Social work and day care: a role looking for a profession

The profession's present role in day care is assessed through a review of the social work literature. This analysis suggests that the profession is not systematically involved enough in child care systems on a local or national basis. The author discusses why this is so, and suggests professional points of access for social workers interested in providing social services in different types of child care. In addition, it is recommended that more policy and programmatic emphases be put on providing social services to family day care homes, the care of children by their relatives, and for centers that serve ethnic minorities and disadvantaged families.I wish to thank Beatrice Saunders and Eleanor Brilliant for their help in writing this article.