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2-26-1998 9:27AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 1
HUMAN SERVICES. USA
DATE: 2/26
&
HEALTH
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
200 INDEPENDENCE AVE. , SW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
OF
DEPARTMENT
PHONE: (202) 690-6311
FAX: (202) 690-8425
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR LEGISLATION
HUMAN SERVICES LEGISLATION
ROOM 413 H HUMPHREY BUILDING
FROM:
TO
[ 21 MA MARY M. BOURDETTE
OFFICE
: WH
:
[
]
BARBARA P. CLARK
[
] GREG JONES
ROOM NO
:
[
] PATRICIA BRAVO
PHONE NO :
[ ] AMY LOCKHART
FAX NO
456-2878 -
:
[
] LAUREN GRIFFIN
[ ] LULA BARNES
TOTAL PAGES
3
INCLUDING COVER) :
REMARKS:
Her is the packel f maturals we we
propared to in response to Here request
f enfo. I've Cleared them internally
and need to for there to
people weleo 've requested them AQAP.
Uulen I bene Otherwose been you today, I'llso
II
with them.
Thenks may
2-26-1998 27AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.2
How Satisfied Are Parents With Their Child Care?
In a recent Harris poll,¹ a significant percentage of adults reported having problems finding
affordable, quality child care.
Among the quarter of all adults who say they or their spouses or partners have used or
needed child care in the last five years, half (51 percent) say it was extremely difficult or
very difficult to find affordable care.
Forty-four percent found it extremely difficult or very difficult to find quality care.
In addition, half of the respondents indicated that the lack of satisfactory care made it
difficult to do a good job at work, and nearly as many (43 percent) said they could not
take a job they had wanted because they did not have satisfactory child care.
In contrast to the Harris poll findings, research surveys have consistently reported parent
satisfaction with child care arrangements to be very high. However, researchers have always
noted that parent satisfaction is difficult to assess effectively for a number of reasons.²
For example, in the most recent nationally representative survey, the 1990 National Child
Care Survey, 96 percent of all parents--both employed and non-employed--responded
either that they were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the current arrangement for their
youngest child.³
Yet, when these same parents were asked if they would prefer to change their
arrangement, 26 percent indicated a preference for another arrangement.
For families with an employed mother, 30 percent preferred another arrangement. For
families with a non-employed mother, 19 percent wanted a change. The desire to change
arrangements was greatest among employed single mothers (40 percent). The desire to
change arrangements was not significantly affected by family income.
For those parents wanting an alternative care arrangement, the majority--both employed and non-
employed parents--were seeking care with certain program-quality characteristics, most often
those related to promoting children's cognitive, social, and emotional development.
The most frequently named alternative care preferred for children between one and four
years of age is center care; under age one, care by a relative is preferred as an alternative
to the current arrangement.⁵ However, mothers with children under one often express a
preference to stay at home.
Family income does affect the kind of alternative care desired, with families with
incomes below $25,000 a year in 1990 much more likely to want center care instead of
the current arrangement.
February 24. 1998 - HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 9:28AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.3
1. Harris Poll, January 28, 1998. Poll of 1,000 adults between January 14 and 16.
2. Anne Mitchell, Emily Cooperstein, and Mary Larner. Child Care Choices, Consumer
Education. and Low-Income Families. National Center for Children in Poverty, 1992. In
addition to reflecting true satisfaction with a care arrangement, reported satisfaction may reflect
relief in finding a suitable arrangement and/or a parent's realization of constraints in choice
(availability of arrangements, price of care, etc.). A reported lack of satisfaction may reflect that
a parent wants to change the arrangement to one more developmentally appropriate because the
child is growing older or that the parent is either thinking of returning to work or increasing
working hours.
3. Sandra L. Hofferth, April Brayfield, Sharon Deich, and Pamela Holcomb. National Child
Care Survey, 1990. Urban Institute Press.
4. Sandra L. Hofferth. "Caring for Children at the Poverty Line." Children and Youth Services
Review 17 (1/2), 1995, 1-21.
5. Hofferth. National Child Care Survey, 1990.
February 24, 1998 -- HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 9:08AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 1
HUMAN SERVICES USA
DATE: 2/26
&
HEALTH
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
200 INDEPENDENCE AVE., SW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
OF
DEPARTMENT
PHONE: (202) 690-6311
FAX: (202) 690-8425
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR LEGISLATION
HUMAN SERVICES LEGISLATION
ROOM 413 H HUMPHREY BUILDING
FROM:
TO
[ 21 MA MARY M. BOURDETTE
OFFICE
: WH
:
[ ] BARBARA P. CLARK
[ ] GREG JONES
ROOM NO
:
[ ] PATRICIA BRAVO
PHONE NO :
[ ] AMY LOCKHART
FAX NO
456-2878 -
:
[ ] LAUREN GRIFFIN
[ ] LULA BARNES
TOTAL PAGES
INCLUDING COVER) :
9
REMARKS:
Hur is the packet f maturals twe we
propared to in response to Here request
fewf I've Cleared them internally
and need to for there to
people veleo 've requested them AQAP.
Unlen I bene ottervose been you today, I'llso
with them
Themas may
2-26-1998 9:09AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.2
CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS OF FAMILIES WITH EMPLOYED
AND NON-EMPLOYED MOTHERS
2-26-1998 9:09AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.3
CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS OF FAMILIES WITH EMPLOYED
AND NON-EMPLOYED MOTHERS
1. "Child Care for Young Children: Demographics" (National Child Care Information Center
Fact Sheet)
2. "Out-of-School Time: School-Age Care" (National Child Care Information Center Fact
Sheet)
3. Child Care Arrangements by Age of Child and Maternal Employment Status -
Employed (National Child Care Survey 1990)
4. Child Care Arrangements by Age of Child and Maternal Employment Status -- Non-
Employed (National Child Care Survey 1990)
5. Percentage of Preschool Children with Employed Mothers Enrolled in Center-Based
Programs (National Household Education Survey of 1991)
6. Percentage of Preschool Children with Non-employed Mothers Enrolled in Center-
Based Programs (National Household Education Survey of 1991)
February 24, 1998 -- HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 9: 10AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.4
Child Care for Young Children: Demographics
According to the National Center for Education Statistics,
While use of center-based care increased from 1988 to
in 1995 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
22
26
17
1993
Family day care
18
24
1991
1988
Care by fathers
20
15
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
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
This profile of child care demographics has been excerpted from information provided by the T 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
14
September/October 1997
Child Care Bulletin
2-26-1998 9: 10AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.5
Out-of-School Time
School-Age Care
According 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 of 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.
involvement 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/WCW/CRW/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.
Child Care Bulleria
September/October 1997
13
2-26-1998 9: 11AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.6
Child Care Arrangements by Age of Child and
Maternal Employment Status, 1990
Other
5%
Center
14%
Family child care
20%
In-home provider -
5%
Parent
37%
Relative (other home)
11%
Relative (child's home)
8%
Employed mother, children under 1 year of age
Other
3%
Center
Family child care
21%
20%
In-home provider-
4%
Relative (other home)
13%
Parent
32%
Relative (child's home)
7%
Employed mother, children 1 to 2 years of age
Other
4%
Family child care
17%
Center
37%
in-home provider -
3%
Relative (other home)
10%
Relative (child's home)
4%
Parent
25%
Employed mother, children 3 to 4 years of age
2-26-1998 9:11AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.7
Child Care Arrangements by Age of Child and
Maternal Employment Status, 1990
Family child care
3%
Other
In-home provider
3%
Center
3%
2%
Relative (other home)
5%
Relative (child's home)
7%
Parent
77%
Nonemployed mother, children under 1 year of age
Family child care
3%
Other
4%
Center
In-home provider
8%
3%
Relative (other home)
9%
Relative (child's home)
6%
Parent
69%
Nonemployed mother, children 1 to 2 years of age
Family child care
2%
Other
In-home provider
6%
1%
Relative (other home)
Center
5%
29%
Relative (child's home)
3%
Parent
54%
Nonemployed mother, children 3 to 4 years of age
Source Hottenh $. Brayneld. A., Deich S. and Helcomb. P National Child Core Survey, 1990. Washington X The Urban
instrute 1001
2-26-1998 9: 11AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.8
Percentage of preschool children with employed mothers enrolled in center-based
programs, by age and household income: 1991
Percent
Percent
100
100
80
80
5-year-olds
4-year-olds
60
60
3- to 5-year-olds
40
40
3-year-olds
20
20
0
0
Less than or
$15,001-
$25,001-
$30,001-
Greater than
equal to $15,000
$25,000
$30,000
$50,000
$50,000
Household income
NOTE: For supporting data see appendix tables C4.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Household Education Survey of 1991 (NHES:91). Early Childhood Education (ECE)
Component.
