They can take part in leading focus groups to define needs for services and then help to identify those services in the community. Parents and child care providers should also be asked for feedback about existing services based on their own experiences. The brochure has been disseminated to parents of children with disabilities, participants at community health fairs, the East Oakland Birth to School Project, Head Start programs, case manager meetings, child care centers and family child care providers, early interventionists, early childhood education students and administrators. The target audience includes the general public, those in public office at all levels, government administrators, heads of service agencies and early intervention programs, health and medical workers, and the public schools. Ongoing public awareness activities will serve to educate these consumers about child care issues as well as available resources.
Consumer education goes beyond the dissemination of the resource guide.
There should be clear messages that identify and publicize outstanding examples of inclusive child care programs and services in each community. Plus , in Fairfax, Virginia has sponsored a Family Resource Fair for families of children with special needs for three consecutive years. Participants can attend a wide variety of workshops, speak directly with representatives from health, educational, human services and child care agencies and view products such as puppets and books that address issues about disabilities. Part of consumer education is to suggest ways in which individuals and groups can act to help meet the challenge of providing family-focused, comprehensive, affordable, and flexible child care and related services to all children and their families. Child Care 2000 of the Massachusetts Office For Children is working to develop a statewide system of enhanced resource and referral services for families of children with disabilities looking for inclusive child care in local communities.