ABSTRACT
The Danish national child care system, as would be expected of a system born so long ago and developing to meet the changing needs of society, is a complex and encompassing one. All individuals are felt to have a legitimate voice in society; health, shelter, education, and work are rights belonging to all. For those members of society who cannot speak for themselves—notably children—Danish society assumes the responsibility for the good of all. The child, too, is an individual, born good, and with the same rights as any other individual. Children and their families are the richest resource of the nation. Thus Denmark sees support for all families in time of need as the best way to prevent small problems from turning into large ones which might weaken the structure of society. There is a constant push toward simplification and decentralization of programs, with an effort toward the integration of all care and support services.
