Canadian child day care : translating research into policy
Date
1986
Authors
Griffin, Sandra Jean
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Abstract
Child day care in Canada has become a major social policy issue as increasing numbers of women with children enter the paid labour force. Described as a "growing crisis" in much of the current child day care literature, the issue has gained significant interest at both the provincial and national level. While Canada has experienced day care crises in the past, it is suggested that the current crisis is qualitatively different due to substantive shifts in the socio-economic realities of modern society and the development of improvisational short-term "quasi-policies" which characterized past government and public response is no longer appropriate. Key players in the current policy debate, such as government, advocacy groups, professionals in the field of day care, and parents, are increasingly turning to existing day care research in an attempt to determine what policy imperatives need to exist to ensure healthy care environments for children in child day care settings.
An examination of existing research with respect to the developmental consequences of extrafamilial care of children 0-5 years of age was undertaken to determine if research findings could be defensibly translated into policy. A synthesis of information pertaining to the issue is presented, particularly with regards to the developmental effects of centre day care and family day care on infants and preschool-age children. In addition, the literature on parental preference for care type is explored in order to provide a more complete analysis of factors which influence the quality of care children receive in child day care settings.
While the question "can existing day care research translate into policy" is presented as the critical thesis question, in order to better determine the ability of research to inform policy, the thesis identifies the location of the issue within a defined policy process. Juxtaposition of the policy process with an intensive exploration of the current research base supports a conclusion that there is sufficient weight and consistency in research findings across studies to "translate research into policy" and prescribe limits for possible policy direction. A question of "will research be translated into policy" remains unanswered.