Lady Presses Child-Care Reform; In U-Md. Speech, Clinton Praises Center There
and One at Quantico
BYLINE: Jackie Spinner, Washington Post Staff Writer
BODY:
First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visited a child-care center at the University of Maryland at College
Park yesterday and later in a speech used the occasion to repeat her call for reform in the nation's
day-care industry.
Addressing a crowd of 1,300 university students and faculty and staff members in a packed Tawes
Theatre auditorium on campus, Clinton said the university's Center for Young Children, and a similar
facility she visited at Quantico Marine Corps Base this week, are rare examples of quality child care.
She said the U.S. military's approach in particular should be a model for the workplace.
"There are certainly differences between the military and civilian sector, but I believe the military
experience can serve as a beacon for the American workplace in general," Clinton said. "When parents
don't have to come to work feeling concerned about how their children are doing, they can make a more
positive contribution that benefits all of us."
The first lady's visit was intended to set the stage for a White House conference on child care planned for
Oct. 23. Upon her arrival in the auditorium, she was greeted with thunderous applause and a standing
ovation. She gave her address in front of a huge red, white and blue banner that proclaimed, "Better
Child Care for a Better America."
Clinton had warm praise for the university's child-care center, where she met with a group of
5-year-olds.
"This is a place where children are treasured and valued and stimulated, a place that any of us would
happily stay for juice and nap-time any day," she said. "But that center is far too rare."
Later, when audience members were invited to ask the first lady questions, Paula J. Broglio, a university
secretary, told Clinton that she had tried to enroll her own 4-year-old in the Center for Young Children
but could not afford the fees.
The center enrolls 120 children, ages 3 to kindergarten. The day-care center has a sliding fee scale, but
Broglio said she would still have to pay $ 500 a month, which is 25 percent of her salary.
Broglio said that if she didn't have the help of her parents, she would have to quit her job and go on
welfare.
"The biggest problem out there is affordable, good-quality day care," Broglio said. "I can't find it."
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In response, Clinton said Broglio is "a perfect example of the kind of problem I'm trying to illustrate."
She said the October conference at the White House will address the issue of affordable child care and
other issues, including the need for day care for school-age children.
"We need more subsidies for working parents, particularly single parents," Clinton said. "If we are going
to have a policy in our country of ending welfare and expecting everyone to work, we have to do more to
support those parents with children who are trying to do the best they can."
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
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Copyright 1997 Associated Press
AP Online
October 03, 1997; Friday 16:19 Eastern Time
SECTION: Washington - general news
LENGTH: 293 words
HEADLINE: Mrs. Clinton: Too Little Child Care
DATELINE: COLLEGE PARK, Md.
BODY:
Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday she hoped participants at a White House conference this month
can come up with solutions to a shortage of child-care facilities in America.
"There simply is not enough child care for those who need it," she said in a speech at the University of
Maryland after touring the university's child-care center.
The speech capped a week in which the first lady also visited child-care centers in southern Florida and
at the Marine Corps base at Quantico, Va., in an effort to build interest in the Oct. 23 conference.
At Maryland, Mrs. Clinton cited research showing that much of existing child care is inadequate.
"A recent national study of child-care centers found that 70 percent of children are in care that is barely
adequate," she explained. "Ten percent are in care that is dangerous to their health and safety.
"Infants and toddlers are at greatest risk, with 40 percent in care that poses a threat to their health and
well-being," she added. "Only 20 percent of our children are in what we could call high-quality care
centers."
The first lady also contended that "equally disturbing patterns" often are found in family homes.
And she added, "Even when quality care is available, frequently it is out of reach financially."
That point was emphasized after her speech by a university secretary who told the first lady that child
care takes about 25 percent of her salary. Without the aid of a church scholarship, she would not be able
to afford the care, she said.
Mrs. Clinton said she hoped that some of the proposals at the White House conference will focus on the
economic problems.
"We need more subsidies for working families, particularly for single parents," she said.
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Copyright 1997 The Baltimore Sun Company
The Baltimore Sun
October 4, 1997, Saturday, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: TELEGRAPH (NEWS), Pg. 4A
LENGTH: 739 words
HEADLINE: First lady's challenge promotes child care; She calls for increase in subsidies to improve
status of work, availability
BYLINE: Michael Dresser, SUN STAFF
BODY:
COLLEGE PARK Hillary Rodham Clinton challenged government and the private sector yesterday
to embark on a concerted effort to improve the quality, availability and affordability of child care for
working Americans.
Venturing into what she called "the next great frontier of public policy," the first lady called for
increased subsidies to improve the status of child care work and to make high-quality care available to
middle-class families.
Clinton offered few specific proposals yesterday in what the White House had billed as a major policy
address at the University of Maryland. But her remarks signaled that the emotionally charged issue of
how children are cared for while their parents are at work could become an important theme for the
Clinton administration in the coming year.
The administration plans to hold a White House conference on child care Oct. 23. Clinton said she
hoped the conference would begin "a national discussion."
She did not propose federal programs or spending. But she gave a hint of the direction of her thinking by
citing a Florida program in which the state government matches, dollar for dollar, corporate
contributions to set up child care centers.
The first lady said Florida business leaders had told her that the program helped them save on employee
recruitment expenses and minimize turnover.
Rare visit to issues
The speech marked one of the first lady's rare returns to the public policy arena since she led the Clinton
administration's health care reform initiative in 1994. Burned by the failure of that effort and under
scrutiny in the Whitewater investigations, she has largely avoided speaking out on issues that might stir
up conservative critics.
Her speech yesterday was based on a premise that few working parents would dispute: "There is simply
not enough quality care for the children who need it." It came after her visits this week to child care
centers in Florida and at the Marine Corps base at Quantico, Va., to try to spark interest in the White
House conference.
Yesterday, she cited survey findings that only 20 percent of U.S. children in child care programs are
receiving high-quality attention and that "infants and toddlers are at greatest risk, with 40 percent in care
that poses a threat to their health and well-being."
Clinton noted that researchers have found that children's intellectual and emotional development benefits
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enormously from stimulation -- including hugging and baby talk - in their first year of life. "Whether in
the home or in a child care setting, many a young brain is being deprived of what it needs to live up to
its potential," she said.
One obstacle to improvementis that pay in the child care field is "woefully low," she said, calling for
higher salaries and increased training for child care workers.
Shortage of options
The first lady said her concern was not confined to preschool children. She also cited a shortage of
after-school care options for children ages 6 to 13. 'Home Alone' may have been a hit movie, but it is
not a good script for real children's lives," she said, mentioning an increased risk of violence, drug use
and teen-age pregnancy among unsupervised children.
Clinton cited the U.S. military as a model of a large organization that has invested heavily in child care
services. She said the armed forces have found that soldiers are more productive when they don't have to
worry about their children.
The first lady's speech -- delivered to an overwhelmingly friendly crowd struck a responsive chord
with listeners of all ages.
Pamela Bradley, a Maryland sophomore from Columbia, said that she really hadn't thought of child care
as an issue for people of college age. "Hopefully, through her work we won't have to deal with these
issues in five to 10 years," she said.
Joan Broglio of Adelphi said she has become, by default, the day-care provider for her 4-year-old
grandson, whose mother is a $ 25,000-a-year secretary.
"If you go to the grocery store on any school day, half of the people wheeling toddlers around are
grandparents," said Broglio, 69. "It affects the whole family."
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat who appeared onstage with Clinton, said that in taking on
child care, the first lady was making a wise choice.
"I think there's largely a consensus," he said. "I don't think it's like health care at all."
Pub Date: 10/04/97
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PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
16/02/01
October 27, 1997
CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND 25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
DATE:
Monday, October 20
TIME:
8:20 pm - 10:15 pm
LOCATION:
Lincoln Center
New York, NY
FROM:
Brenda Costello
I.
PURPOSE
To deliver remarks at the Children's Defense Fund's 25th Anniversary Gala at Lincoln
Center.
II.
BACKGROUND
The Children's Defense Fund will kick-off their year-long silver anniversary celebration
with a service on Sunday and Monday in New York. On Sunday, CDF will host a
service at St. John the Divine in New York - free and open to the public, with musical
performances by youth organizations and a reception to follow. Approximately 2,000
people are expected to attend.
Monday evening's Gala program will feature Rosie O'Donnell and the Dance Theatre of
Harlem, several dance, music and comedian performances, as well as a 7-minute
retrospective video of CDF and its accomplishments. An audience of 1,500 friends of
CDF, donors, and corporate patrons is expected at The Lincoln Center Gala.
Format
Following most of the performances, during the Dance Theatre of Harlem, you will be
escorted backstage to prepare for your remarks. You will be introduced by Glenn
Close. Following your remarks you will introduce Marian Wright Edelman, who will
introduce surprise guest Whitney Houston.
You will be seated with Marian Wright Edelman and eight members of her family
(husband Peter, children and their guests). Prior to the Gala you will take a photo with
a small group of performers. Following the Gala you will have a brief meet and greet
with all of the Gala performers.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
Photo
-The First Lady
-Marian Wright Edelman
-Rosie O'Donnell
-Glenn Close
-Iman
-Whitney Houston
-Sam Harris
-Lillias White
-Joy Behar
Remarks
-The First Lady
-Glenn Close
-Marian Wright Edelman
IV.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
-- Performances
The First Lady is escorted backstage
Glenn Close introduces the First Lady
The First Lady delivers remarks and introduces Marian Wright Edelman
Marian Wright Edelman delivers remarks and intros Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston presents a check for CDF
In closing, the ARC Choir performs
The First Lady proceeds to Post-Performance Reception
The First Lady departs
V.
PRESS
Closed press.
VI. REMARKS
Provided by David Shipley.
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
10/22/97
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1997
DRAFT #3*
WASHINGTON, D.C./ PHILADELPHIA, PA/ WASHINGTON, D.C.
PHILADELPHIA
LEAD ADVANCE:
KAREN BURCHARD
RM# 1624
WARWICK HOTEL
215/735-6000
PHONE
1800-SKY-8888
PAGER
PIN #210-3268
202/757-9471
CELL
SITE ADVANCE
PAUL RIVERA
RM# 1625
1800-SKY-8888
PAGER
PIN #164-8257
PRESS ADVANCE:
JASON SCHECTER
RM#
BLAIR HOUSE
JULIE HUFFMAN
ADVANCE:
202/456-5315
PHONE
SCHEDULER:
WENDY ARENDS
202/456-2922
PHONE
202/456-5340
FAX
202/518-8209
HOME
PREV RON
The White House
9:00 am-
VOLUNTEER EVENT [w/POTUS]
9:30 am
South Lawn
CLOSED PRESS/WH PHOTO
FORMAT:
-
The President and the First Lady are
announced from the Diplomatic Reception Room,
accompanied by Dan Burkhardt and Shelley
Walker.
-
The First Lady makes brief welcoming remarks
and introduces Dan Burkhardt.
-
Dan Burkhardt makes brief remarks and
introduces the President.
-
The President makes brief remarks.
