Regulation and guidelines toward a healthy child-care setting.

States can make a strong investment in creating a healthy child-care setting by developing coordinated career development systems for child-care practitioners. The licensing agency must be involved and is the logical agency to administer the system. Through a project entitled "Delaware First. Again," Delaware became the first in the country to develop a plan for a comprehensive, coordinated statewide early care and education career system. The project is directed by the Office of Child Care Licensing with consultation from Gwen Morgan and Joan Costley of Wheelock College and Nancy Brown of North Carolina State University. The focus on training and career development will prove to be a cost efficient and effective method for states to substantially improve the health and safety of children in child care and will provide advocacy for stronger licensing requirements. Long-term improvement will only accrue with corresponding substantial improvement in the wages and other employee benefits for the people who work with our children. In summary, regulation and guidelines can play an increasingly larger role in creating a healthy child-care setting. There is much to be done at the national, state, and local levels to accomplish this goal. With continued strong advocacy and a coordinated effort, the goal can be met.