FIELD HEARING
Monday, January 28, 2002 at 10:00 a.m.

"Good Beginnings Last a Lifetime: How the Federal Government Can Promote Affordable, Quality Child Care ."

This hearing will be at the Childgarden Child Development Center, 4150 Laclede Avenue, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Working families at all income levels struggle to find care that is affordable and of high quality.  Employers realize that providing access to daycare is important in attracting and retaining a quality workforce.  Child care providers struggle to allocate limited resources to recruit and retain qualified staff.  The purpose of this hearing would be to identify ways the federal government can assist families, employers, and child care providers in the search for affordable, quality child care.  The hearing would examine some of the challenges of providing affordable and quality child care in the bi-state St. Louis area.  We will to hear from parents, providers, and businesses about the problems they face and explore programs that are working well.  In addition, we will highlight innovative options that businesses can offer their employees to improve access to quality child care.