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1997
PAGE 2
-
Upon the conclusion of his remarks, the
President and the First Lady work a ropeline
and depart.
PARTICIPANTS: Approximately 500 attendees
9:30 am-
CHILD-CARE PRESS BRIEFING
11:00 am
Map Room
OPEN PRESS
PARTICIPANTS:
Donna Shalala, Secretary, Health and Human
Services
Ellen Galinsky, President, Families and Work
Institute
Debra Phillips, Director, Board on Children, Youth
and Families at the National Institute of Medicine
11:05 am
DEPART South Portico
EN ROUTE Andrews Air Force Base
[drive time: 20 minutes]
11:25 am
ARRIVE Andrews Air Force Base
11:40 pm
WHEELS UP Andrews Air Force Base
EN ROUTE Philadelphia International Airport
[flight time: 35 minutes]
12:15 pm
WHEELS DOWN Philadelphia International Airport
12:30 pm
DEPART Philadelphia International Airport
EN ROUTE The University of Pennsylvania
[drive time: 20-25 minutes]
12:50 pm
ARRIVE The University of Pennsylvania
GREETERS:
Judge Marjorie Rendell
Dr. Judith Rodin, President, University of
Pennsylvania
Terri Gelberg, Chair, Trustees' Council of Penn
Women
Pamela Reis, Chair, Tenth Anniversary Celebration
Chris Hikawa, Chair, Beacon Award Committee
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1997
PAGE 3
1:00 pm-
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
1:55 pm
TRUSTEES' COUNCIL OF PENN WOMEN
The University of Pennsylvania
Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center
Philadelphia, PA
Hold:
Dressing Room 8
Phone:
215/573-4713
Fax:
215/573-4716
FORMAT:
-
Dr. Judith Rodin, President, University
of Pennsylvania, introduces the First Lady
onstage.
-
Pamela Reis, Chair, Tenth Anniversary
Celebration, makes welcoming remarks and
introduces Terri Gelberg.
-
Terri Gelberg, Chair, Trustees' Council
of Penn Women, makes remarks and introduces
President Rodin.
-
President Rodin makes remarks and introduces
Judge Marjorie Rendell.
-
Judge Rendell makes remarks, introduces the
First Lady and presents her with the 1997
Beacon Award.
-
The First Lady makes remarks and takes Q & A.
-
President Rodin presents the First Lady with a
University of Pennsylvania sweatshirt.
I
The First Lady has the option of working a
ropeline from left to right.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 1000 to attend
2:15 pm
DEPART The University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA
EN ROUTE Philadelphia International Airport
[drive time: 20-25 minutes]
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1997
PAGE 4
2:40 pm
ARRIVE Philadelphia International Airport
2:55 pm
WHEELS UP Philadelphia International Airport
EN ROUTE Andrews Air Force Base
[flight time: 35 minutes]
3:30 pm
WHEELS DOWN Andrews Air Force Base
3:45 pm
DEPART Andrews Air Force Base
EN ROUTE The White House
[drive time: 20 minutes]
4:05 pm
ARRIVE The South Portico
5:00 pm-
MEETING W/ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW I
5:30 pm
Residence
CLOSED PRESS/WH
PARTICIPANTS:
Melanne Verveer
NSC
5:30 pm-
GREEK PATRIARCH RECEPTION
6:30 pm
State Floor
OPEN PRESS/WH PHOTO
Attire: Business
FORMAT:
-
The First Lady and Greek Patriarch proceed to
Blue Room to greet Archbishop.
-
The First Lady, Greek Patriarch, and
Archbishop are announced from Green Room to
stage in East Room.
-
The First Lady gives remarks and introduces
the Archbishop.
-
The Archbishop gives remarks.
-
The First Lady introduces the Greek
SCHEDULE FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1997
PAGE 5
Patriarch.
-
The First Lady invites guests to the State
Dining Room to join receiving line and
reception.
-
The First Lady proceeds to the Blue Room for
receiving line.
-
The First Lady proceeds to the South Portico
via elevator to bid farewell to the Greek
Patriarch.
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 350 guests
7:45 pm-
DROP-BY AT WHITE HOUSE ENDOWMENT FUND DINNER
8:15 pm
Blair House
CLOSED PRESS/WH PHOTO
Attire: Business
PARTICIPANTS: Approx. 34 guests
RON
The White House
Talking Points for Opening of Child Care Press Briefing
October 22, 1997
I want to welcome you here today to talk about a topic that is on most parents minds.
Tomorrow the President and I will host a conference that I hope will begin an ongoing national
discussion on child care in this country. We will bring together experts from all aspects of the
child care field to address the concerns of affordability, availability and safety and quality in our
child care system. This is meant to be a frank and open discussion about what is and isn't
working in the area of child care and after school care. Just yesterday Parents Magazine released
a national survey that emphasizes what frankly we already know, which is most families use
some form of child care and most believe the quality of that care is not good enough. With that
as a back drop let me introduce the three experts I have asked to join us.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala is the point person for this
Administration's many child care activities. Under her guidance, HHS is working to improve the
health and safety of America's child care programs. HHS launched the healthy Child Care
America Campaign to promote partnerships between child care and health agencies to ensure that
children in child care are in safe and healthy environments and receive the health services they
need. In October 1996, the Department awarded $2.5 million in grants to support and encourage
the development of statewide strategies and planning for healthy, safe child care programs.
Ellen Galinsky is president and co-founder of the Families and Work Institute which is a non-
profit, national center for policy research on issues of the changing workforce and changing
family lives. She is directing a number of studies ranging from the quality of child care in
America to an examination of the work, family and personal lives of U.S. workers.
And Deborah Phillips is the director, Board on Children, Youth and Families, of the National
Research Council's Commission on Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute of
Medicine. She has a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Yale University and prior to her
work at the National Research Council she was an Associate Professor of Psychology at the
University of Virginia. Dr. Phillips is an expert in the area of child care quality and continues to
do research in that field.
With that I'd like to ask Secretary Shalala to say a few words.
Child Care Conference Briefing
October 22, 1997
9:30 am
Helen Thomas
UPI
Sandra Soberiaj
AP
Debbie Zaberenko
Reuters
John Broder
New York Times
Barbara Vobejda
Washington Post
Mimi Hall
USA Today
Melissa Healy
LA Times
Jackie Calmes
Wall Street Journal
Ann Compton
ABC
Scott Pelley/Bill Plante
CBS
Eileen O'Connor
CNN
David Bloom
NBC
Linda Kulman
US News
Karen Tumulty
Time
Pat Wingert
Newsweek
Susan Garland
Business Week
Anne Murphy
Parents Magazine
Tony Pugh
Knight-Ridder
Nancy Mathis
Houston Chronicle
Marie Cocco
Newsday
10/21/97
14:34
202 334 3829
CBASSE
+++ OFC OF THE FIRST
0
002/002
INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
COMMISSION ON BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION
2101 Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC 20418
BOARD ON CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
Telephone: (202) 334-1935
FAX: (202) 334-3829
DEBORAH A. PHILLIPS, PH.D.
Deborah Phillips is currently Director, Board on Children, Youth, and Families, of the
National Research Council's Commission on Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute
of Medicine. Prior to this she was Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of
Virginia. Dr. Phillips received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology at Yale University.
As a Congressional Science Fellow of the Society for Research in Child Development, Dr.
Phillips served as an analyst at the Congressional Budget Office and on the personal staff of
Congressman George Miller. Immediately prior to joining the faculty at the University of
Virginia, Dr. Phillips was a mid-career fellow at Yale University's Bush Center in Child
Development and Social Policy. She was also the first Director of the Child Care
Information Service of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She is
on numerous task forces and advisory groups that address child and family policy issues,
including the Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young Children of the Carnegie
Corporation of New York, the research task force of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on
Head Start Quality and Expansion of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
and the Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers of the U.S.
Administration for Children, Youth, and Families. Dr. Phillips is a Fellow of the American
Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society. She has testified
numerous times before the U.S. Congress and the White Hosue on issues of child care
quality and continues her research in this area, most recently as Co-Principal Investigator of
the Virginia site of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Study of
Early Child Care.
The National Research Council is the principal operating agency of the National Acculency of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering
to serve government and other organizations
Ellen Galinsky. President and Co-Founder, Families and Work Institute.
Before founding the Families and Work Institute, Ms. Galinsky served on the faculty of Bank
Street College of Education and as President of the National Association for the Education of
Young Children (NAEYC). She has been an advisor to the U.S. Department of Education on
business and family involvement in education, and the U.S. Department of Labor. She has
also served as an advisor to many states on their early education and care initiatives and on
work and family issues.
Under Ms. Galinsky's leadership, the Families and Work Institute, which is a non-profit,
national center for policy research on issues of the changing workforce and changing family
lives, is directing a number of studies ranging from the quality of child care in America to an
examination of the work, family and personal lives of U.S. workers. In addition to these
studies, Ms. Galinsky, in conjunction with the National Governor's Association and the
National Center for Children in Poverty, is directing an effort to provide technical assistance
to several states as they work to develop a comprehensive, integrated agenda for young
children. She is also coordinating the outreach activities for a public awareness campaign of
what families and communities can do to promote their young children's healthy development
and school readiness.
Q&A.021
Page 1
Q & A on Child Care
Q. What is the President going to propose on child care?
A. Child care has been and continues to be a priority for the President. The
President will have more to say about policy tomorrow.
Final Release
Copy To be
Provided Tomorrow
Child Care Report
Parents Magazine Survey Results
Summary
According to a nationally projectable poll conducted by Parents Magazine, almost 75
percent of American families with young children use some form of child care, and many
are dissatisfied with that care. A majority believe it is unreliable, that available options are
too limited, and that the quality isn't what it should be. Almost nine out of ten say child
care should be a regulated industry, and 85 percent believe most politicians are not well
informed about the child care issues that normal American parents face every day.
Parents worry: Although a majority of parents say that their children receive the best
care available at any price, they all worry. Over half admit that they worry every week
whether their child is getting enough one-on-one attention, eating well, learning, and
adjusting to the environment. About one-fourth say that their child's care is not as good as
they would like it to be (one-third among those with a household income below $30,000).
Child-care worries take a toll on the nation's productivity, as parents miss work
in order to tend to child-care emergencies--more so working mothers than fathers.
According to the Parents Magazine survey, working moms miss two full days and about
six partial days every six months; dads miss one full day and four partial days every six
months. Among the 452 families who responded to our survey, in the past three months
alone, there were a total of 588 full days of work missed and 2,044 partial days missed due
to child care emergencies. Projected to the total number of families with children in the
U.S., that represents over 28,000 full days and over 100,000 partial days of missed work
every year.
Reliability: Only two-fifths of the families responding to the Parents Magazine survey
are positive that their current child-care arrangements will still be in place even six months
from now. Families in lower -income households (less than $30,000) are almost twice as
likely to expect a change. One reason for the high turnover is parents' dissatisfaction with
the care that their children receive: Fully 60 percent of those who use out-of-home child
care and 50 percent of those who have an in-home provider have had such a bad experience
(e.g. negligence and/or abuse) that they won't use that arrangement any longer.
