Family child care is any provision for caring for children in the providers' own home.
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United States
In the United States, there has been a dramatic increase in mothers of young children entering the workforce. In 1940, 8.6% of mother's with children under the age of 18 worked outside of the house. (Bridgeman, 1989)1 According to the 1996 yearbook on "The State of America's Children" that number had risen to over 60%.2
There are several types of child care being utilized in the United States today. They can be broken down into roughly three main types: center based child care, family child care and nannies. Center based child care is generally in a public building that stands alone or is attached to a school or business. The children are usually grouped by age in classrooms. The adult to child ratio is higher than it would be in a family child care setting or if they were in their own home with a nanny. Most states regulate center based child care.
Family child care providers care for children in the providers' own home. The children are in a mixed age group with a low adult to child ratio. Care can be more personalized and individual. The hours may be more flexible and the provider may offer evening and weekend care for mothers who work second or third shift. The cost of care in a family child care is lower on average than that of a center.
Nannies care for the children in the child's home. The group is small, usually only the children from one family. The cost is higher than that charged by the centers or family child care providers. They are largely unregulated. Nannies may live in the family's home or they may come and go.
Child care facilities have the option of becoming accredited. This standard is set and regulated by an outside agency. In centers, NAEYC institutes it. For family child care providers, the National Association of Family Child Care Providers award the credentials.
Illinois
In Illinois, the Department of Children and Family Services is the regulatory agency for child care. They are responsible for setting standards and licensing day care centers, homes, group homes and day care agencies in Illinois. As of 2007, Illinois had 2907 licensed day care centers, 10,051 licensed day care homes and 473 licensed group homes. The combined capacity for all settings is 295,000 with 70% of the slots available in day care centers.