2-26-1998 9: 12AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.9
Percentage of preschool children with nonemployed mothers enrolled in center-based
programs, by age and household income: 1991
Percent
Percent
100
100
80
80
60
60
5-year-olds
4-year-olds
40
40
3- to 5-year-olds
20
20
3-year-olds
0
0
Less than or
$15,001-
$25,001-
$30,001-
Greater than
equal to $15,000
$25,000
$30,000
$50,000
$50,000
Household income
NOTE: For supporting data see appendix tables C4.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Household Education Survey of 1991 (NHES:91), Early Childhood Education (ECE)
Component.
2-26-1998 9: 16AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.1
HUMAN SERVICES:USA
DATE: 2/26
&
HEALTH
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
200 INDEPENDENCE AVE., SW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
OF
DEPARTMENT
PHONE: (202) 690-6311
FAX: (202) 690-8425
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR LEGISLATION
HUMAN SERVICES LEGISLATION
ROOM 413 H HUMPHREY BUILDING
FROM:
TO
: Jen/ WH
[
MARY M. BOURDETTE
OFFICE
:
[ ] BARBARA P. CLARK
[ ] GREG JONES
ROOM NO
=
[ ] PATRICIA BRAVO
PHONE NO :
[ ] AMY LOCKHART
FAX NO
456 456-2878 - 2878
:
[ ] LAUREN GRIFFIN
[ ] LULA BARNES
TOTAL PAGES
15
INCLUDING COVER) :
REMARKS:
Hu is the packel f maturals Due we
propared in response to Here request
f enfo. I've Cleased them internary
and need to ful there to
people veleo 've requested them A&AP.
Unlen I bene otherwose been you today, I'llso
with them
Thenks may
2-26-1998 9:17AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.2
HOW DOES CHILD CARE AFFECT CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT:
FINDINGS FROM THE NICHD STUDY OF EARLY CHILD CARE
February 1998
2-26-1998 9: 17AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.3
What Are the Findings of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care?
In 1991, the NICHD Study of Early Child Care was launched to address key questions about
whether child care has harmful effects on infants and toddlers. More than 1,300 children in ten
sites were followed from one month old to three years old. The study sites included urban, rural,
and suburban areas and sampled a diverse group of families in terms of race, maternal education,
income, family structure, maternal employment status, type and quality of child care, and the
number of hours that children spent in non-maternal care arrangements.
Overall, the study found that a family's economic circumstances, maternal behavior
toward the child, and characteristics of the family environment together are highly
predictive of children's social, cognitive, and linguistic outcomes and are more predictive
than child care factors.
The study finds that even very young children who attend child care should be expected
to develop good relationships with their mothers and to acquire appropriate social,
cognitive, and linguistic competencies. In addition, better quality care is linked to better
social, cognitive, and language development.
Lesser quality care results in less optimal psychological outcomes for all children,
including those whose families are experiencing significant emotional or financial stress.
The more child care centers comply with commonly defined standards of quality, the
better the cognitive and social outcomes of the children at 36 months of age. Standards
of quality are staff-child ratio, group size, and provider education and training. These
elements are all related to more positive staff-child interactions, a predictor of better
outcomes for children.
Mothers whose children are in child care for longer hours are slightly less sensitive to
their children's signals. At the same time, increased family income is associated with
more positive mother-child interaction.
February 24, 1998 - HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 9: 18AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 4
How Does Child Care Affect Children's Development?
On the whole, children are affected by experiences in child care in much the same way that they are
affected by experiences at home.
A first concern is for children's health and safety. Avoidable injuries and illnesses can occur
in either setting if conditions are hazardous, overcrowded, or unclean.
Children also do best when their hearts and minds are nurtured. The key ingredients are good
interactions with caring adults whom they know and trust, ample opportunities to play with
other children in safe and supervised settings, and physical environments that invite
exploration and discovery.
Concerns about the effects of child care on children's development are on the minds of parents and
policy makers and have been studied extensively by researchers. Overall, research indicates that it is
not whether children are in child care or home care that matters most. What matters in either setting
is the quality of children's experiences and the safety of their environments.
The most recent research focuses on infants and toddlers. In 1991, the NICHD Study of Early Child
Care was launched to address key questions about whether there are harmful effects of child care for
infants when compared to exclusive care by mothers. The study was designed to go beyond global
questions and examine how very young children are affected by different aspects of child care such
as quality, quantity, and timing of entry. Researchers in ten sites have followed more than 1300
children from one month of age to three years of age. The study sites included urban, rural, and
suburban areas and sampled families from a wide range of economic and social backgrounds.
The NICHD research indicates overall that:
Family factors are the most important predictors of children's development. Child care does
not diminish the importance of children's home experiences.
Overall, the results show that even very young children who attend child care can be expected
to develop good relationships with their mothers and to acquire appropriate cognitive,
linguistic, and behavioral competencies. In addition, better quality care is linked to better
outcomes for children.
In most respects, children's relationship with mothers are unaffected by child care. For
certain aspects and conditions, findings are more mixed. For example, mothers are slightly
less sensitive to their children's signals when children have spent more time in child care.
However, mothers' employment also contributes to family income, and income predicts more
positive mother-child interaction.
The more child care centers comply with commonly defined standards of quality, the better
the cognitive and social outcomes of the children at 36 months of age. Standards of quality
are staff-child ratio, group size, and provider education and training. These elements are all
February 24, 1998 HHS--ASPE
2-26-1998 9: 18AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.5
related to more positive staff-child interactions, a predictor of better outcomes for children.
Low quality care is likely to have special risks -- and high quality care is likely to have special
benefits -- for children whose families are experiencing significant emotional or financial
stress, consistent with findings from other studies.
There is evidence from other research that many child care programs do not offer children --
especially our youngest children -- the kinds of settings and experiences that are best for their
development. However, we know what kinds of conditions are problematic and how to improve
these conditions -- through states' tightening of regulations and monitoring efforts, training of
providers, consumer education for parents, and other measures -- to better ensure that children are
protected and nurtured.
Sources
Cost, Quality, and Child Outcomes Study Team. (1995) Cost, Quality and Child Outcomes in
Child Care Centers: Public Report, Denver: University of Colorado at Denver.
Kontos, S., Howes, C., Sinn, M., and Galinsky. (1995) Quality in Family Child Care and
Relative Care, New York: Teachers College Press.
Love, J.M., Schochet, P.Z., Meekstroth, A.L. (1996) Are they in Any Real Danger? What
Research Does - and Doesn't - Tell Us About Child Care Quality and Children's Well-
Being, Mathematic Policy Research, Inc.
NICHD Study of Early Child Care. (1998) Background and Talking Points, National Institute
for Child Health and Human Development.
NICHD Study of Early Child Care. Summary of Results as of 12/97 (and listed publications),
National Institute for Child Health and Human Development.
Phillips, D. (1995) Child Care for Low Income Families, National Academy Press,
Washington, D.C.
February 24, 1998 - HHS-ASPE
P.6
2-26-1998 9: 19AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
Child Care Does Not Affect Infant's Attachment to Mother NICHD
www.nih.gov/nichd/html/childear.hr
iiin
NICHD News Notes
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
Child Care Does Not Affect Infant's Attachment to Mother,
Unless Mother Insensitive to Infant's Needs
NICHD-supported scientists conducting a longitudinal study of the effects of child care on children's
development through age seven have found that child care in and of itself neither adversely affects, nor
promotes, the security of children's attachment to their mothers at the 15-month-age point. Low-quality
care, more than 10 hours per week in care, and multiple child-care arrangements, however, adversely
affected attachment when combined with maternal insensitivity to infant needs, cautioned the scientists
who announced their findings today at the International Conference on Infant Studies in Providence,
Rhode Island.
Behavioral scientists define attachment as an infant's comfortable sense of trust in his or her mother. For
this study, the child-care arrangements evaluated in relationship to attachment security were diverse and
included father care, grandparent care, care by a non-relative in the child's home, family day care, and
center-based care.
In 1991, the NICHD Study of Early Child Care enrolled more than 1,300 families and their children
from 1 0 locales throughout the country. The children, who were one month old or less at enrollment,
their families, and their child-care arrangements are being followed through the child's seventh year of
life. The families are diverse in terms of race, maternal education, family income, family structure
(single-parent families are included), maternal employment status, type and quality of child care, and
the number of hours that children spend in non-maternal care arrangements.