Cost: The financial burden for child care is considerable. It will cost the average two-
child family over $90,000 by the time their youngest child turns 12. (A typical child spends
20 to 25 hours in child care per week, at an average cost of $75, for 50 weeks each year.
Most families have two kids, and most wind up paying an additional $150 per year in late
fees.) If both parents are working full-time, these costs will double, easily exceeding
$180,000. The situation is even more problematic for parents with lower household
incomes (under $30,000). The financial strain is obviously greater; they have only half as
many options
available (either because they are not near enough to their home or work, or are not
affordable), and the quality of the care is inferior (based on parents' own perceptions of
their providers). All of these problems probably explain why these parents churn through
providers even more frequently than others. This, of course, creates another burden: time
spent searching for a new arrangement.
Limited options. Respondents to the Parents Magazine survey say they would be happy
to pay more for better options. Many parents would take a cut in weekly pay if their
employer (or their spouse's employer) would offer services such as on-site child care
programs (61 percent), reimbursement for emergency care (48 percent), flexible scheduling
or job sharing (40 percent), allowing children to be brought to work (37 percent),
telecommuting (35 percent), dependent care spending accounts (35 percent), extended
family leave (33 percent), and part-time employment (32 percent). Lower-income families
are significantly more interested in almost all of these options than are upper-income
families.
No help from the government. But they feel they should get some breaks, as well.
Parents want their government and/or their employers to help cover their child-care
expenses. The average parent is willing to shoulder most of the financial burden for her
family's child care, but feels that the government should pay 17 percent and employers
should cover 10 percent. Lower-income parents want and need more government help than
upper-income parents. Those whose HHI is less than $30,000 want the government to
cover 31 percent of their child care expenses (11 percent employer) while those with
income over $85,000 typically feel that the government-need only cover 10 percent (9
percent employer).
Too little regulation. Given how common it is for parents to encounter problems with
child-care providers, it comes as no surprise that the majority (88 percent) would prefer for
the child care industry to be regulated -- either by the government (68 percent) or by an
independent organization (37 percent).
Detailed Findings
Background
In late August 1997, a random sample of 2,000 parents in the U.S. was mailed a four-page
questionnaire about child care (no incentive was offered). By September 15, 452
responses had been received.
Our data does somewhat underrepresent nonwhite Americans and single parents, as
responses to the survey from these groups were lower than from other groups. This does
not detract from the reliability of our findings, however. A careful review of the data has
shown that those responses received from nonwhites and/or single parents do not differ
substantially from the rest of the population.
2
Total U.S.
Survey
households
Respondents
with children
12 & under'
Married
87 %
72 %
Average Age
34 yr.
36 yr.
Percent White
90 %
81 %
Average # of children
2
2
Percent with one parent at home with kids
25 %
26 %
Percent with working mother
66 %
66 %
Average HHI
$54,200
$50,100
Because the sample matches so well to the total U.S. population (slight discrepancies
notwithstanding) we can assume that these findings are projectable and representative of all
family households in this country.
Who's using child care?
The majority of American families (74 percent ) are currently using paid child care (80
percent in homes where both parents work full-time). Only one-tenth have never used any
child care at all, and these come from all income levels.
Even when one parent stays home, over half are currently using some form of child care.
When both parents work full-time, 90 percent are currently using some type of child care;
the remainder don't currently have any child-care arrangements but have had them in the
past.
Currently use
Have ever
child care
used
child care
57.3%
75.7 %
One parent works full-time, one stays home
71.1
92.1
One parent works full-time, one works 20 hrs or less
92.0
96.6
One parent works full-time, one works 21-40 hrs
90.1
100.0
Both parents work full-time
¹1997 Spring MRI
3
Types of child care used
Although four out of ten families responding to the Parents Magazine survey use only one
provider, many families rely on more than one child-care arrangement.
Number of child-care providers used in past 12 months
Three+ providers
Never any child care
Two providers
11%
24%
6%
Only
family/
friends
18%
One provider 41%
Among the heaviest users of child care (those with kids in care for more than 31 hours a
week), the most common form of child care is family and friends who aren't paid (75.3
percent). Since parents use family and friends for so few hours--an average of 14.1 hours
a week--we can assume this is not the primary child-care arrangement. In-center care is the
next most common option, used by 55.2 percent. In-home baby-sitters or nannies are the
next most common (43.3 percent), followed by family day care (39.2 percent) and after-
school care (25.8 percent).
Heaviest users of child care (31-plus hours per week)
Percentage who have
used this type of
Average
child care in the past
# of hours per
12 months
child per week
Type of child care
75.3%
14.1 hrs.
Family/friends (no charge)
43.3
21.6
In-home nanny or paid sitter
55.2
35.0
In-center care
39.2
38.6
Family day care
25.8
9.8
After-school care
Use of nannies/sitters is highest among parents with HHI $85,000 or more (56 percent
versus 38 percent average). In contrast, family and friends are used more commonly
among families with HHI of under $30,000.
Family and after-school care is also correlated to the number of parent work-hours (the
more hours that are worked, the greater the need for after-school care).
4
Percentage
Percentage
used
used family
after-school
day care in
care in past 12
past 12 mos.
mos.
12.8%
5.1%
One parent works full-time, one stays home
8.6
14.3
One parent works full-time, one works 20 hrs or less
32.1
16.7
One parent works full-time, one works 21-40 hrs
31.0
23.9
Both parents work full-time
Hours Of Use
The typical child in America today will spend between 20 and 25 hours per week in child
care, often divided between two different types of providers; two-fifths of children spend at
least 40 hours a week in child care. In homes where the mother is employed full-time, the
Parents survey shows that children spend between 37 and 44 hours per week with a child-
care provider(s). In one-fifth of all families, the children spend over 45 hours per week in
child care. Until the age of 12 or 13 years, the average child in the U.S. will spend 20 to
25 hours a week in child care (including nonpaid family/friends).
Median Number Of Hours Spent With Child Care Provider(s)
by Hours Worked
45
44
40.
35
30
30
25.
20
15
12
10
8
5
0
one parent works
one parent works
one parent works
both work
41+ hours,
41+ hours,
41+ hours,
41+ hours
one stays home
one works <20
one works 20-40
5
Average Number Of Hours A Child Spends Per Week With Provider
(by type of provider and household income)
under
$30K -
$45K -
$65K -
$85K +
$30K
44.9
64.9
84.9
Family / Friends (no charge)
13.0
7.5
6.9
8.8
3.0
Nanny/ sitter
15.1
9.9
10.7
11.0
21.7
In-center care
23.7
24.1
21.8
30.0
24.8
Family day care
18.7
25.8
29.4
34.9
31.7
After-school care
7.1
7.0
10.4
9.4
12.5
Child-Care Costs
The average weekly cost for a child's care in the U.S. is $75. In those households where
both parents work full-time, the average cost of child care is nearly $100/week.
Amount Spent Across All
Providers (weekly)
percent
Less than $30
24.7
$30 - $50
17.0
$51 - $75
14.3
$76 - $100
12.7
$101+
23.1
Average
$75.50
For many parents, cost prohibits them from considering certain child care options:
Paid in-home nannies or baby-sitters are too expensive for 50 percent
Day-care centers are too expensive for 37 percent
Nursery or preschool is too expensive for 28 percent.
Can't Afford
under
$30K -
$45K -
$65K -
$85K +
$30K
44.9
64.9
84.9
Nanny/sitter
52%
46%
55%
55%
48%
In-center care
64
51
31
19
12
Nursery or preschool
52
42
19
18
4
Family day care
31
26
15
7
4
After school care
37
28
12
12
4
Who should pay?
Parents want their government and/or their employers to provide some relief from child
care costs. Most would take a cut in pay of up to $50 per week if their employer would
offer child-care support. And while they believe that the family should be responsible for
most child-care expenses (73 percent), they think the government should pick up the tab for
15 percent to 20 percent and their employer should pay 10 percent.
6
Share That Families Feel
TOTAL
under
$30K -
$45K -
$65K -
$85K +
Should Be Paid By
$30K
44.9
64.9
84.9
Family
72.6 %
57.7%
73.8%
74.4%
77.9%
80.7%
Federal Government
7.9
13.0
7.5
7.9
6.3
4.6
State Government
6.1
11.3
5.3
4.2
4.1
4.8
Local Government
2.9
6.8
2.2
2.3
2.2
0.8
Employer
10.4
11.2
11.3
11.2
9.5
9.0
Quality Of Care
In-home providers, in-center providers, and family day care all provide a similar level of
care, according to respondents to the Parents Magazine survey. The majority vote them
better than "quite acceptable" but not quite "outstanding."
The most expensive resource is after-school care, which earns the lowest quality rating
from parents.
The least expensive, family/friends who help out free of charge, provide the highest
quality care.
Family day care, which is significantly less expensive than either in-home providers
and in-center care, is perceived as comparable in quality.
Almost two-fifths of all parents who have relied on a child-care provider have had an
experience so negative that they stopped using that provider altogether. And less than
50 percent say they have had an experience that they would describe as very positive.
Fifty percent believe that parents have the right to secretly videotape their in-home
caregivers, at all times, under any circumstances.
Almost 90 percent believe child care should be a regulated industry. One-half believe
that regulation should come from the state, 40 percent from the federal government, and
approximately 40 percent from some independent organization.
Percentage who
Average # of hours
Average
Average
use this type of
per child per week
hourly cost
Quality rating
child care
(on a scale of
1 to 10)
74.1%
8.1 hrs.
--
8.5
Family/friends (no charge)
38.5
12.5
$4.10
7.4
In-home nanny or paid sitter
36.8
25.5
$3.50
7.1
In-center care
21.7
27.8
$2.90
7.4
Family day care
15.1
9.3
$5.20
6.3
After-school care
7
Of those who used,
Of those who used,
percent that had a
percent that had a
bad experience
good experience
37%
44%
Total, all types of child care
11
27
Family/friends (no charge)
38
25
In-home nanny or paid sitter
26
29
In-center care
26
15
Family day care
1
3
After-school care
Availability Of Options
Child-care options are limited; for most (78 percent), employer day care is not an option.
Distance from home or work precludes the following types of care:
For as many as four in ten, family/friends are not available.
After-school care, paid in-home nannies or baby-sitters, and family day care are all less
available to those with lower incomes (about a 10:1 ratio in favor of upper-income
households when comparing $85,000+ to those under $30,000).
Types Of Child Care Not Available Due to Distance From Home/Work
Total
Under
S30K -
$45K
$65K -
Over
$30K
$44.9K
$64.9K
$84.9 K
$85 K
13.3%
27.6%
13.8%
12.3%
5.5%
3.6%
After-school care
11.7
21.8
11.3
11.5
6.8
1.8
In-home nannies or
paid sitters
10.6
19.5
6.3
13.1
6.8
1.8
Family day care
Impact On Workforce Productivity
Most parents have either left work early, arrived late, missed part of a day, and/or missed
all of a day in order to handle a child-care emergency during the past three months. In
addition, they take time out of the day to call their child-care providers (31 percent) and/or
worry about their child.
