Welfare Racism: Playing the Race Card against America's Poor

Abstract

limited these programs ’ capacities to contribute effectively to the goals of early intervention and prevention and to the overall promotion of healthy child development. The external resource professionals (travelling teachers, etc.) noted that caseloads and complexity of the caseloads continue to increase. They also noted an increase in the stress levels of staff and parents. These resource profession-als state that required competencies are increasing without complimentary in-creases in time for training, planning, etc. High quality child care and other early childhood development programs have positive benefits for children with special needs, for their parents, for other children, for child care staff, and for the community. However, the participation of children with special needs is limited by a number of factors, some that are general to child care and others that are specific to the inclusion of children with special needs. Twenty-two recommendations are presented in the areas of legisla-tion, policy development, funding, creating appropriate training, developing inclusive practices, information, and public education. In summing up, the authors state that we need a “right to care ” no matter what the circumstances. They clarify the foundational relationship between effective inclusion and high quality child care. And they sound the call that we need strong political leadership in this area now. It is a “Matter of Urgency.”