Initiated by the NICHD and conducted by investigators at the NICHD and 14 universities nationwide,
the study was spurred by the increase in the use of early child care over the past decade, and questions
about its effects on children. In 1980, 38 percent of mothers ages 18-44 with infants under one year old
worked outside the home. Ten years later, this percentage had climbed to 53. Since most of these
mothers return to work in their child's first three to five months of life, their children spend much of
their early lives in various kinds of child-care situations.
This increase in the use of child care has led to many questions from parents, developmental
psychologists, and policy makers about the effects of such early child care on children's development.
One of their core interests is how early child care affects a cl-child's attachment to his or her mother.
Psychologists have linked insecure attachment to the mother to compromised developmental and social
adjustment at older ages, including difficult interactions and relationships with peers, parents, and other
adults.
"The NICHD Study of Early Child Care is unprecedented in several ways," said Dr. Sarah Friedman,
NICHD coordinator of the study and one of its investigators. "An important feature of the study is the
great diversity of the infants and of the child-care settings that were studied. It is also important that we
could measure the effects of child care after taking into account family influences on security of
attachment In many other studies of child care it was not possible to do so, and, therefor&, what were
XMO PHONE 90:91 96-61-833
(7
$13
PAGE
P.7
2-26-1998 9:20AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
http: www.nin.gov/nichd/htm/childean.h
considered to be child-care effects might have been, at least in part family effects."
To assess the security of infants' attachment to their mothers, investigators used a laboratory measure,
known as the "strange situation" procedure, designed to expose infants to mild stress by separating them
from their mothers for a few minutes. Secure infants reestablish positive contact with their mothers
following these brief separations, while insecure infants either ignore and avoid their mother, or are not
reassured by her return.
Using this measure, the investigators observed, in a laboratory setting, the infants' attachment security at
age 15 months. They also evaluated the different aspects of child care experienced by each child,
including type of care, quality of care, its amount (i.e., number of hours per week), stability (number of
child-care arrangements experienced), and age of entry into care. When family characteristics were
taken into account, the investigators found that no single child-care aspect, in and of itself, affected
attachment security.
Certain child-care conditions in combination with certain home environments, however, did increase the
proportion of insecurely attached infants. Infants who received either poor quality of care, more than 10
hours per week of care, or were in several child-care settings in the first fifteen months of life were
more likely to be insecurely attached when their mothers were low in sensitivity and relatively
unresponsive to their needs. Infants who fit into one of these three "dual-risk" categories were more
likely to be insecurely attached to their mothers. In addition, boys who spent more than 30 hours per
week in child care had a somewhat increased risk for insecure attachment compared with other boys,
whereas girls with fewer than 10 hours per week in care were at a somewhat increased risk for
insecurity.
While experts have evidence showing that insecure attachment often leads to difficulties in social
adjustment, they recognize that, because human development is an ongoing process affected by many
experiences beyond infancy, not every insecure infant develops such problems. By continuing to
evaluate the social, cognitive, linguistic, and health development of the children in this study,
investigators hope to be able to identify the conditions that predict enhanced or compromised
development in relation to child care as children grow older.
Copies of the full report on the study are available from the NICHD's Public Information and
Communications Branch at (301) 496-5133.
The NICHD is part of the National Institutes of Health, the biomedical research arm of the Federal
government. Since its inception in 1962, the Institute has become a world leader in promoting research
on development before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and
population issues; and medical rehabilitation.
f2
ORR 90.31 86-61-833
E/E
PAGE
1012966102101
2-26-1998 9:20AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.8
ASTITUTES
NIH NEWS ALERI
OF HEADH
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development
Embargoed until April 3, 1997
Contact:
Robin Peth-Pierce
6 p.m. E.S.T.
(301) 496-5136
Results of NICHD Study of Early Child Care
Reported at Society for Research in Child Development Meeting
New research being released this week indicates that the quality of child care for
very young children does matter for their cognitive development and their use of
language. In addition, quality child care in the early years, meaning care with a high
degree of positive interaction between caregivers and children, can also lead to better
mother-child interaction, the study finds.
The findings come from a longitudinal study on the effects of early child care
supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
They will be presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child
Development on April 4, 1997, at 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Washington Hotel in
Washington, D.C.
"The most striking aspect of these results from the early child care study is that
children are not being placed at a disadvantage in terms of cognitive development if they
have high quality day care in their first three years," said NICHD's Director, Duane
Alexander, M.D. "It's very important to study these issues as they are of such importance
to American families."
1
:
6/9
PAGE
FEB-19-98 14.45 FROM.NICHD ORR
2-26-1998 9:21AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.9
A major way in which the NICHD Study of Early Child Care contributes to
understanding the effects of child care is by moving beyond the global questions about
whether child care is good or bad for children. Instead, it focuses on how the different
aspects of child care, such as quantity and quality of care, are associated with children's
cognitive and language development and mother-child interaction patterns over the first
three years of life.
Just as important, the NICHD Study of Early Child Care examines effects of child
care after taking into consideration other factors that shape children's development and
their relationships with their mothers. These factors include family economic status,
mother's psychological well being and intelligence, child sex and infant temperament
This study design makes it more likely that the effects discerned are unly due to child
care, and not a function of other factors.
The study is clarifying the association between child care and children's cognitive
development, as well as the association between child care and the mother-child
relationship, two issues that are of deep concern to the over 50 million working mothers
and their families in this country. Child care is becoming an ever increasing fact of life
as more women stay in the work force after pregnancy and many more women are single
parents. In 1980, according to U.S. census data, 38% of mothers, ages 18-44, with
infants under one year of age, worked outside the home. By 1990, this percentage
climbed to 50, a rate close to where it stands now. Most of these women return to work
in their child's first three to five months.
Evidence is emerging from the study that across a wide range of child care
settings, quality child care, as defined by positive caregiving and language stimulation
given in the child care environment, are positively related to early cognitive and language
development. While the quality of child care had a small but statistically significant
relation to children's cognitive and linguistic outcomes, the combination of family
income, maternal vocabulary, home environment, and maternal cognitive stimulation
were stronger predictors of children's cognitive development
"In this study, we found that the amount of language that is directed at the child in
child care is an important component of quality provider-child interaction," said Dr.
Sarah Friedman, NICHD coordinator of the study and one of its investigators. "This
language input is predictive of children's acquisition of cognitive and language skills,
which are the bedrock of school readiness."
Language stimulation was assessed by measuring how often caregivers spoke to
children, asked them questions, and responded to their vocalizations. To assess children's
cognitive development, researchers used standardized tests, including the Bayley Scales
of Infant Development, the Bracken-Scale-of-Basic-Concepts school-readiness subtest,
the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory, and the Reynell Developmental
Language Scale.
The small but consistent findings indicate that the higher the quality of child care
in the first three years of life the greater the child's language abilities at 15, 24, and 36
months, the better the child's performance on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at
age two, and the more school readiness the child showed at age three.
2
2-26-1998 9:21AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 10
Among children in care for more than 10 hours per week, those in center care, and
to a lesser extent, those in child care homes, performed better on cognitive and language
measures when the quality of the caregiver-child interaction was taken into account.
In addition to the cognitive findings, researchers also found that quality and
amount of child care had a small but statistically significant association with the quality
of the mother-child interaction. Again, a combination of other variables, including family
environment, maternal education, and family income, were more influential in
determining the quality of the mother-child interaction.
Researchers found that the amount of nonmaternal child care was weakly
associated with less sensitive and engaged mother-child interactions. The more time
infants and toddlers spent in non-maternal child-care arrangements, the less sensitive and
positively involved were mothers with their infants at 6 months of age, the more negative
they were:with them at 15 months of age, the less positively affectionate the child was
toward the mother at 24 and 36 months of age, and the less sensitive mothers were to
their toddlers at the 36 month point.
Where effects of quality on mother-child interaction were found, higher quality
of provider-child interaction in the child care setting predicted greater maternal
involvernent-sensitivity (at 15 and 36 months) and greater child positive engagement at
36 months.
Mother-child interaction was evaluated by videotaping mother and child together
during play and observing mother's behavior toward the child to see how attentive,
responsive, positively affectionate or restrictive the mother was when faced with multiple
competing tasks (i.e., monitoring child, talking with interviewer).
In sum, what is happening at home and in families appears to be a powerful
predictor of both cognitive outcomes and mother-child interaction. Still, with the family,
maternal, and child care characteristics considered, the child care variables studied
provided additional, significant prediction of children's cognitive and language outcomes
and mother-child interaction.