More often it is the mother who misses work, even when both parents work full-time
(about 50 percent more often than fathers).
When both parents work full-time, it is almost guaranteed that work hours will be
missed (84 percent).
Respondents were asked to have the survey completed by the person in the household who
has primary responsibility for child-care arrangements. Not surprisingly, 90 percent of the
respondents to the Parents Magazine survey were women.
8
Parents feel ignored
The vast majority (85 percent) say that most politicians are not well informed about the
types of child-care issues that normal American families face every day.
In households where both parents work full-time (those who are most reliant on child
care), criticism is even higher (90 percent).
Lower-income parents (HHI under $30,000) are more critical still (93 percent).
#
#
#
9
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
10/23/97
THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
ON CHILD CARE
October 23, 1997
Table of Contents
I.
Briefing
- Briefing Memo
- Scenario (to be forwarded by the Office of the Social Secretary)
II.
Agenda
III.
Panelist Bios
- Panel One Participant Bios
- Panel Two Participant Bios
IV.
Guest List
V.
Script
VI.
Remarks
- To be forwarded
VII.
Fact Sheets
- A Profile of the Child Care Work Force
- Child Care for Young Children: Demographics
- Child Care for Young Children: Quality
- Out-of-School Time
- Economics of Child Care
VIII. Articles
- "Who's Minding the Children?" Washington Post, October 22, 1997
- "The Clintons' Day-Care Model: the Pentagon." U.S. News & World Report. October
27, 1997
- "Clintons to Tackle Child-Care Issues." USA Today, October 22, 1997
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
October 22, 1997
THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON CHILD CARE
DATE:
October 23, 1997
LOCATION:
The East Room
TIME:
9:20 a.m. - - 12:00 p.m.
FROM:
Bruce Reed
Melanne Verveer
i.
PURPOSE
To engage in a substantive discussion on child care with key policy-makers. experts. advocates,
and community leaders.
Objectives for the Conference: (1) To call national attention to an issue that political leaders
and policy-makers have traditionally ignored: (2) to prepare the way for a child care initiative in
your next budget: and (3) to urge government and the private sector to address the significant
challenge of ensuring that working families have access to safe. affordable child care.
II.
BACKGROUND
The White House Conference on Child Care will bring together academic experts and
economists: child care providers and advocates: religious. labor and business leaders: and
parents. Several hundred additional people will attend sessions at three Federal agencies to
watch the Conference proceedings by satellite and participate in working sessions with members
of your Cabinet. The conference will also be broadcast live via satellite to more than 100
locations in at least 48 states. Mrs. Clinton will host a reception on the White House South Lawn
at the conclusion of the conference for all those attending the White House and agency sessions.
The conference follows on a series of events that have included you. the First Lady, and other
Administration officials. as well as years of involvement by you and the First Lady on child care.
Recent events include your visit to a Head Start center in New Jersey: several appearances by the
First Lady. including a visit to the Quantico Marine Base to view the military child care system.
a round table discussion in Florida with business leaders involved in child care. and a speech at
the University of Maryland: and numerous meetings with key constituencies hosted by members
of the Domestic Policy team and the First Lady's staff.
1
Your opening remarks at the conference. however. will be your first opportunity to speak to the
American people about this issue in a substantive way. In fact. you are the first President to
address this issue seriously: focus group meetings with child care experts and advocates
underscored the significance of your role in turning the nation's attention to this issue and
recasting it as one in which all Americans have a stake. Your remarks will address the
importance of good child care for America's working families. note past Administration
accomplishments on this issue. announce several new policy initiatives and indicate your intent
to unveil a child care proposal this winter.
Topics for Discussion: The conference will address three critical child care challenges --
availability. affordability. and safety and quality. You will be present for the morning session.
which will include opening remarks by you and the First Lady, the presentation of a short video,
and a panel discussion moderated by you and the First Lady. This panel discussion will be
divided into two parts. First. panelists will discuss why child care matters both to our
children's development and to the nation's economy. Second. panelists will examine how well
for badly) we are meeting the challenge of ensuring that safe. affordable child care is available to
working families.
The afternoon panel discussion will be anchored by the First Lady. the Vice President. and
Secretary Riley. This discussion will examine successful child care models across the nation and
consider the roles that states. business and labor leaders. the faith community. health care
professionals. and others can play in addressing critical child care challenges.
At the tabs that follow in this book. you will find a suggested script for each of the panels and
bios of the panelists.
Policy Announcements: You will announce your intent to introduce a child care initiative as a
part of your next budget proposal. In addition. you will announce several other initiatives
(described in more detail in the attached October 20 memorandum):
1) The appointment of a Child Care Working Group that will report to Secretary Rubin on the
role that business should play in providing child care:
2) An outreach plan to make child care workers aware of possible eligibility for Pell Grants. and
a new scholarship program. of at least $50 million per year. that will provide assistance to full- or
part-time students who are working toward a Child Development Associate credential or another
degree in child development and who agree to remain in the child care field for at least one year
(this program will be modeled after Governor Hunt's T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And
Compensation Helps) Early Childhood Project):
3) The transmittal of the "National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact" to Congress. which
will enable states to share criminal history information for limited other purposes. including
background checks on child care workers: and
2
+1 A strategy to expand access to and the quality of after-school programs through service
activities. and the release of a "How-To Manual" describing how to integrate service and school-
age care. identifying opportunities for children to learn through service. and highlighting
programs that are currently using service to enrich out-of-school time.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
Briefing Participants:
Bruce Reed. Melanne Verveer. Elena Kagan. Jennifer Klein. Nicole Rabner. June Shih
Event Participants:
Panel I (morning session moderated by YOU and the First Lady):
Ellen Galinsky, President and Co-Founder. Families and Work Institute.
Michelle Seligson, Founder and Director. National Institute on Out-of-School Time.
Secretary Robert Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury.
Secretary Donna Shalala. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Governor James Hunt. Governor of North Carolina.
Valora Washington, Program Director. W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Patty Siegel, Executive Director. California Child Care Resource and Referral Network.
Panel II (afternoon session moderated by the Vice President and Mrs. Clinton):
Major General John G. Meyer, Chief of Public Affairs United States Army.
Jane Maroney, State Legislator. State of Delaware.
Dr. Susan Aronson. National Board. Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan. Vicar of Human Services. Diocese of Brooklyn.
Beatriz Otero. Executive Director. Calvary Bi-Lingual Multicultural Learning Center.
John J. Sweeney, President. AFL-CIO.
Doug Price, President. FirstBank of Colorado.
Guests. The conference will be attended by approximately 150 guests. including: Members of
Congress. Governors and other state and local officials. academic experts and economists: child
care providers and advocates: religious. labor and business leaders: and parents. A complete
guest list is attached.
VI.
PRESS PLAN
Open Press.
V.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
YOU and the First Lady proceed to the Red Room for briefing:
YOU and the First Lady proceed to the Blue Room for meet and greet with panelists
from both the morning and afternoon panel discussions:
YOU and the First Lady are introduced into the East Room:
The First Lady makes remarks and introduces a 5-minute video on child care:
Video is shown:
Kathy Carliner (parent) introduces YOU:
YOU make remarks:
YOU and the First Lady lead a panel discussion on "The Challenge: Availability.
Affordability, and Assuring Safety and Quality Child Care":
YOU make closing remarks:
The First Lady makes closing remarks:
YOU depart:
The First Lady hosts a lunch in the State Dining Room:
The First Lady and Vice President moderate the second panel -- "Learning From What
Works": and
The First Lady hosts a reception on the South Lawn. -
VI.
ATTACHMENTS
Conference Agenda
Panel Descriptions. Participant Bios. and Scripts
List of Participants
Remarks
Background
--Fact Sheets on Child Care
-Overview Memorandum
Articles
4
THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON CHILD CARE
AGENDA OVERVIEW
10:00-10:30 am
OPENING SESSION
10:00-10:10 The First Lady welcomes, makes remarks, and introduces video.
10:10-10:15
Video is shown.
10:15-10:17
Kathy Carliner (parent) introduces the President.
10:17-10:30
The President makes remarks.
10:30-12:00 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION -- THE CHALLENGE: AVAILABILITY, AFFORDABILITY,
AND ASSURING SAFETY AND QUALITY IN CHILD CARE
The President and First Lady will moderate this session.
Panelists:
Ellen Galinsky, President and Co-Founder, Families and Work Institute.
Michelle Seligson, Founder and Director, National Institute on Out-of-School Time.
Secretary Robert Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury.
Secretary Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Governor James Hunt, Governor of North Carolina.
Valora Washington, Program Director, W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Patty Siegel, Executive Director. California Child Care Resource and Referral Network.
12:00-2:00 pm
WHITE HOUSE LUNCHEON AND WORKING SESSIONS AT FEDERAL
AGENCIES
The First Lady will host the White House luncheon at which Members of
Congress will speak. In addition, Secretaries Shalala, Herman, Riley and Glickman
will host sessions at several agencies where guests will watch White House proceedings
by satellite and participate in working meetings.
1
2:00-4:00 pm
AFTERNOON SESSION
2:00-2:05
The First Lady welcomes and introduces the Vice President.
2:05-2:15
The Vice President makes remarks and introduces Secretary Richard Riley.
2:15-2:20
Secretary Riley makes remarks.
PANEL DISCUSSION -- LEARNING FROM WHAT WORKS
The First Lady and Vice President will moderate this session.
Panelists:
Major General John G. Meyer, Chief of Public Affairs United States Army.
Jane Maroney, State Legislator. State of Delaware.
Dr. Susan Aronson, National Board, Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan, Vicar of Human Services, Diocese of Brooklyn.
John J. Sweeney, President. AFL-CIO.
Beatriz Otero, Executive Director, Calvary Bi-Lingual Multicultural Learning Center.
Doug Price, President, FirstBank of Colorado.
4:00-6:00 pm
SOUTH LAWN RECEPTION
The First Lady will host a reception for White House and Federal agency participants on the
South Lawn. Mrs. Clinton will make remarks and report on the Federal agency working
sessions. In addition, Members of Congress will make brief remarks.
2
The White House Conference on Child Care
Panel One
THE CHALLENGE: AVAILABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND
ASSURING SAFETY AND QUALITY IN CHILD CARE
Participants
The President
The First Lady
Ms. Ellen Galinsky
Ms. Michelle Seligson
Secretary Robert Rubin
Secretary Donna Shalala
Governor James Hunt
Dr. Valora Washington
Ms. Patty Siegel
1
The White House Conference on Child Care
Suggested Script
MORNING SESSION
THE FIRST LADY welcomes. makes remarks. and introduces video.
Video (5 minutes is shown.
Kathy Carliner (parent featured in video) introduces the PRESIDENT.
The PRESIDENT makes remarks.
