Adding Back-Up Care to Your Center

Summary of Article's First 150 Words

Total word count: 3711

Aproblem that frequently confronts parents is what to do when their regular child care arrangements break down. Back-up child care, which supplements, rather than replaces, regular child care arrangements, is increasingly becoming the solution. Many full-service child care centers are opening their programs to families on an as-needed, space-available basis and thereby evolving into dual full- service and back-up centers.


A Growing Need

The need for back-up child care has increased dramatically in recent years and continues to grow along with the demand for traditional child care. As the following examples show, back-up child care is necessary for all parents, whether or not they work full time or part time, have a nanny or a family member take care of their children, use a full- time child care center, or have preschool or school-age children.

Parents often unexpectedly need to arrange for alternate child care but cannot find care on their own ...