Child care in South Carolina : quality, affordability, & availability

Abstract

This paper is intended to assist FIRST STEPS Partnerships enhance child care services in their county. Child care services can contribute to healthy child and family functioning, according to Marcia Meyers, a well-known child care researcher and author, if they are oriented around three practical goals: positively impact children’s development, support parents’ employment behaviors, and meet parents’ needs to be pleased about their children’s care arrangements. This paper is divided into chapters that deal with the topics we think will be most useful to community groups interested in improving child care services. Chapter I: Does child care make a difference? Chapter II: What are the benefits of quality child care? Chapter III: How affordable and available are child care services?