Introductory overview followed by presentation by 3 different approaches.

Approach A: Help parents take care of their own children
This approach is based on the belief that one parent staying at home is best for young children, and aims to make it easier for parents to do so. To help families, this approach:

• Encourages legislators to provide tax breaks to parents of young children to help them better afford to keep one parent at home.
  
• Encourages employers to provide several months of paid leave to new parents and offer flexible work schedules so parents can work from home or reduce hours.
  
• Provides moral encouragement and support for families that choose to keep one parent home.

Approach B: Provide quality, affordable childcare for those who need the most help
Staying at home with young children is not a realistic option for single and low-income parents. This approach focuses resources on expanding existing programs and developing new ones for those with the greatest need. This approach would:

• Improve and subsidize top-notch day care in low-income neighborhoods.
• Provide tax breaks to parents to help them afford professional childcare.
• Increase funding for state and Head Start programs and expand after-school programs for lower income families.

Approach C: Provide comprehensive, quality childcare for all families
All families should have access to quality professional childcare, not just lower income or single parent families. The best way to do this is to create a comprehensive system that serves the whole community. This approach would:

• Create pre-school and after-school childcare programs, such as child care cooperatives, which would be open to every family, regardless of income.
• Encourage schools, employers, childcare professionals and families to work together to make sure all of the community's childcare needs are met.