In 1991, the NICHD Study of Early Child Care enrolled more than 1,300 families
and their children from 10 locales throughout the country. The children, who were one
month old or less at enrollment, their families, and their child-care arrangements are
being followed through the child's seventh year of life. The families are diverse in terms
of race, maternal education, family income, family structure (single-parent families are
included), maternal employment status, type and quality of child care, and the number of
hours that children spend in non-maternal care arrangements. Arrangements included
father care, grandparent care, care by a non-relative in the child's home, child care homes,
and center-based care.
The child care variables used in the analysis included information about the type
of care, the amount of care, and the quality of care. Higher quality care was defined in
terms of the interactions of child care providers with the study children Interactions
expected to promote positive affect, better social adjustment and greater cognitive and
language skill were considered of higher quality.
Initiated and conducted by NICHD and investigators at 14 universities
3
5/1
Tar
***
2-26-1998 9: 22AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.11
nationwide, the study was spurred by many questions from parents, developmental
psychologists, and policy makers about the effects of early child care on children's
development. Among the investigators' core interests have been how these child-care
experiences affect children's cognitive and language development and the way in which
parents relate to children who are in child care. These are important study foci because
early cognitive and language development predicts future school achievement and
performance on intelligence tests and because patterns of mother-child interaction predict
future social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Last April, study investigators released data which evaluated the infants up to the
15 month point. They found that child care, in and of itself, neither adversely affects,
nor promotes, the security of children's attachment to their mothers at the IS month age
point, provided the children were already receiving relatively sensitive care from their
mothers.
For more information about the study, contact NICHD's Public Information and
Communications Branch at (301) 496-5133. The NICHD is part of the National Institutes
of Health, the biomedical research arm of the Federal government. Since its inception in
1962, the Institute has become a world leader in promoting research on development
before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and
population issues; and medical rehabilitation.
###
Investigators participating in the NICHD Early Child Care Study:
Mark Appelbaum
Robert Bradley
University of California at San Diego
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
(619) 534-7959
(501) 569-3423
(619)534-7190 fax
(501) 569-8503 fax
Dee Ann Batten
Celia Brownell
Vanderbilt University
University of Pittsburgh
(615) 343-1476
(412) 624-4510
(615) 343 -1100 fax
(412) 624-4428 fax
Jay Belsky
Peg Burchnal
Pennsylvania State University
Research Triangle Institute
(814) 865-1447
(919) 966-5059
(814) 863-6207 fax
(919) 962-5771
Kimberly Boller*
Bettye Caldwell
Mathematica Policy Institute
Arkansas Children's Hospital,
(609) 275-2341
Department of Pediatries
(501) 320-3333
Cathryn Booth
(501) 320-1552 fax
University of Washington at Seattle
(206) 543-8074
Susan Campbell
(206) 685-3349 fax
University of Pittsburgh
4
- 16:61
26-1998 8: 58AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 1
HUMAN SERVICES USA
DATE: 2/26
&
/
HEALTH
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
200 INDEPENDENCE AVE., SW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
OF
DEPARTMENT
PHONE: (202) 690-6311
FAX: (202) 690-8425
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR LEGISLATION
HUMAN SERVICES LEGISLATION
ROOM 413 H HUMPHREY BUILDING
FROM:
TO
[ MARY M. BOURDETTE
OFFICE
=
: WH
[ ] BARBARA P. CLARK
[ ] GREG JONES
ROOM NO
:
[ ] PATRICIA BRAVO
PHONE NO :
[ ] AMY LOCKHART
FAX NO
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[ ] LAUREN GRIFFIN
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TOTAL PAGES
INCLUDING COVER) :
REMARKS:
Her is the packet f matures we we
propared to in response to Here request
f eufo. I've Cleared them internally
and need to for there to
people veleo 've requested them ASAP.
Unlen I bene oftervose been you today, I'llso
with them.
Thenks may
2-26-1998 8:59AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.2
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
WITH EMPLOYED AND NON-EMPLOYED MOTHERS
Data from the March 1997 Current Population Survey
2-26-1998 8:59AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.3
Families with Children with Working and Non-Working Mothers
I.
Thirty-two million families have children under age 14. Of these families, 69 percent
have a mother who worked sometime during the past year. This includes 65 percent of
the nearly 18 million families with at least one child under age 6. (Note that a small
percent of families had no mother present so numbers will not all add exactly.)
II.
26 percent of these families had a mother who did not work at all during the past year.
This includes 30 percent of families with at least one child under age 6. These
percentages include some poor single-mother families receiving welfare where the
mother will be subject to work requirements.
III.
Of the 14 million families with children under age 14 with total annual family incomes
under $30,000, 35 percent have mothers who did not work at all during the past year. For
those families with total income of $30,000 or more, 19 percent have a mother who did
not work at all during the past year.
IV.
Of the 22 million married-couple families with children under age 14, 73 percent have a
mother who worked during the past year; 27 percent have a mother who did not work at
all during the past year.
V.
Of the nearly 9 million single-mother families with children under age 14, 73 percent
have a mother who worked during the past year; 27 percent have a mother who did not
work at all during the past year.
VI.
Of the nearly 15 million families with at least one child under age 14 but no children
under age 6, 74 percent have a mother who worked during the past year; 20 percent have
a mother who did not work during the past year.
February 25. 1998 -- HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 8 59AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.4
Table 1. Total Number of Families with at least One Child Under Age Six with a Working
Mother¹ (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Working Mother
Families with a
Families with a
Working Mother
Working Mother
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
1.32
.11
1.21
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
1.52
.48
1.04
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
1.44
.95
.49
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
1.38
1.18
.20
= 40,000 and
< 50,000
1.31
1.21
.10
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
2.43
2.38
.05
75,000 +
2.00
1.96
.04
All Incomes
11.43
8.29
3.14
Poverty Status:
Poor
2.10
.43
1.67
Not Poor
9.33
7.86
1.47
I Working mothers are defined as those who worked for any amount of time during the past year.
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24. 1998 -- HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 :00AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.5
Table 2. Total Number of Families with Children Under Age Fourteen but No Children Under
Age Six with a Working Mother¹ (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Working Mother
Families with a
Families with a
Working Mother
Working Mother
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
.66
.07
.59
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
1.30
.30
1.00
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
1.38
.65
.73
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
1.44
.96
.48
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
1.26
1.03
.23
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
2.62
2.45
.17
75,000 +
2.31
2.25
.06
All Incomes
10.97
7.71
3.26
Poverty Status:
Poor
1.19
.24
.95
Not Poor
9.78
7.47
2.31
1 Working mothers are defined as those who worked for any amount of time during the past year.
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24, 1998 -- HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 9 00AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.6
/
Table 3. Total Number of Families with Children Under Age Fourteen with a Working
Mother I (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Working Mother
Families with a
Families with a
Working Mother
Working Mother
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
2.00
.19
1.81
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
2.82
.78
2.04
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
2.81
1.59
1.22
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
1.81
2.14
.67
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
2.56
2.24
.32
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
5.07
4.84
.23
75,000 +
4.33
4.22
.11
All Incomes
22.40
16.00
6.40
Poverty Status:
Poor
3.29
.67
2.62
Not Poor
19.11
15.33
3.78
1 Working mothers are defined as those who worked for any amount of time during the past year.
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24, 1998 -- HHS--ASPE
2-26-1998 9 : 00AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.7
Table 4. Total Number of Families with at least One Child Under Age Six with a Working
Mother¹ by Work Status (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Working Mother
Families with a
Families with a
Working Mother
Working Mother
Part-
Full-
Part-
Full-
Part-
Full-
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
.64
.62
.03
.02
.61
.60
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
.28
.92
.07
.09
.21
.83
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
.15
.59
.11
.15
.04
.45
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
.10
.39
.09
.20
.01
.18
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
.08
.27
.08
.17
.001
.09
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
.20
.41
.20
.36
.01
.05
75,000 +
.15
.36
.14
.32
.003
.04
All Incomes
1.60
3.55
.71
1.30
.89
2.25
Poverty Status:
Poor
.81
1.03
.08
.09
.73
.94
Not Poor
.79
2.52
.63
1.21
.16
1.31
I Working mothers are defined as those who worked for any amount of time during the past year.
2 Full-time work status is defined as usually working 35 or more hours per week during the past
year and part-time work status is defined as usually working less than 35 hours per week during
the past year.
