ABSTRACT
One of the most profound social changes in recent years has been the increased labor force participation of mothers of young children. As more and more mothers have entered the labor force, the need for supplemental child care arrangements has also increased. Although some parents can make such arrangements with family members, a growing number of families seek child care in their communities and rely on organized group facilities (child care centers) or family day care (providers who care for a small number of children in the provider’s home). As the use of comunity-based services has grown, so too has the public responsibility to assure that the services parents choose offer safe environments that enhance their children’s development.
