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LWVMA 

Where We Stand 

 

 

Content:

Introduction

 

Program in Brief

 

Government

 

Natural Resources

 

Social Policy

 

 

 

 

 

LWVMA 

WHERE WE STAND

Social Policy: Day Care


Goal:
A coordinated state policy for quality day care for the children of Massachusetts with adequate funding for implementation by the responsible state agencies. (1984)

The League supports:

  • the development of a state policy on child day care programs. The policy should coordinate such functions as licensing, funding, regulation and enforcement; and it should expedite communication between agencies, providers and consumers.
  • minimum standards of quality for child day care programs including:
    • a safe and clean physical environment
    • appropriately trained, qualified and compensated day care center staffs and family day care providers'
    • suitable ration of staff to children
    • adequate programs and curriculum
    • the state licensing of family day care, group day care centers and after-school day care with clear procedures for such licensing.
    • adequate staffing and funding of state agencies re-sponsible for enforcement of state licensing requirements and regulations.
    • state regulation of family day care, group day care and after-school child care programs that would include licensing requirements, space restrictions, the number of children in a program, the qualifications of providers, staff and supervisors, staff ratios, health care, nutrition, safety, equipment, records and confidentiality, admission policies, parental permission and information to parents.
    • limiting state support of day care to children of low-income families, children of handicapped parents, handicapped children or children in need of protective services. State support for child day care could take the form of direct subsidies or vouchers to individuals for purchasing services, funding programs or technical assistance. The private sector should be encouraged to support child day care.

League action

In 1984 LWVM held an appointed position on the Governor's Partnership Project. The project's main responsibility was to review the administration of child care in the state and to develop specific recommendations on how to improve the system. The recommendations were to create more, affordable, better and safer child care in the state, primarily by adding more day care staff and increasing funding. LWVM monitors the progress of this project and takes action when appropriate.

LWVM participated in a two-year (1984-1986), federally funded project administered by the Office for Children to spur citizen involvement in day care quality. The goals of the project were to stimulate an increase of parental knowledge in assessing quality day care and to review and revise the standards for purchasing day care. Findings were to be put on a computer, allowing quicker access to information regarding provider qualifications, day care program tuitions and available transportation and meals. There are plans to work with the councils for children to generate support and interest from employers regarding day care.

Background

1983: LWVM convention adopted Day Care as a one-year study. The result was a set of positions broad enough to allow action in areas of planning, finance and implementation of quality day care.

 

 

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