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24. 1998 -- HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 9:01AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.8
Table 5. Total Number of Families with Children Under Age Fourteen but No Children Under
Age Six with a Working Mother¹ by Work Status2 (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Working Mother
Families with a
Families with a
Working Mother
Working Mother
Part-
Full-
Part-
Full-
Part-
Full-
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
.32
.30
.02
.01
.30
.29
= 10,000 and
< 20,000
.25
.85
.04
.06
.21
.79
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
.16
.75
.07
.11
.08
.65
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
.10
.58
.06
.14
.03
.44
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
.08
.36
.06
.15
.02
.21
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
.16
.52
.15
.36
.01
.17
75,000 +
.15
.34
.14
.29
.01
.06
All Incomes
1.21
3.71
.55
1.11
.65
2.60
Poverty Status:
Poor
.42
.61
.03
.05
.39
.56
Not Poor
.78
3.10
.52
1.05
.26
2.05
I Working mothers are defined as those who worked for any amount of time during the past year.
2 Full-time work status is defined as usually working 35 or more hours per week during the past
year and part-time work status is defined as usually working less than 35 hours per week during
the past year.
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24. 1998 - HHS--ASPE
2-26-1998 9:01AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.9
Table 6. Total Number of Families with Children Under Age Fourteen with a Working
Mother' by Work Status² (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Working Mother
Families with a
Families with a
Working Mother
Working Mother
Part-
Full-
Part-
Full-
Part-
Full-
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
.96
.92
.05
.02
.91
.90
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
.53
1.77
.11
.15
.43
1.62
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
.30
1.35
.18
.25
.12
1.10
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
.20
.97
.15
.34
.05
.63
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
.17
.63
.15
.32
.02
.30
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
.36
.93
.35
.72
.01
.21
75,000 +
.29
.70
.28
.60
.01
.10
All Incomes
2.81
7.26
1.27
2.41
1.54
4.85
Poverty Status:
Poor
1.24
1.63
.11
.14
1.12
1.50
Not Poor
1.57
5.63
1.15
2.27
.42
3.36
I Working mothers are defined as those who worked for any amount of time during the past year.
2 Full-time work status is defined as usually working 35 or more hours per week during the past
year and part-time work status is defined as usually working less than 35 hours per week during
the past year.
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24, 1998 - IIIIS--ASPE
2-26-1998 9:02AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 10
I
Table 7. Total Number of Families with Children Under Age 14 with a Mother who did not
Work in the Past Year (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Non-Employed
Families with a Non-
Families with a Non-
Mother
Employed Mother
Employed Mother
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
2.4
.51
1.91
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
1.33
1.01
.32
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
1.07
1.01
.06
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
.89
.87
.02
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
.69
.67
.02
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
.98
.96
.02
75,000 +
.94
.94
.002
All Incomes
8.32
5.96
2.36
Poverty Status:
Poor
3.38
1.29
2.09
Not Poor
4.95
4.67
.28
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24, 1998 - HHS--ASPE
2-26-1998 9 02AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P.11
Table 8. Total Number of Families with at least One Child Under Age Six with a Mother who
did not Work in the Past Year (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Non-Employed
Families with a Non-
Families with a Non-
Mother
Employed Mother
Employed Mother
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
1.61
.34
1.27
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
.86
.70
.16
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
.71
.69
.02
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
.56
.55
.01
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
.44
.43
.01
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
.57
.56
.01
75,000 +
.54
.54
.002
All Incomes
5.31
3.83
1.48
Poverty Status:
Poor
2.26
.90
1.36
Not Poor
3.05
2.93
.12
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24, 1998 - HHS-ASPE
2-26-1998 9 02AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 12
Table 9. Total Number of Families with Children Under Age Fourteen but No Children Under
Age Six with a Mother who did not Work in the Past Year (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families with a
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Non-Employed
Families with a Non-
Families with a Non-
Mother
Employed Mother
Employed Mother
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
.81
.17
.64
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
.47
.31
.16
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
.35
.31
.04
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
.32
.31
.01
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
.25
.24
.01
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
.42
.40
.02
75,000 +
.40
.40
*
All Incomes
3.01
2.13
.88
Poverty Status:
Poor
1.11
.39
.72
Not Poor
1.89
1.73
.16
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
* Very few such families in the survey.
February 24, 1998 -- HHS--ASPE
2-26-1998 9: 03AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 13
Table 10. Total Number of Families with Children Under Age Fourteen (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Families
Families
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
4.76
.70
4.06
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
4.57
1.79
2.78
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
4.23
2.60
1.63
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
3.94
3.01
.93
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
3.36
2.91
.45
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
6.18
5.79
.39
75,000 +
5.33
5.16
.17
All Incomes
32.36
21.96
10.40
Poverty Status:
Poor
7.15
1.96
5.19
Not Poor
25.20
20.00
5.20
1 While most single-parent families are headed by a single mother, a small number have no
mother present.
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24, 1998 -- HHS--ASPE
2-26-1998 9:03AM
FROM MARY BOURDETTE 96905750
P. 14
Table 11. Total Number of Families with at least One Child Under Age Six (in millions)
Total Number of
Total Number of
Total Number of
Families
Married-Couple
Single-Parent
Families
Families¹
Total Family Income:
Under 10,000
3.15
.45
2.70
>= 10,000 and
< 20,000
2.63
1.19
1.44
>= 20,000 and
< 30,000
2.32
1.64
.68
>= 30,000 and
< 40,000
2.05
1.74
.31
>= 40,000 and
< 50,000
1.80
1.65
.15
>= 50,000 and
< 75,000
3.06
2.95
.11
75,000 +
2.58
2.51
.07
All Incomes
17.58
12.12
5.46
Poverty Status:
Poor
4.65
1.32
3.33
Not Poor
12.92
10.79
2.13
1
While most single-parent families are headed by a single mother, a small number have no
mother present.
Source: 1997 March Current Population Survey
February 24, 1998 -- HHS-ASPE
Aug 18 97 02:43p
Market Probe Int 'l., Inc. 2127257529
p.3
Please Help Us
Tell The White House About Your Child Care Needs
Dear Parent:
You are among a special sample of 1,000 parents who have been chosen to
represent the opinions of families in America today on the subject of child care.
Parents magazine is the sponsor of this study and is planning to present the findings
at a White House conference exclusively about child care that is being held in
October. This is your opportunity to tell the White House about your needs.
Your personal answers to these questions will be kept strictly confidential. Please
take a few moments to tell us about your child care concerns, and mail this back as
soon as possible. If you would like, we will send you a copy of the results. There is
a place on the last page to write in your name and address.
If you are not the parent or primary caregiver of a child who is 12 years old or
younger, please give this survey to the appropriate person in your household.
Thank you very much for your help with this important study.
Ann Pleshette Murphy
Editor-in-Chief, Parents Magazine
Aug 18 97 02: 43p
Market Probe Int 'l., Inc.
2127257529
p.4
CHILD CARE SURVEY
5-1
1.
Do you think that most politicians are well-informed about the types of child care issues that normal
American families face every day?
Yes - well informed
6-1
No - not well informed
-2
2.
At what age do you feel that the "typical" child can be left alone for at least 2 hours without any type of child care or
supervision?
8 years old or less
7-1
10 years old
-3
12 years old
-5
9 years old
-2
11 years old
-4
13 years old or more
-6
3.
At what age do you feel that your children will be left alone for at least 2 hours?
8 years old or less
8-1
10 years old
-3
12 years old
-5
9 years old
-2
11 years old
-4
13 years old or more
-6
4a. Which, if any, of these child care options are simply not available to you at any cost because they don't exist near
enough to your home or workplace? (Check in col. Q.4a below.)
4b.
Which exist near enough to you, but you have ruled them out because you consider them to be unsatisfactory for
some reason other than cost? (Check in col. Q.4b below.)
4c
Which exist near you but just cost too much to be an option at this time in your life? (Check in col. Q.4c below.)
Q.4a
Q.4b
Q.4c
Not
Available
Available
Available
But Not
But Too
At Any Cost
Satisfactory
Expensive
Family or friends (no charge to you)
9-1
10-1
11-1
Paid in-home nannies or baby-sitters
(includes family/friends)
-2
-2
-2
Nursery or preschool
-3
-3
-3
Day-care center
-4
-4
-4
Family day-care (in the caregiver's home)
-5
-5
-5
After-school care
-6
-6
-6
Employer day-care center
-7
-7
-7
5.
Which of the following is true in your family? (Please check all that apply.)
Currently use some type of child care
(including occasional baby-sitters)
12-1
Have used child care in the past, but not right now
-2
Have never used any child care at all
is
(Please skip to Q.20)
6.
Where do you look for information and guidance about child care, and which one source have you relied on most
heavily?