The PRESIDENT and FIRST LADY join PANEL DISCUSSION
PANEL DISCUSSION -- The Challenge: Availability, Affordability, and Assuring Safety
and Quality in Child Care.
THE FIRST LADY will introduce the seven members of the panel:
Ellen Galinsky. President and Co-Founder. Families and Work Institute.
Michelle Seligson. Founder and Director. National Institute on Out-of-School Time.
Secretary Robert Rubin. Secretary of the Treasury.
Secretary Donna Shalala. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Governor James Hunt, Governor of North Carolina.
Valora Washington, Program Director, W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Patty Siegel, Executive Director. California Child Care Resource and Referral Network.
Part I: WHY IS CHILD CARE IMPORTANT?
The FIRST LADY introduces the first part of the panel: We are first going to hear from
three experts on why child care matters. First, Ellen Galinsky will address why
child care is important to our young children and what good care looks like.
Second, we will hear from Michelle Seligson, about the importance of after-school
opportunities to our nation's youth. And lastly, we will hear from Secretary Rubin
about the significance of child care to our economy.
Ellen Galinsky, President and Co-Founder. Families and Work Institute.
Lead in question for the FIRST LADY: Ellen Galinsky is going to start off by
addressing why child care is important for young children and tell us a little bit
about recent research in neuroscience and child development.
2
Suggested follow-up for the PRESIDENT: There are some who suggest that
parents are the only good caregivers for children and, therefore. child care is
harmful to children's development. Would you please address that?
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: Please speak more about how we can all
do a better job of empowering parents to make choices about working and child
care that are best for their families. In particular, what are your views about how
we can support parents who want to stay home?
Michelle Seligson - Founder and director. National Institute on Out-of-School Time. formerly
the School-Age Child Care Project at Wellesley College Center for Research on Women.
Lead-in for the PRESIDENT: Let's turn now to Michelle Seligson to tell us about
the importance of programs for school-age children for their development. school-
readiness, and safety.
Suggested follow-question for the FIRST LADY: I know there is quite a debate over
where before and after school programs should be located -- in schools, in
community centers, or in church basements -- and how they should be funded. Can
you speak to that?
Suggested follow-up for the PRESIDENT: Can you speak more about the
components of a good after-school program. Are after school programs are only
valuable if they're academically oriented?
Secretary Robert Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury.
Lead-in for the FIRST LADY: I'm now going to ask Secretary Rubin to
address the significance of child care to our nation's economy.
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: Looked at from a broad economic
perspective, how does the issue of child care affect our ability to bring all
Americans into the economic mainstream?
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: Experts say that the child care market is
fundamentally flawed. The cost of child care far outweighs the ability of most
parents to pay for it. Can you speak to the limitations of the marketplace to solve
this dilemma?
3
Part II: HOW ARE WE DOING IN MEETING THE CHALLENGE:
The FIRST LADY will introduce the next section: We are now going to turn to four experts
who will address how we are doing in meeting the challenge of assuring that working
families have access to safe, affordable child care. Secretary Shalala will provide an
overview of child care across the nation. Governor Hunt will address the issue from a state
perspective. Valora Washington will tell us what communities are doing. Patty Siegel will
provide insights into child care on the front lines.
The panelists are:
Secretary Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Governor James Hunt, Governor of North Carolina.
Valora Washington, Program Director. W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Patty Siegel, Executive Director. California Child Care Resource and Referral
Network.
Secretary Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Lead-in for the FIRST LADY: Secretary Shalala, please begin by giving us an
assessment and overview of how we're doing as a nation.
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: How has Head Start been effective in
meeting child care needs, and what can we learn from the Head Start experience?
Governor James Hunt, Governor of North Carolina.
Lead-in for the PRESIDENT: We'll now hear from Governor Hunt, who has done so
much in his state of North Carolina. Governor Hunt?
Suggested follow-up for the PRESIDENT: Governor Hunt, if we target efforts to
improve quality, do we risk pricing care out of the reach of working families? Have
you faced this problem in North Carolina?
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: By law, states must set aside a portion of
their federal child care dollars for efforts to improve quality. The President fought
hard for this provision in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act.
Should the Federal government do more to encourage states to make needed health
and safety improvements?
Valora Washington, Program Director. W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Lead-in for the FIRST LADY: Now let's hear from Valora Washington about how
communities are doing in addressing child care needs.
4
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: How can we begin to engage those in
communities who don't think this issue affects them?
Suggested follow-up for the PRESIDENT: You've talked a lot about the importance
of community investment in child care. Would you also speak about the cost to
communities of making that investment?
Patty Siegel, Executive Director. Child Care Resource and Referral Network.
Lead-in for the PRESIDENT: Patty Siegel will now discuss what is arguably the most
important perspective -- parents.
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: You were involved in creating TrustLine -
- a system in California for checking the backgrounds of child care providers. Can
you talk about TrustLine and, more generally, about background checks and
registries?
Suggested follow-up for the PRESIDENT: In this country we talk a lot about family
values, but we need ask ourselves whether we are giving parents the tools they need
to make the choices that are best for them and their families. What can we do to
help parents who want to stay at home?
:
The PRESIDENT makes closing remarks.
The FIRST LADY makes closing remarks. and invites guests to lunch in the State Dining Room.
Suggested close for the FIRST LADY: I'm so pleased that several members of the
President's Cabinet -- Secretary Glickman, Secretary Herman, Secretary Shalala,
and Secretary Rubin -- will now host working sessions at three Federal agencies.
5
The White House Conference on Child Care
Panel Two
LEARNING FROM WHAT WORKS
Participants
The First Lady
The Vice President
Secretary of Education Richard Riley
Major General John G. Meyer
Ms. Jane Maroney
Dr. Susan Aronson
Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan
Mr. John J. Sweeney
Ms. Beatriz Otero
Mr. Doug Price
1
The White House Conference on Child Care
Panel Two
Suggested Script
AFTERNOON SESSION
The FIRST LADY welcomes and introduces the seven panelists:
Major General John G. Meyer, Chief of Public Affairs. United States Army.
Ms. Jane Maroney, State Legislator. State of Delaware.
Dr. Susan Aronson, Member. National Board. American Academy of Pediatrics.
Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan, Vicar of Human Services. Diocese of Brooklyn. NY.
John J. Sweeney, President. AFL-CIO
Ms. Beatriz Otero, Executive Director. Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning
Center.
Mr. Doug Price, President FirstBank of Colorado. and Chair. Colorado Business
Commission.
The FIRST LADY introduces the VICE PRESIDENT.
The VICE PRESIDENT makes remarks and introduces Secretary Richard Riley.
Secretary Richard Riley makes opening presentation.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Learning From What Works.
The FIRST LADY introduces the panel discussion: The purpose of this discussion is to learn
from successful models. Gathered with us here are representatives of many sectors of
society to address what roles they can and do play in addressing and meeting child care
needs.
General Meyer, Chief of Public Affairs United States Army.
Lead-in for the FIRST LADY: We'll begin by hearing from Major General Meyer. I
am particularly happy to have him with us today, to discuss the strength of the
military's child care programs, because I was privileged to visit Quantico Marine
Base recently. Major General Meyer, please tell us about how the military has
succeeded in making its child care programs so strong.
2
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: In April, at the White Conference on
Early Childhood Development, the President held up the military as an exemplary
model of child care delivery. There, the President asked the Department of Defense
to share its expertise. Can you tell us what you've done to carry out that request?
Suggested follow-up for the VICE PRESIDENT: Major General, as you know, some
argue that the military is not a useful model because of the unique characteristics of
the military and because of the amount the government spends on it. What are your
thoughts on this?
Jane Maroney, State Legislator, Delaware.
Lead-in for the VICE PRESIDENT: We'll now turn to Jane Maroney for another
perspective of the role of states in improving child care.
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: What do you think our next steps should
be as a nation; more specifically, how do you think the Federal government should
work with and assist the states?
Dr. Susan Aronson, Member. National Board. American Academy of Pediatrics.
Lead-in for the VICE PRESIDENT: Dr. Susan Aronson is with us to address the role
health professionals can play in improving the quality of child care, with special
attention to health and safety.
Suggested follow-up for the VICE PRESIDENT: How can the health community help
to address the needs of children in child care with chronic illnesses like asthma or
with disabilities?
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: National health and safety standards
have been very controversial. Can you address both the benefits and the
disadvantages of national standards on health and safety? I'd also like to ask Jane
Maroney to address this issue.
Bishop Joseph Sullivan, Vicar of Human Services, Diocese of Brooklyn, NY.
Lead-in for the FIRST LADY: Bishop Sullivan is with us to discuss the role of the
faith community in addressing child care and supporting families.
Suggested follow-up for the VICE PRESIDENT: Religious institutions have long
contributed to meeting child care needs. In your view, how can we build on these
efforts and engage religious leaders to use their moral authority in communities to
make further progress?
3
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: Based on your experiences working in
New York, what are the particular challenges of working in the inner city?
John J. Sweeney, President, AFL-CIO.
Lead-in for the VICE PRESIDENT: We will now hear from John Sweeney who will
discuss the role of the labor community in meeting the child care needs of working
families.
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: You've mentioned that the best
arrangements are those in which business and labor work in partnership. Can you
give an example of where that has worked?
Suggested follow-up for the VICE PRESIDENT: As we've learned, the key to quality
child care is the caregiver. Tell us about the child care workforce and what we can
do to support and retain workers.
Beatriz Otero, Executive Director, Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center.
Lead-in for the FIRST LADY: Beatriz Otero is with us to talk about the role and
responsibility of child care providers -- both in the workplace and the community.
Beatriz?
Suggested follow-up for the VICE PRESIDENT: Tell us about a typical day at your
center.
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: What are your thoughts on how we can
continue to support the many providers you represent? What should our next
steps be?
Doug Price President, FirstBank of Colorado, and Chair, Colorado Business Commission.
Lead-in for the VICE PRESIDENT: I am pleased to turn to Doug Price who has
participated in one of the family conferences that Tipper and I host. He's with us
today to discuss the role of business leaders in meeting child care needs. Doug,
please tell us how you've become involved and what you and Governor Romer are
doing in Colorado.
Suggested follow-up for the FIRST LADY: How can we enlist more business leaders
to address the child care needs of their workers and of the communities in which
they have a presence?
4
Suggested follow-up for the VICE PRESIDENT: How can we address the barriers
that small businesses face in addressing child care issues?
The VICE PRESIDENT makes closing remarks.
The FIRST LADY makes closing remarks and invites guests to South Lawn Reception.
5
SOUTH LAWN RECEPTION
The FIRST LADY welcomes and makes brief remarks, reporting on working sessions of
Cabinet members from the different agencies, and introduces Members of Congress.
Members of Congress make remarks.
The First Lady makes closing remarks.
A Profile of the Child Care Work Force
proximately three million child care teachers, assistants,
Only 18 percent of child care centers offer fully paid health
d family child care providers in the U.S. care for 10 million
coverage to teaching staff.
children each day.
