Family and Child Welfare

Family and Child Welfare 3 (3+0)

Lesson 31 : Child Care and Development - Day Care Service

The Social Worker and Day Care

 

Day care as a Supplementary service has great preventive value. It acts to prevent break up families, separation of children from their parents, increased dependency on public aid and dangers and hazards to children. An adequate day care program requires a team of approach, because it involves a partnership of three profession: education, health and social work (Child welfare league of America, 1946).

In recommending a social service component in day-care facilities that re­ceive any federal funds, some specific tasks are assigned. These include

1. "counseling and guidance to the family in helping it determine the appropri­ateness of day care, the best facility for a particular child, and the possibility of alternative plans for care"
2. "coordination and cooperation with other organizations offering these resources which may be required by the child and his family" and providing the information and referral which would enable the family effectively to use such resources
3. "continuing assessment with the parents of the child's adjustment in the day care program and of the family situation"
4. objective determination "of the ability of families to pay for part or all of the cost of day care and for payment".

The social worker in the day-care center thus acts as liaison between the center and the family, the center and the community and the family and the community.