In recent decades, the supply of paid care has expanded rapidly in response to the need, with only limited increases in price. Access to care presents challenges mainly to parents with infants or nonstandard working hours. U.S. Bureau of the Census 1997. Government child-care subsidies have grown rapidly in recent years, but most child care and preschool education remains privately funded. Because many states give preference to mothers moving off welfare, low-income working families with no ties to the welfare system are the least likely to receive assistance.
Quality is harder to evaluate than costs or availability.
Home environment was much more important. These findings were based on careful observations and measurements of the quality and quantity of child care. Regardless of the role quality child care plays in development, no one wants children to be placed in harmful environments. A smaller number of child-care providers fail to meet even minimal safety and health standards. To help families pay for better care, the federal child-care block grant targets families with incomes below 85 percent of a state s median.