Although they earn lower wages, child care teachers are
Who are the child care teaching staff?
better educated than the general population.
97% are female
One-third of all child care teachers leave their centers each
41% have children
year.
10% are single parents
Family child care providers who care for and educate
Child care teaching staff earn an average of $6.89 per hour
young children in their homes also have very low earnings.
or $12,058 per year (based on 35 hours per week and 50
Providers earn $9,528 annually after expenses (data from
weeks per year) (data from Cost, Quality and Child
The Economics of Family Child Care Study, a forthcoming
Outcomes in Child Care Centers, Technical Report 1995,
publication from Wheelock College, earnings in 1996 dollars).
salary data are in 1993 dollars).
Unregulated providers, who care for fewer children and are
offered fewer supports, earned just $5,132 after expenses.
Education of Child Care Teaching Staff Versus All Workers**
50
40
33
32
32
31
30
27
26
231
21
20
14
10
10
5
0
Less than High School
High School Diploma
Some College
BA/BS or More
Child Care Teachers*
Female Workers**
Male Workers**
*National Child Care Staffing Study **Current Population Surveys 1995. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Annual Wages of Child Care Teaching Staff Versus All Workers**
$58,582
$60,000
$50,000
$31,278
$40,000
$26,820
$30,344
$26,747
$30,000
$19,168
$20,000
$14,506
$10,151
$11,617
$10,000
so
High School Diploma
Some College
BA/BS or More
Civilian Labor Force, Men**
Civilian Labor Force, Women**
TeachingStaff. 1994*
"National Child Care Staffing Study. wages in 1996 dollars **Current Population Surveys. 1996. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor
***These charts only provide information on center-based teaching staff.
This fact sheet is primarily excerpted from materials developed by the National Center for the Early Childhood Work Force
202.737
Child Care for Young Children: Demographics
ccording to the National Center for Education Statistics,
While use of center-based care increased from 1988 to
95 there were approximately 21 million infants, toddlers,
1993, most young children are still in a home-based setting,
and preschool children under the age of six in the U.S., more
including family child care.**
than 12.9 million of these children were in child care.'
Forty-five percent of children under age one were in child
care on a regular basis.'
Primary Child Care Arrangements Used by Families
with Employed Mothers for Preschoolers: 1993
(Percent of preschoolers of working mothers in selected arrangements)
Mother*
Centers
6%
30%
Father
16%
Other
1%
Grandparents
Family Child Care (Nonrelatives)
17%
21%
Other relatives
9%
-
Includes mothers working at home or away from home. Source: Casper, L.M. Who's Minding Our Preschoolers?
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, P-70, no. 53, Washington, DC 1996
Changes in Selected Child Care Arrangements: 1988 to 1993
(Percent of preschoolers of working mothers in selected arrangements)
30
Centers
23
26
17
1993
Family day care
18
24
1991
1988
16
Care by fathers
20
15
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
(ce: Casper, L.M. Who's Minding Our Preschoolers? U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports. P-70, no. 53. Washington, DC 1996
S profile of child care demographics has been excerpted from information provided by the 1 National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department
of Education and the **U.S. Bureau of the Census.
For additional information, contact the National Child Care Information Center at (800) 616-2242 or visit the Web site at
http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/nccic/nccichome.html
Child Care for Young Children: Quality
Recent brain research suggests that warm, responsive child care is not only comforting for an infant;
it is critical to healthy development." "
- Rethinking the Brain: New Insights into Early Development
Families and Work Institute (1997)
Higher quality child care for very young children (0 to 3) was consistently related to high levels of cognitive and
language development. "Mother-Child Interaction and Cognitive Outcomes Associated with Early Child Care", NICHD Early Child Care Research
Network (1997)
Studies have raised concerns about the quality of care:
A four-state study of quality in child care centers found only one in seven (14%) were rated as good quality. Cost,
Quality and Child Outcomes in Child Care Centers, (Executive Summary) University of Colorado at Denver (1995)
Thirteen percent of regulated and 50 percent of nonregulated family child care providers offer care that is
inadequate. The Study of Children in Family Child Care and Relative Care, Families and Work Institute (1994)
"The quality of services provided by most centers was rated as barely adequate." The National Child Care Staffing
Study (Executive Summary), National Center for the Early Childhood Workforce (1989)
"[M]any children living in poverty receive child care that, at best, does not support their optimal development and,
at worst, may compromise their health and safety." New Findings on Children, Families, and Economic Self-Sufficiency, National Research
Council, Institute of Medicine (1995)
What Works to Improve the Quality of Child Care
Children who receive warm and sensitive caregiving are more likely to trust caregivers, to enter school ready and
eager to learn, and to get along well with other children. To ensure that child care settings nurture children, protect their
health and safety, and prepare them for later school success, better qualified staff are essential." Starting Points: Meeting the Needs
of Our Youngest Children, Carnegie Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young Children (1994)
"[S]maller group sizes, higher teacher/child ratios and higher staff wages result in quality child care. Outcomes for
children are also better when they attend programs that include a curriculum geared to young children, well prepared staff and
where parents are involved in programming." Early Childhood Care and Education: An Investment That Works, National Conference of State
Legislatures (1997)
Any child care setting will benefit from a health consultant. to advise on potential infectious diseases, explain
symptoms and treatments to families, plan health alert procedures when infectious disease occurs, and assist with public health
reporting requirements. Caring for Infants and Toddlers in Groups, Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families (1995)
States with stronger licensing requirements had a greater number of good-quality centers according to recent
research. Cost, Quality and Child Outcomes in Child Care Centers, University of Colorado at Denver (1995)
Voluntary conformity to higher standards through professional center accreditation or through meeting another
set of quality standards also increased the likelihood of higher classroom quality. Cost. Quality and Child Outcomes in Child
Care Centers. University of Colorado at Denver (1995)
or additional information, contact the National Child Care Information Center at (800) 616-2242 or visit the Web site at
http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/nccic/nccichome.html
Out-of-School Time
School-Age Care
ording to the Bureau of the Census, in 1997 there were 38.8 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 years living
in the U.S. There are approximately 24 million school-age children with parents in the workforce or pursuing education
(based on 1993 SIPP data from the Bureau of the Census).
Care Arrangements of School-Age Children
Experts estimate that nearly 5 million school-age
School-age children are likely to spend time in many
children spend time as latchkey kids without adult
different care arrangements. According to the National Child
supervision during a typical week.
Care Survey (1990), 76 percent of school-age children with
an employed mother spend time in at least two child care
Approximately 1.7 million children in kindergarten
arrangements during a typical week, in addition to their
through grade 8 were enrolled in 49,500 formal before-
time in school.
and/or after-school programs in 1991, according to the
National Study of Before and After School Programs.
According to the National Child Care Survey, children aged
5 to 12 with employed mothers use the following types of
In 1993-94, according to the National Center for Education
supplemental care: 7% are in family day care; 14% are in
Statistics, there were 18,111 before- or after-school programs
centers, 3% are cared for by in-home providers, 25% are
in public schools-70% of public schools did not offer extended
cared for by relatives and 44% do not use supplemental care.
learning programs.
Use of Supplemental Care,
Children 5 to 12 with Employed Mothers
Center
In-home
14%
3%
Family Day Care
Relative
7%
25%
Other
7%
None
44%
The Effects of Out-of-School Time on Children
Children under adult supervision in a formal program during after-school hours have demonstrated improved academic
achievement and better attitudes toward school than their peers in self- or sibling care. Miller and Marx, 1990 in Supplement o the
National Assessment of Chapter 1
Youth are at greatest risk of violence after the regular school day. Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are most at-risk
of committing violent acts or being victims between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm-a time when they are not in school. Fight Crime: Invest
in Kids, 1997
The most frequently mentioned barrier to participation is the parents' inability to pay the tuition and fees charged by
programs. Other barriers include availability, quality of activities, inadequate facilities, transportation, high staff turnover, hours
of the program and lack of resources.
Components of Successful Before- and After-School Programs include: linkages between after-school and regular school
programs, children's participation in age appropriate learning activities, hiring of qualified staff, low student-staff ratio,
olvement of parents, program evaluation and coordination with the schools and other community organizations.
For information on what states and communities are doing to meet the need for school-age care, contact the National
Institute on Out of School Time (formerly the School-Age Child Care Project), Center for Research on Women,
Wellesley College at (617) 283-2547 or visit the World Wide Web site at: http://www.wellesley.edu/WCWCRW/SAC/.
For additional information on extended learning in after-school programs in schools, contact the U.S. Department of
Education, please call (800) USA-LEARN or visit the World Wide Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/PFIE.
Economics of Child Care
In 1994, 62% of married mothers with a child under age six
In 1990, 7.2 million mothers with 11.7 million children under
were in the workforce, compared with 30% in 1970.'
age 15 worked full or part time during nonstandard hours.**
The increased employment of mothers outside the home has
In 1993, the average family with an employed mother and a
led to a sharp increase in the use of child care over the past
child under age five spent about $74 per week for child care for
several decades. Eight of 10 employed mothers with children
all preschoolers in the family.*
under six are likely to use some form of nonparental child care
arrangement.'
Families with annual incomes under $14,400 that paid for care
for children under five spent 25% of their income on child care,
compared with 6% for families with incomes of $54,000 or
more.*
Percent of Monthly Family Income Spent on Child Care by Family Income*
$4,500 or more
6%
$3,000 to $4,499
8%
$1,200 to $2,999
12%
Less than $1,200
25%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
*
Limited to families with a preschooler, 1993 data. Source: Casper, L.M. What Does It Cost to Mind Our Preschoolers? U.S. Bureau
of the Census, Current Population Reports, P-70, no. 52. Washington, D.C., 1995
Weekly Payment for Child Care by Monthly Family Income*
$110.00
$100.00
$91.93
$90.00
$80.00
$73.10
$70.00
$60.16
$60.00
$50.00
$47.29
$40.00
$30.00
Less than $1,200
$1,200 to $2,999
$3,000 to $4,499
$4,500 or more
*Limited to families paying for child care for preschoolers. 1993 data Source: Casper, L.M. What Does It Cost to Mind
Our Preschoolers? U.S. Bureau of the Census. Current Population Reports. P-70. no. 52. Washington, D.C., 1995
Information in this fact sheet is excerpted from t Sandra L. Hofferth, "Child Care in the United States," The Future of Children, vol. 6, no. 2 Summer/Fall 1996,
with additional information from: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education; *U.S. Bureau of Census: **Women's Bureau, U.S.
Department of Labor.
For additional information, contact the National Child Care Information Center at (800) 616-2242 or visit the Web site at
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
October 20, 1997
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
BRUCE REED
MELANNE VERVEER
CC:
THE FIRST LADY
RE:
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON CHILD CARE
On October 23, you and the First Lady will host the White House Conference on Child
Care in the East Room. This memorandum outlines the purpose and structure of the conference,
the policy initiatives that we recommend you announce at the conference, and the process and
direction of our work on a child care proposal to unveil this winter.
