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In order to assess health services needs of children in day care centers, interviews were carried out with health coordinators or directors of 52 licensed day care centers in Berkeley, California. Over one-third of the centers lacked a designated health coordinator; one-fourth of the centers lacked written health guidelines and/or emergency guidelines; almost one-half lacked nutrition education services; and over two-thirds lacked a dental health education program. Only one out of five centers was willing to admit mildly ill children. Health coordinators and directors showed strong preference for care of mildly ill children at home by a trained worker. The presence of a designated health coordinator and of state funds was highly associated with the content and scope of health services provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the health services in licensed family day care homes (FDCH) in the U.S. The author stresses that FDCH provide most of the out-of-home non-relative care for infants and young children in the U.S., and it is estimated that there are two to three times as many children cared for in this setting as in day care centers. An earlier study of the health services needs of children in 52 day care centers in Berkeley, California, indicated several areas where improvements were called for. This study is aimed to complement the day care center study.