Refer To Ever
Rely On Most
Books about being a parent
13-1
14-1
Magazines
-2
-2
Coworkers
-3
-3
Spouse or partner
-4
-4
Parents, in-laws, grandparents
-5
-5
Other family members
-6
-6
Friends
-7
-7
Psychologists, psychiatrists
&
-8
Social workers
-9
-9
Medical doctors
-0
-0
Child care providers/agencies
-X
-X
Government agencies (local, state, federal)
-Y
-Y
-1-
Aug 18 97 02: 43p
Market Probe Int '1., Inc. 2127257529
p.5
7.
Many families have different caregivers for different children. Please answer the questions below using the two
answer grids that follow. Fill out the first grid for your youngest child and the second grid for your next-youngest child
(if you have more than one child).
COLUMN "a": Check if you have used this type of child care for this child at least once in the past 12 months. If
you pay family or friends to baby-sit for you, then check "paid baby-sitters" instead of "family or friends." For all
checked items, please fill in columns "b" through "d" as instructed below.
COLUMN "b": In a typical week, how many hours does this child spend with this type of caregiver?
COLUMN "c": Approximately, how much does this type of child care typically cost you per week?
COLUMN "d": Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is totally unacceptable and 5 is quite acceptable and 10 is
extraordinary, how would you rate this child care provider?
Youngest child's age:
years
Next youngest child's age:
years
and
months
and
months
(a)
(b)
(a)
(b)
# of
# of
If Used
Hours
(c)
(d)
If Used
Hours
(c)
(d)
in the
in a
Typical
Overall
in the
in a
Typical
Overall
Past
Typical
Weekly
Quality
Past
Typical
Weekly
Quality
Type Child Care
Year
Week
Cost
Rating
Year
Week
Cost
Rating
Family or friends
No
No
(no charge to you)
15-1
Charge
43-1
Charge
(16,17)
(38)
(44,45)
(66)
In-home nanny
-2
or paid sitter
$
-2
$
(18,19)
(26-28)
(39)
(46,47)
(54-56)
(67)
In-center care
-3
(nursery school,
preschool, or
day-care center)
$
-3
$
(20,21)
(29-31)
(40)
(48,49)
(57-59)
(68)
Family day-care
-4
(in caregiver's home)
$
-4
$
(22,23)
(32-34)
(41)
(50,51)
(60-62)
(69)
After-school care
-5
$
-5
$
(24,25)
(35-37)
(42)
(52,53)
(63-65)
(70)
8
To check in with child care providers, do you or your spouse/partner (Please check all that apply.)
Make daily calls from work
71-1
Call at least once if out in the evening
-2
Speak to your caregiver when you arrive or leave
-3
Drop in unannounced
-4
Call when you suspect the child might be having problems
-5
Regularly meet with the provider to discuss your child's progress
-6
9.
Have you ever been surprised by a wonderfully positive experience that your child has had with a child care provider?
Yes
72-1
No
-2
(Skip to Q.10)
Please tell us about the experience in the space below. You may continue onto the back of this page if you'd
like.
5-2
Type of Provider
Description of Good Experience
6-
7-
8-
9-
10-
11-
12-
13-
14-
15-
16-
17-
-2-
Aug 18 97 02: 44p
Market Probe Int '1., Inc. 2127257529
p.6
10
Have you ever had such a bad experience with a child care provider that you stopped using that provider altogether?
Yes
18-1
No
-2
(Skip to Q.11)
Please tell us about the experience in the space below. You may continue onto the back of this page if you'd
like.
Type of Provider
Description of Bad Experience
19-
20-
21-
22-
23-
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-
29-
30-
11.
How would you describe your child's feelings and behavior when left with a child care provider?
Usually
Usually
Never
Not
Yes
Always
1
2
3
4
Happy/calm
(31)
Eager
(32)
Cries a few minutes
(33)
Reluctant but accepting
(34)
Throws a tantrum
(35)
12.
Using the scale shown below, rate how important each of these factors is to you when you are evaluating the
suitability of a child care arrangement. Use any number between 0 and 10. For example, if you consider something
to be more than "somewhat" important but not quite "extremely" important, you might rate it a "6" or perhaps an "8".
Not At All
Somewhat
Extremely
Important
Important
Important
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Safety
(36)
Accessibility of the caregivers
Cleanliness of the facility
(37)
during off hours
(48)
Cost
(38)
Caregiver is fluent in the same
Number of children per caregiver
(39)
language that you speak
Day-care center size
in your home
(49)
(number of adults in the room)
(40)
Educational programs and activities
(50)
Quality of lunch and snacks
(41)
Outdoor activities
(51)
Caregiver's formal child care
Happiness of your children
(52)
training/education
(42)
Flexible about drop-offs and pick-ups
(53)
Rate of caregiver turnover
(43)
Fulfills a special need of your child
(54)
Provider is accredited by state or
Rapport between you and
industry association
(44)
the caregivers
(55)
Recommendations from friend or
Geographic convenience
(56)
family members
(45)
How caregivers speak to children
(57)
Caregiver has CPR/first aid training
(46)
How often books are read to children
(58)
Responsive and caring environment
(47)
Caregivers speak to children
at the children's eye-level
(59)
-3-
Aug 18 97 02: 44p
Market Probe Int'l., Inc. 2127257529
P. 7
13. Some parents don't have any worries about their child care providers some parents worry occasionally about "worst
case" scenarios and some have many concerns. How often do you worry that your child is (Please check
only one answer for each concern.)
Few
Few
Times
Times
Once
A
A
A
Every
Every
Never
Year
Month
Month
Week
Day
Adjusting well to the arrangement
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6 (60)
Getting enough one-on-one attention
(61)
Becoming more attached to the caregiver
than to you
(62)
Catching an illness from other children
(63)
Watching too much TV
(64)
Eating well
(65)
Making friends
(66)
Gaining important skills
(67)
Being stimulated enough
(68)
Being disciplined too harshly
(69)
Not being disciplined enough
(70)
With other children who are too aggressive
(71)
Being sexually abused by the caregivers
(72)
Being physically abused by the caregivers
(73)
Being emotionally abused by the caregivers
(74)
14.
How strongly do you agree with the following statements? (Please check one answer for each statement.)
5-3
Agree
Disagree
Agree
A
Not
A
Disagree
Strongly
Little
Sure
Little
Strongly
1
2
3
4
5
I have a very accurate picture of
my child's typical day in child care
(6)
My child receives the best care available at any price
(7)
My child receives the best care that I can afford
(8)
I want to spend more time with my children
(9)
I need more time alone
(10)
My child's care is not as good as 1 would like
(11)
15. Some parents have said that they would be willing to take a cut in pay if their employer would offer help with child care.
How much of a cut in weekly household pay would you be willing to take if either your employer or your partner's
employer were to offer the following services? (If your employer already offers a service, please specify "Have".)
Under
$26-
$51-
Have
$0
$25
50
$100
$100+
On-site child care programs
-1
-2
is
-4
-5
-6 (12)
Flexible scheduling or job sharing
(13)
Part-time employment
(14)
Telecommuting
(15)
Bringing children to work
(16)
Dependent care spending accounts
(17)
Extended family leave (3 months)
(18)
Reimbursement to meet sick/emergency
(19)
Child care needs
(20)
16.
How confident are you that 6 months from now, your child care arrangements will be exactly the same as they are
today?
Definitely will be the same
21-1
Probably will be different
-4
Probably will be the same
-2
Definitely will be different
-5
Might change, might not
is
17
Do any of your child care providers charge an extra fee when children are picked up later than scheduled?
Yes
22-1
No
-2
(Skip to Q.20)
4
Aug 18 97 02:44p
Market Probe Int Inc. 2127257529
P. 8
18. What is the extra fee amount charged for late pickup?
$
per
minutes
OR
$
per
hour
(23,24)
(25,26)
(27,28)
(29,30)
19. In a typical year, approximately how much does your family spend on these fees because you (or your spouse) was
late leaving work?