Purpose and Structure of the Conference
The White House Conference on Child Care has two purposes. First, it will call national
attention to an issue that political leaders and policy makers historically have ignored,
notwithstanding its enormous importance to working families. Second, it will provide a basis
from which to launch a child care initiative in the State of the Union. (As noted later in this
memo, we will provide you with policy options for this initiative -- including a range of price
tags - as part of your normal budget process.)
The conference will address three critical child care challenges -- availability,
affordability, and safety and quality. Many parents choose to stay at home and care for their
children themselves. Yet millions of Americans, by choice or necessity, rely on child care and
after-school programs to care for their children for part of each day. The conference will explore
how the public and private sectors can respond to the need that Americans struggling to be both
good parents and good workers have for safe, affordable child care.
Morning Session. The morning session will begin with remarks by you and the First
Lady and will include a video of children, parents, caregivers and others talking about child care.
We believe your remarks should address the importance of child care for America's working
families, note past Administration accomplishments on this issue. and announce several new
policy initiatives as well as a commitment to unveil a broader child care proposal this winter.
You and the First Lady will then moderate a panel with two parts. The first three panelists
will discuss why child care matters -- both to our children's development and to the nation's
economy. The second four panelists will examine how well we are doing in meeting the
challenge of assuring that good child care is available to working families. The first three
panelists are:
Ellen Galinsky, President, Families and Work Institute, who will discuss the relationship
between quality child care and children's healthy development, particularly in the earliest
years of life;
Michelle Seligson, Founder and Director, National Institute on Out-Of-School Time,
Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, who will discuss the importance of
good after-school programs for youth;
Secretary Rubin, who will discuss the need to address child care given dramatic changes
in the workforce and economy.
The second four panelists are:
Secretary Shalala, who will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of child care across the
country;
Governor James Hunt of North Carolina, who will discuss how states are doing in
meeting the challenge of assuring that working families have access to safe, affordable
child care;
Dr. Valora Washington, Program Director, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, who will discuss
community efforts to meet this challenge;
Patty Siegel, Executive Director, California Resource and Referral, who will share the
experiences of parents.
Afternoon Session. The afternoon session will begin with remarks by the Vice President
and Secretary Riley. The afternoon panel will consider the roles that states, business and labor
leaders, the faith community, health care professionals, and others can play in addressing this
challenge. The panelists include: Major General John G. Meyer, Jr., Chief of Public Affairs
United States Army; Dr. Susan Aronson, Member, American Academy of Pediatrics; Jane
Maroney, State Legislator, Delaware; Bishop Joseph Sullivan, Vicar of Human Services,
Brooklyn, New York; and Doug Price, President, FirstBank of Colorado.
Agency and Satellite Sites. An additional 300 people will view the conference at three
Federal agencies, and Secretaries Shalala. Riley, Glickman and Herman will host working
sessions at these agency sites during the luncheon at the White House. In addition, the entire
conference will be transmitted to satellite sites in at least 48 states. The Administration's
2
regional administrators have helped to organize these satellite conferences, and Cabinet Affairs
has encouraged subcabinet officials to participate in them.
Policy Announcements to be Made at the Conference
We recommend that you indicate at the conference that you will propose a child care
initiative in your State of the Union address and your fiscal year 1999 budget. We also
recommend that you announce three policy proposals at the conference.
1. Child Care Working Group. You can name Secretary Rubin as chair of a working group on
child care primarily made up of business leaders, with representation from labor and other
community leaders. The Child Care Working Group would report to you within 45 days on
efforts that business leaders should undertake to help working families overcome the challenge
of managing child care and work responsibilities.
2. Scholarships for Child Care Workers and Background Checks on Child Care Workers.
Experts link the quality of child care to the quality of the caregiver. Yet child care providers
often receive little training, and occasionally have unsuitable backgrounds for the profession.
You can announce steps to support caregivers by ensuring that they are able to afford adequate
training. At the same time, you can urge Congress to pass and states to ratify the "National
Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact" to protect children from child care workers who have
committed crimes.
Scholarships. To help child care workers afford training, you can instruct the Department
of Education to develop an outreach plan to inform students and institutions of the potential
availability of Pell Grants. You also can announce a new scholarship program for child care
workers. Even with Pell and other education programs that you have put in place, many child
care workers cannot afford training. The new program would provide assistance to full- or part-
time students working toward a Child Development Associate Credential or other degree in child
development who agree to remain in the child care field for at least one year.
Background Checks. You can also announce steps to make background checks on child
care workers more effective. Today, many states prohibit the release of criminal history records
for purposes other than ongoing criminal investigations. The Department of Justice is prepared
to transmit to Congress on October 23 the "National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact."
The compact, which must be passed by Congress and ratified by the states, will enable states to
share criminal history information for limited other purposes, including background checks on
child care workers.
3. Service and School-Age Care. You can launch the "To Learn and Grow Partnership," a
3
partnership of public and private organizations that will work together to expand access to and
improve the quality of after-school programs through service activities. The partnership will
encourage national service participants and community volunteers to teach in child care
programs, and will engage children in service as part of after-school programs. You also can
release the "How-To Manual," describing how to integrate service and school-age care,
identifying opportunities for children to learn through service, and highlighting programs that are
currently using service to enrich out-of-school time.
Child Care Initiative To Be Announced After the Conference
For the past several months, the Domestic Policy Council and the First Lady's Office
have been leading a policy process on child care. The National Economic Council, the Office of
Management and Budget, and the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury,
Education, Labor, Defense, Justice, and Agriculture have participated.
We have identified three key areas: affordability; availability; and safety and quality. In
the weeks after the conference, we will prepare a memorandum for you outlining policy options,
of several different shapes and sizes, in these areas. We are also exploring ways to support
parents who want to stay at home to care for their children. :
Affordability. Increasing numbers of working families cannot afford decent child care,
which can cost at least $4,000 a year for one child, and even more for infants and toddlers.
While the average family pays about 7 percent of its income for child care, low-income families
spend about a quarter of their income.
The Federal government spent $2.9 billion in direct child care subsidies in fiscal year
1997 through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which provides payments
for about one million children. HHS estimates, however, that we are currently providing child
care subsidies to less than a quarter of the families eligible for them. In addition, the Dependent
Care Tax Credit provides more than $2 billion annually in tax relief for child care expenses. We
are analyzing whether to expand either of these mechanisms.
Availability. Access to child care is a problem for low-income and middle-income
families alike. We are looking at two areas of particular concern -- helping businesses expand
on-site care for their employees, and helping states and communities increase their supply of
school-age care. We are exploring whether to provide tax credits for businesses that build and
operate child care centers for their employees (the Rubin-Weill working group may make
additional suggestions). We also are looking at a variety of ways -- including simplifying
Federal requirements and funding streams -- to help states and communities create an adequate
supply of after-school programs.
4
Safety and Quality. The quality of child care in this country is too often mediocre or
poor. A recent four state study of child care centers found that one in eight centers expose
children to unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Infants and toddlers are at the greatest risk, with 40
percent in care that poses a threat to their health and well-being. Only 14 percent of centers
provide high quality care -- care that actually enhances growth and development. A study of
child care in family-based settings found equally disturbing patterns. Over one-third of programs
are rated inadequate, meaning that quality is low enough to harm children's development, and
only 9 percent offer high-quality care.
States are currently required to spend 4% of the funds they receive through the CCDBG
on quality improvement. We are looking at ways to help states improve quality by providing
additional funding to states that agree, for example, to improve and enforce health and safety
standards, invest in training for caregivers, or create networks to support family day care
providers. We are also developing a consumer information campaign to arm parents with the
information they need to chose high quality care for their children.
5
Who's Minding the Children?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-s.te/1997-10/22/0241-102297-idx.html
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Who's Minding the Children?
News From the 50 States
Find news. reference materials
and Internet resources for every
Quality of Day Care Is Often a Casualty of the
state. Type the name of any state
Booming Economy
below:
By Barbara Vobejda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 22, 1997; Page A01
National Section: news.
background and Web resources
The Washington Post
on the topics of national interest.
Two day-care centers in Columbus. Ohio. have closed
National Breaking News:
recently because their operators couldn't find enough
24-hour-a-day updates in the
workers. In California, where the public schools are hiring
Today's Top News section.
teachers to reduce class sizes, day-care administrators say
All National stories from this
they are unable to find replacements for the staff they are
morning's Washington Post.
losing to the schools. In Battle Creek. Mich.. centers say
they can't compete with factory jobs making cereal for
Kellogg's, which pays two or three times child-care
salaries.
This is what specialists in the field call the crisis of day
care: hiring and retaining the kind of high-quality people it
takes to provide good care. And with numerous national
studies finding that most day care is of poor quality, child
development experts warn that the emotional and
intellectual development of a generation of children is
being jeopardized.
Thursday, President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham
Clinton will host a White House conference on child care.
the single most visible effort yet to focus attention on the
subject.
The conference agenda, acknowledging the problems of
quality, availability and financing, is aimed at exploring
solutions, primarily public-private sector partnerships to
funnel new funds into the system. But even as advocates
are encouraged by the high-profile platform, they are also
skeptical that the federal government, states or the private
sector are on the verge of making the kind of financial
infusion it would take to turn around an industry whose
basic economics work against quality.
The conference comes at a particularly challenging time.
industry experts say, because the nation's healthy economy
and low unemployment rate have made staffing shortages
and high turnover in child care even worse.
1 of 6
10/22/97 17:20:01
Who's Minding the Children?
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The result, said Ed Hassenger, executive director of the
Altrusa Day Nursery in Battle Creek, is an applicant pool
with very poor qualifications, some who struggle to read
and write.
"You have a population
unable to work with children."
he said, and so centers work on their skills. "Then you start
over again. So you have a vicious circle."
Even when workers were in greater supply, the industry
had trouble paying the kind of premium wages it would
require to keep highly trained staff.
Of the 3 million day-care workers in this country, half are
likely to quit their jobs this year, according to Marcy
Whitebook, co-director of the National Center for the Early
Childhood Work Force and a leading expert on the
industry's economics.
They will leave to earn more money as grocery store clerks
or washing United Postal Service trucks or. if they have a
college education, teaching in the public schools. It is no
wonder, since a third are paid only the minimum wage.
Child-care providers say they would pay more if they
could, but that would mean charging parents more, which
is difficult because day care already accounts for a huge
portion of family expenses.
"There simply isn't enough purchasing power in the hands
of parents to insure children get good quality care," said
Gail Richardson, who heads the Child Care Action
Campaign, a national advocacy group.
But fixing the problem is difficult, because when it comes
to day care, the standard rules of the marketplace don't
apply.
First, said Suzanne Helburn, a University of Colorado
economist who has studied child-care quality, "there's not
enough money in the system."
Helburn and others said child care should be viewed not as
a typical market, but like public education or health care,
where the cost of providing the service far outweighs the
capacity of consumers to pay. Yet unlike child care, public
schools and health care are heavily subsidized or
underwritten entirely by government or employers.
