Federal health insurance programs have been expanded to cover more children. Low-income working families now qualify for EITC along with food stamps, Medicaid, and, sometimes, subsidized child care. However, the author asserts, the status of working poor families is not as positive as it appears. It is fairly simple to enroll in EITC and the program information is readily available within communities. The author proposes a seamless enrollment process for every state or a process similar to the EITC, which requires the participant to enroll via tax returns.
Child care is another area of conflict for parents returning to work.
The author says policymakers only consider cost, while to child development experts quality is the key to making a difference in children's lives. The eminent authors present research-based recommendations for public policy, practice, preparation of personnel, and future research that would improve the quality of child care programs. Teacher sensitivity was more likely to be lower in both centers and homes serving low-income families. The authors raise major questions about health practices in child care programs, the attention individual children receive, the attachments they form with caregivers, and the morale and education of caregivers. They call for more research on how children's cognitive and social development is effected by the high rate of child care personnel turnover and the shifting language use and differing cultures in the program and the home.