Total $ for a year:
(31-34)
20. Are you currently employed outside the home?
Yes
35-1
No
-2
(Skip to Q.23)
21. How many hours do you typically work per week?
0 to 5 hours
36-1
21 to 40 hours
-4
6 to 10 hours
-2
Over 40 hours
-5
11 to 20 hours
-3
22. In the past 3 months, how many times have you done the following in dealing with a child's illness or other needs?
1-2
3-4
5-6 7 or More
None Times Times Times Times
Left early from work
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5 (37)
Arrived late to work
(38)
Took time off in the middle of day
(39)
Missed a day or more of work
(40)
Lied about a child care crisis at work
(41)
23 If you live with a spouse/partner, is she/he employed outside the home?
Yes
42-1
No
-2
(Skip to Q.26)
24. How many hours does she/he typically work per week?
0 to 5 hours
43-1
21 to 40 hours
-4
6 to 10 hours
-2
Over 40 hours
-5
11 to 20 hours
-3
25. In the past 3 months, how many times has she/he done the following in dealing with a child's illness or other needs?
1-2
3-4
5-6 7 or More
None Times Times Times Times
Left early from work
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5 (44)
Arrived late to work
(45)
Took time off in the middle of day
(46)
Missed a day or more of work
(47)
Lied about a child care crisis at work
(48)
26. Some people feel that parents should be fully responsible for all child care expenses, and others think that the
government or employers should pay at least part What do you think would be the most fair allocation of every $100
in child care expense that a family incurs? (If, for example, you feel that the family should cover all the expense, then
write in $100 next to "Family" and $0 in each of the other spaces).
Family
(49,50)
Local government
(51,52)
State government
PLEASE DOUBLE-CHECK THAT THESE
(53,54)
Federal government
(55,56)
NUMBERS TOTAL $100
Employer
(57,58)
TOTAL
$100
27
In your opinion, who should regulate the child care industry? (Please check all that apply.)
State government
59-1
Federal government
-2
Independent organization
is
No regulation necessary
-4
5 -
05/14/98 THU 10:44 FAX 202 456 5581
DOMESTIC POLICY COL
002
04/21/1996 19:10
LNNI
While
cust
Child Care
This is an important electorate with the new base of the Democratic Party.
Right now the gender gap Is 42/30 In favor of the Democrats among
women. Once given the message including child care, that increases to
57/30. This is an issue that counts with our growing womem's
constituency.
Americans support expanding child care to help working familles to better
afford it and because so many parents are now forced to put their kids into
unregistered and inadequate facilities.
69% / 27% support expanding child care
The major theme for the next event should be making childcare more affordable
for working families, which is heavily favored by Democrats and independents.
Some people say that we need to pass legislation
ot
D
R
to regulate and expand child care Which of the
following is the best reason to-pass legislation to
expand child care?
Better education and child development programs for
14
9
30
9
our kids
Current child care options are inadequate and do not
24
21
19
26
meet our needs
To make child care more affordable for working
38
49
29
37
families
To Improve the safety of the nation's child care
12
20
7
10
facilities
Which of the following Is the best reason to pass
Tot
D
R
I
legislation expanding child care?
60% of mothers with children under 6 work outside
26
27
22
24
the home
45% of kids under 1 are in child care
2
1
2
3
5 million children are left unattended after school
22
28
21
18
Only 1 in 7 child care facilities provides good care
9
11
8
8
Only 13% of child care facilities are registered and
26
29
27
25
50% of the unregistered facilities do not provide
adequate care.
05/14/98 THU 10:45 FAX 202 456 5581
DOMESTIC POLICY COL
003
04/21/1998
19:10
202-269-0910
FENN,
Which of the following Is the most Important issue
Tot
D
R
that should be addressed by Congress in crafting
child care legislation?
Safety
28
13
47
28
Quality of instruction to ensure that children are
19
16
17
23
prepared to learn when they start school
Availability of child care
18
21
18
16
Affordability
29
46
16
20
Which of the following is the best
Tot
D
R
reason not to pass child care
legislation?
More parents should stay home to take
19
15
24
18
care of their children
A big federal program is not the way to fix
30
19
25
47
whatever problems there are with our
existing child care system
The states have adequate resources to
39
50
40
25
fix child care without the federal
government getting Involved
Need to address the last point indicating that states do not have and are not
dedicating the resources for childcare.
Corporate Power
The theme of large companies getting even bigger in the information age
- a topic which we have not addressed but have previously polled and identified
as an issue got a huge boost in salience with the megabank mergers. CNN poll
shows 8-point jump to 76% agree that too much power is concentrated in the
hands of too few companies. 54% say they are bad for consumers.
Now is the time to begin an extensive policy process on reviewing the
merger laws for the 21st century economy. This would no longer be about
software companies, but about the most classic of trust - banks and other
industries. This would be a major, lasting legacy undertaking.
MIT Speech
Topic has gained more salience with the New York Times front page story
"Raclal Divide Found on the Information Highway" showing that 73% of white
college and high school students have access to a home computer, compared to
31% of blacks.
Should center on the four challenges of the Information age:
Jew FVI you
Child Care
Role of Federal Government In Improving Child Care
33% think it is more important for the federal government to help parents afford
quality childcare
59% think it is more important for the federal government to make it easier for at
least one parent to stay home while their child is very young
Ranked by Strongly Support
Now I am going to tell you about some proposals that
the federal government may undertake to make it
easier for a parent to care for young children. For
Strongly Support
Oppose
Support/
somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly
Very Effective
Ineffective
Effective/
each one, please tell me if you strongly support,
oppose this proposal, and if you think this would be
very effective, somewhat effective, not very effective
or not effective at all in making it easier for parents to
care for their children.
Giving parents who would be eligible for the same child
47
77/21
41
87/13
care tax credit as those who pay for child care if they
choose to stay at home to care for a child under 2 years
old.
Eliminating the marriage penalty in the tax code so married
44
83/11
35
78/18
couples- those most likely to have children- do not pay
more in taxes than they would individually as singles.
Expanding the Family and Medical leave act to cover
39
69/36
38
76/21
employers with fewer than 50 employees.
2
Creating paid parental leave by requiring employers to pay
35
65/21
40
70/27
employees during leave when a child is born.
Creating paid parental leave by providing federal
27
60/36
33
67/30
government subsidies to employees for leave when a child
is born.
Giving parents who would be eligible for the same child
28
58/34
25
66/26
care tax credit as those who pay for child care if they
choose to stay at home to care for a child under 2 years
old even if it cost billions of dollars.
DTC
Vi
DEAR LORD
DETERMINED TO BE AN
BE GOOD TOME
THE SEAiS so
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
WIDE AND
@
DATE: 05/06/15
MYBOATIS
INITIALS:
so SMALL
TOTALLY CONFIDENTIAL
Children's Defense Fund
Memorandum
To: Hillary
Fr: Marian
Dt: October 22, 1997
Thanks for coming to CDF's 25th Anniversary in New York. You were wonderful. I wanted to
give you some very preliminary findings from our focus groups. A final summary will be
available in the next couple of weeks. However, it is clear that we have an enormous opportunity
to educate the public as we did with health care on the importance of child care, especially for
babies and school-age children. When people understand the facts about child care, they support
a variety of strategies for helping working families.
25 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Preliminary Summary of Child Care Focus Groups
Participants worry about drugs, safety, sex, and peer pressure for their school age children.
These voters volunteer the need for after school activities which are available and affordable
for all children. They worry about kids who roam the streets and the malls. They want a
place for these children to go.
They want to see structured activities provided for children and teens either through the
schools or at a center (to which transportation is provided). Most participants react to the fact
that juvenile crime rates peak between the hours of 3:00 and 7:00 pm, and it triples between
the hours of 2 and 3. They also see a greater need for structured activities when they hear
that most pregnancies occur between the hours of 3 and 5.The major concern with child care
today is quality and cost. Quality is a real concern, with voters continuously bringing it up.
Most feel the quality of care most children receive is fair to poor.
People think placing children in a day care situation can be good for them. They mention the
socialization skills they gain, the ability to play with other children, and learning in a
structured environment.
There was increased awareness of the need for quality, well-trained and better paid providers.
People strongly believe and volunteered that providers need to be educated and receive on-
going training. They want to see them paid as professionals.
The fact that 13 million children spend all or some of their day being cared for by someone
other than their parent points out the need to ensure these children receive quality care.
Concern is elevated when combined with the poor quality of care most children receive--"a
recently released national study found that child care at most centers in the United States is
poor to mediocre, with almost half of the infants and toddlers in rooms having less than
minimal quality. It found that fully 40 percent of the rooms serving infants in centers
provided care that was of such poor quality as to jeopardize children's health, safety, or
development." This fact bothers participants and they worry about children being placed in
poor to mediocre care.
When given the option of staying home full-time or working part-time, many mothers, even
homemakers, say they would work at least part-time. They say they would want to work
because of their sanity and because they think it is good for children to "get used to other
kids" and to not "stay with them 24 hours a day." These mothers also think they need to
continue to have a skill, so when their children are older they would be able to find a job.
They believe that recent changes in welfare will put more demand on current child care
resources.
Participants like the concept behind vouchers, although they resist the idea of handing out
"cash." They strongly favor people paying on a sliding scale. They feel it is a good idea to
provide help to those families making under $35,000, but some feel help should be provided
up to $50,000.