The subsidy to child care is much more limited, with 70
percent of the total price tag paid from the pockets of
parents. On average, families with preschool-age children
pay $74 a week for child care, making it the third largest
expense, after housing and food, for many working
parents.
While it strains a family budget, that $3,700 a year
provides less than half what experts estimate quality care
10/22/97 17:20:07
Who's Minding the Children?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-s.te/1997-10/22/0241-102297-idx.html
would cost -- as much as $8,500 per child per year.
At the Shirlington Children's Center, an Arlington day-care
center, director Anna Wodzynska is familiar with the
problem. Two years ago, four of her seven workers left,
and within a short time, all of the replacements quit.
"If you can keep a teacher for a year, that's great," she said.
But if she wanted to raise salaries from the $8 she now
pays teachers to the $12 she thinks would lower turnover,
it would increase the price of care from $130 a week to
$200. But she said that is impossible. "Here, in
Shirlington, no one could afford that."
Even the cost of day care is more than many parents can
afford, especially low-income, single mothers.
Carrie Trombetta. a 20-year-old mother with two young
children, earns $5.15 working at Barnhill's Country Buffet
in Pensacola, Fla. She gets up each morning and starts
calling around to friends and family, asking who might
care for her boys while she goes to work.
"I look all day for a babysitter until Tgo to work," she said.
"I offer to pay them in food stamps because I can't afford
to give them money."
When she applied for a government child-care subsidy, she
was told there were 600 people on the waiting list in front
of her.
Over the past decade, the federal government has increased
what it spends to help low-income parents pay for child
care from $500 million to nearly $3 billion. But only one
in 10 children who are eligible for those funds is receiving
them. leaving many states with thousands of families on
their waiting lists.
Experts point to numerous studies underscoring their
arguments that financing affects quality: A 1995 study by
researchers at four universities rated just one in seven
day-care centers as good quality and linked the problem to
wages, training and experience.
A year earlier, the Families and Work Institute, a New
York-based research organization, found comparably poor
levels of quality in home day care, when children are taken
to another person's home rather than a center.
And in April, a similar White House conference focused
on brain development from birth to age 3, emphasizing that
in order to learn and develop properly, young children
need consistent and positive relationships with adults.
Gloria Hicks, who runs the Teddy Bear Day Care in
Fairfax, has seen firsthand the importance of that
consistency.
10/22/97 17:20:09
Who's Minding the Children?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-s.te/1997-10/22/0241-102297-idx.hml
"It's very hard for the younger ones, the infants and
toddlers, to warm up to strangers," she said. "They're more
fussy, crying" when new teachers take over. Hicks said she
steps in and helps the children. Still, she said, "They have
to develop a bond with a person, then all of a sudden, they
have to develop a bond with a new person."
Even as advocates call for public and private investments
to subsidize the system, they caution that simply adding
dollars is not the answer.
Whitebook, the work force expert, argued that, even with
the increased federal investment in recent years, little has
been done to improve day-care wages or reduce turnover.
"The challenge is not just more money, but more money
with an eye toward improving the care."
Indeed, even in the segment of the child-care system where
there is plenty of money high-income parents willing to
pay hundreds of dollars weekly -- there are still problems.
"The more affluent families are not very good consumers,"
said Helburn. "They don't understand what good quality
is."
In part, parents lack the expertise to be good consumers
but they also lack the emotional distance it sometimes
takes to make a rational choice.
"Parents, when they're looking for child care, find it a very
painful process," said Ellen Galinsky, co-president of the
Work and Families Institute. The process of choosing day
care, she said, "symbolizes separation. They don't look
with dispassion" as they do in many other instances of
comparison shopping.
DAY CARE IN AMERICA
Experts argue that the quality of child care is harmed by
high turnover among providers. One in two workers is
expected to quit this year, in part because wages are
limited by how much parents can afford to pay.
Care providers for preschoolers with employed mothers,
1993
Child-care centers: 30%
Relatives: 25
Parents: 22
Home day care: 17
Nannies: 5
10/22/97 17.20.14
Who's Minding the Children?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-s..te/1997-10/22/0241-102297-idx.html
Other: 1
Budget for a typical child-care center, per child per month
COSTS
Labor: $285
Other: $44
Rent: $55
Food: $19
REVENUE
Parent fees: $302
Other: $55
Public fees: $63
The poorest Americans spend the greatest share of their
income on child care.
Annual Weekly Share of income
income expense
Under $14,400 $47.29 25%
$14,400-35,999 $60.16 12%
$36,000-53,999 $73.10 8%
$54,000 and over $91.93 6%
Children under 6 who have both parents or only parent in
work force: 12 million
Licensed child-care centers: 93,221
Average salary for providers in child-care centers: $6.89 an
hour
Amount U.S. employers lose due to child-care-related
absences: $3 billion
Percentage of employees eligible for employer-assisted
child-care benefits: 4 percent
SOURCES: Packard Foundation, Child Care Action
Campaign
©
Copyright 1997 The Washington Post Company
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1.86
10/22/07.12:20:15
U.S. News 10/27/97: Hillary Clinton's new day-care model--the Pentagon
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/971027/27care.htm
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The Clintons' day-care model: the
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Pentagon
The military way emphasizes standards and, not surprisingly,
more spending
BY BRUCE B. AUSTER
Five years ago, after receiving an anonymous tip, Linda Smith and her
team of Pentagon specialists sped south to Quantico, Va., to inspect,
unannounced, the Marine Corps's child-care center there. The facility, a
wooden World War II-era structure that housed 85 kids under age 5, was
so dilapidated that Smith's heel broke through the floor. One day later, she
had shut it down.
Quantico's center has long since reopened in a new facility, with strict
health and safety standards, and mandatory training and better wages for
its staff. Many other military day-care centers were also bad a few years
ago and are good today--a pattern that will lead first lady Hillary Rodham
Clinton to praise the military model at this week's White House conference
on child care. But while the military-which provides care for more than
200,000 children--provides many lessons for improving day care in the
civilian sector, some can be copied only at great expense.
The armed services were stung by a General Accounting Office report in
1982 that concluded that many military facilities--including centers run in
condemned buildings and one set up in a former stable--were "neither safe
nor suitable places" for children. The military responded by demanding
high standards of all its 800 centers and 9,800 in-home care providers. In
theory, troops, who transfer to new posts every two or three years, should
now find quality care wherever they are based. In contrast, child-care
programs in the civilian world vary in quality from the very good to the
very bad.
Facing turnover rates of 300 percent, the military placed an unusual
emphasis on training and retaining its caregivers. Although entry-level pay
for military day-care jobs isn't much better than the $7 an hour most
civilian providers earn, it can rise to $9 an hour for teachers who get
additional training. By contrast, in the civilian sector 32 states don't even
require training. At Fort Meade in Maryland. turnover among the
child-care center staff is less than 20 percent, compared with 36 percent in
the civilian sector nationally. The center received a coveted national
accreditation.
10/22/97 17:21:40
U.S. News 10/27/97: Hillary Clinton's new day-care model--the Pentagon
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/971027/27care.htm
Surprise inspections. In the military, home-based caregivers, who serve
one third of military kids, receive the same training as those at the large
centers and are subject to the same health and safety standards. In the
civilian sector, as many as 1.1 million at-home providers are unlicensed.
Sheila Gregg, who has been caring for kids for 10 years in her Fort Meade
duplex, gets four surprise inspections a year, in addition to monthly visits
from an outreach worker. Although the standards mirror those in the
civilian world, they are rigorously enforced.
But these improvements do not come cheap. The Pentagon spends $273
million a year on child care; combined with parents' investment, it costs
about $6,800 a year for each child-care slot. That's well above the $3,700
national average for day care and roughly comparable to the $6,300 to
$8,500 average for high-quality care. Even that investment fails to provide
for 130,000 military children, whose parents must make other
arrangements. And while the White House will showcase model child-care
programs this week, it will not propose adding much to the $3 billion the
federal government now spends, mostly targeted to low-income families.
Business and civic leaders, who are already spending tens of millions of
dollars on child care, will be called on to do more. But even the Pentagon,
with its deep pockets, invested in child care only reluctantly, reasoning that
its soldiers and sailors would fight better if they knew their kids were well
cared for. "It was difficult for [the Pentagon] to fund child care," says
Carolyn Becraft, the official responsible for day care. "But it's a readiness
issue for us. It's a business decision." Part of the Clintons' goal is to
persuade companies, parents, and communities that significant financial
investments are in their interests, too.
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10/22/97 17:21:44
Clintons to tackle child-care issues
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WASHINGTON - As if on cue to illustrate the problem Hillary
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"That is the problem," Clinton answered. "I could not more vividly
describe it."
But Clinton couldn't say how the White House Conference on
Child Care, which she and President Clinton will host Thursday,
might help the 38-year-old Adelphi, Md., secretary and her little
boy, Vincent.
"Your child will be in school before we probably get much of the
changes that I would like to see happen," she said.
White House aides are being deliberately vague about what the
Clintons have in mind to address the problems of affordability,
availability and safety in the nation's child-care industry.
During the 1993-94 health-care debates, they learned that
large-scale proposals can bring protest from those who see big
government taking over a responsibility that should be left to
families and private businesses.
"If you're having a White House conference, I suspect you think
there's a government solution," says Gary Bauer of the
conservative Family Research Council.
In an interview with USA TODAY on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton
wouldn't say what the administration will propose.
"What I'm interested in is putting the spotlight on this issue and
using the White House to
ignite a national conversation," she
said.
10/22/97 17:28:22
Clintons to tackle child-care issues
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/ncs25.htm
The goal, she said, is to "call national attention to an issue that
political leaders and policymakers should focus on but which has
often been ignored."
She wouldn't talk specifics, and her aides said she is not
necessarily backing ideas she has mentioned recently: creating a
national registry of child-care workers who have been convicted of
crimes, for example, or offering protection for caretakers who fear
being sued over minor accidents.
In her book It Takes a Village, Clinton said child care "is an issue
that brings out all of our conflicted feelings about what parenthood
should be and about who should care for children when parents are
working or otherwise unable to."
Children's issues have been a passion for Clinton since the early
1970s, when she worked as a lawyer at the Children's Defense
Fund, a liberal advocacy group. Now she is wading back in to help
tackle what the president calls "the next great frontier" in his effort
to help working families.
In a recent speech at a Newark church, he ticked off a list of large
and small initiatives he already has promoted: a new TV rating
system to alert parents about violent or sexual content, a tobacco
settlement that aims to stop smoking among children, a
$500-per-child tax credit for working families and a balanced
federal budget that increases funding for health care for
low-income children.
"But we still have to make sure that our parents have access to
quality, affordable child care," he said. "That's the great, big hurdle
left."
Richard Stolley, president of the Child Care Action Campaign,
hopes Thursday's conference can help convince businesses that
helping employees find child care helps productivity. "Business
needs to be convinced there is a bottom-line benefit," he says.
But the nation's child-care system is in such bad shape, he says,
that "we're deluding ourselves if we think this is going to make an
enormous difference."
By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
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