The expense of care also needs to be highlighted. People who use child care know the cost,
people who don't use child care or don't have grandchildren who participate in child care are
unfamiliar with the price families pay. People were persuaded by the message "even with the
new increase in minimum wage, a parent working full time would earn only $10,700 and
could easily spend between $4,000 and $7,000 for care. Even middle class families are
affected by this expense-- half of all families earn less than $40,000 and spend $4,000 to
$7,000 on care."
Respondents are well aware that caring for babies and toddlers presents unique problems
which are different from caring for school age children. They feel this age group requires
more supervision, "have to be on your toes for medical reasons," and you "need to start
stimulating at an early age." Respondents think it is more difficult to find quality care for
this group.
There needs to be continuing massive public education about the importance of the first three
years of life.
Most people believe that it is in the best interest for children to have one parent at home.
This could lead to support for paid parental leave and flex-time.
The best messages focus on the projected surplus and putting that surplus money into child
care services. While they did not like increased taxes, respondents did support taxes on
products such as tobacco and alcohol. They respond to a message which says that many
women are essential in helping support their families financially. This message addresses the
perception that many women work out of choice, not necessity. They also like a pay now,
pay later message-- investing in child care today will save money down the road by
preventing juvenile crime, gangs, and improving worker productivity. They like this
message because it addresses their concerns about juvenile crime.
When presented with the facts, most believe that government should expand it's role in safety
inspections, that government should provide more help to low-income families, and that
employers should dramatically increase their role in helping families with child care.
Economic Surplus
Longer-term concerns show the public split on what to do with the possibility of
additional money in the budget - 48% new programs (ed/infrastructure as an
example); 51% reducing the debt and cutting taxes. One bill already suggests a
split like this, though specific programs in specific areas will probably be
sustainable if they are attractive. The polling however does illustrate the
advantages of issues such as education and health over highways as a
preference.
Due to the good economy, the government may
First
Second
have an extra $15 billion next year above what
Choice
Choice
was expected. Should this extra money go
primarily to:
New programs in areas such as education and
42
22
health
Reducing the U.S. debt
35
22
Reduced taxes
16
27
Improving our infrastructure with new investments in
6
27
transportation, highways or other structures
The Child Care Conference
The original research showed that people do not believe that child care is
safe, available or affordable, and these are the three themes for expansion of
child care.
Do you think that the Child Care in this
Adequate
Inadequ
country is adequate or inadequate?
ate
Child Care
29
64
What is the biggest priority?
Total
Democrats
Republicans
Independents
Improving quality and
31
31
28
35
safety
Increasing the availability of
22
27
23
17
child care
Making it more affordable
39
39
42
16
All of the ideas tested on child care meet widespread public approval,
starting with background checks, and improving safety standards.
October 10, 1997
Page 17
The data again underscores that voters want an incentive for an employer
to provide child care at their place of work. This is the class-neutral way to
expand the availability of child care - rather than targeted just to poor families or
to taking people off of welfare. 84% want help making it available where they
work. They want work and family to go together, not be separated.
All of these add up to a major initiative to expand the safety, availability
and affordability of child care. While parts of it can begin with the Child
Conference, expanding quality child care would be a major initiative that could be
fought for, even as a priority item with any new monies from a budget surplus.
I am going to read you some proposals for improving
Strongly
Total
Total
the quality of day care nationally. For each one,
Support
Support
Oppose
please tell me if you would strongly support,
somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly
oppose this proposal.
Require background checks on all child care workers
88
92
3
Requiring any states that receive funds for child care to
73
89
7
meet set safety regulations for their facilities
Provide a tax-credit for businesses that provide child care
63
84
13
for their employees
Creating a commission of business people to make
60
83
13
recommendations on how they can do a better job of
providing child care for their employees and community
members
Give funding to each state to use for expanding child care,
59
81
15
including child care for low income families and after
school programs for school-age children
Providing financial incentives, such as scholarships and
47
74
20
loan forgiveness to qualified child care workers
Using 4 billion dollars per year from the federal budget to
45
70
23
provide child care for one million children while their
parents work, and after school programs for another
million children
69% think that public schools should be kept open after hours with
programs for children so that no after school child care would be
necessary.
"Suppose President Clinton announced a $5 billion program to broaden
the availability of child care, making it available at low cost to the children
in 1 million low income families who otherwise could not afford it and also
providing funds to keep open more schools with after hours programs.
Would you support or oppose this?"
71% support; 25% oppose
61/26 more/less favorable
October 10, 1997
Page 18
But there are limits and the attack of big government is always possible if
these are structured as anything but our conventional formula which is 1)
rules to tighten safety and quality 2) helping those in need and 3) a middle
class initiative (Kohl tax credit).
47% say that child care is the responsibility of parents and the role of the
government in it should be kept very limited; 49% say that child care has become
so important as 70% of all mothers are now in the workforce, that the
government has to play a role in making quality child care much more available
or these children will lose out.
October 10, 1997
Page 19
Care for Aged - Some surprising findings
In many ways we are not looking at the Medicare reforms process in the
same way we looked at the balanced budget - the reform commission should not
just be an opportunity to trim and contain Medicare with HMOs and CPI
adjustments, but an opportunity to refocus its priorities to deal with the emerging
problems of the 21st Century. And of the original list of issues identified years
ago, increased, not decreased long-term care is so far the only one not
addressed.
And most voters, particularly older voters, an eroding base of the
Democratic party, put this at the top of their list of issues, it is even more
important than the child care problem.
In many ways addressing these two issues together - doing right for both
our children and our parents makes sense.
Do you think that the long-term care for our
Adequate
Inadequ
aged in this country is adequate or
ate
inadequate?
Long Term Care
20
69
Which is a Greater
Child Care
Care for Aged
Priority?
Total
42
45
Democrats
42
47
Republicans
42
56
Independents
44
32
Congressional Vote
Dem
45
42
GOP
39
52
Don't Know
43
36
Likelihood to Vote
Absolutely Certain
36
51
Very Likely
46
40
Possibly
56
33
18-24
76
17
25-34
41
42
35-49
50
37
50-64
23
61
65+
37
53
October 10, 1997
Page 20
And safety, availability and affordability are the same three issues that
again are part of the problem - the answer society has now is to impoverish any
senior citizen to make them qualify the long-term care or to take away virtually
everything they have built up is a hard one. And the public attitudes on this are
quite strong - and can be mobilized in an electorally potent way as part of
Medicare reform.
The numbers are astounding:
Do you think that Medicare should provide long-term care, either at
home or in a nursing home for every senior citizen who cannot take care of
him or herself?
Yes 88%
No
8%
DK
5%
If they cannot afford it? 91%
Do you think the government does that now?
Yes
26%
No
68%
Dk
6
Only 28% believes we do that now.
Suggest that this issue be reviewed as part of the reforms of Medicare and
its financial stability or is this too impractical to consider?
Consider
81%
Impractical 12%
And while child care is considered a responsibility of the family, long term
care of senior citizens is not - 16% say it is the responsibility of families,
80% say that government has a role in making the care available.
The point is that electorally we have moved over to the children, but we
are letting go of senior citizens (we lose male senior citizens) and the oldest baby
boomers.
And we have two major phenomena of the 21st Century affecting lifestyles
- the growth of both single parent families and two career couples that created
the need for child care, and the greater longevity of our population, creating the
expanded need for senior nursing and home care. We should have clear
proposals for both of those areas as part of reforms so that we continue to
reorient the priorities of our government to solve the problems of the next
century.
October 10, 1997
Page 21
Misc. Issues
84% would support requiring country of origin labels on all fruits and vegetables
sold in the United States.
82% support eliminating religious discrimination in the workplace by allowing all
employees to practice their religion as long as it does not disturb others.
But needle exchanges are on the opposite end -
70% oppose and 25% support the availability of needle exchanges where drug
addicts can receive free, sterile needles.
61% oppose and 34% support the sale of hypodermic needles at pharmacies
(one alternative would be just to make needles available over the counter - their
cost is insignificant compared to the cost of drugs).
This is seen by the public as totally inconsistent with a tough drug policy.
October 10, 1997
Page 22
Presidential Message Schedule
Date
Event
Saturday, October 11
Radio Address (Taped)
Sunday, October 12 -
Foreign Travel
Sunday, October 19
Wednesday, October 22
Volunteer event
Thursday, October 23
WH Conference on Child Care
Friday, October 24
Foreign Policy Speech
Thursday, October 30
STARBRIGHT Foundation Event
Friday, October 31
Education Event
October 10, 1997
Page 23