Free universal child care services in the United States

¶ … free, universal child-Care services in the United States?

The issue of childcare is essential for a developing society especially of the one of the United States. Children, regardless of their status, gender or race, represent the future of the community, of a society, and in the end of a generation. This is why it is crucial that the child care plan be universal, free, and well managed.

There are several reasons for which such a measure is important for the well being of the younger generation. Firstly, the changes that take place in the society, in particular on the work market determine mothers to activate in the working field. This in turn determines an earlier commitment for the labor force as opposed to maternal child care. More precisely, there are statistics to point out this. "In 1947, just following World War II, slightly over one-fourth of all mothers with children between the ages of 6 and 17 were in the labor force. By contrast, in 1999 over three-quarters of such mothers were labor force participants" (Almanac of Policy Issues, 2010) .Therefore, from this point-of-view the state must provide a better and more efficient child care plan that can enable women, regardless of their race, to ensure the care the child needs.

Secondly, there are many situations in which mothers are single parents and therefore the financial supporters of the family. In this case, the mother is forced by circumstances to work. This may affect the children on the long run. In this sense, "A few significant findings reported that mothers' working more hours in the first three years was associated with slightly lower vocabulary scores up through age nine (Harvey 1999). Among low-income adolescent mothers, maternal employment was also associated with their children's lower verbal development" (Motherhood - Extent and Effects of Maternal Employment, n.d.) Indeed, this is not the general case, given the fact that there are also situations in which a careful administration of the time spent with the children in school activities can decrease the effects of single parenthood. However, even so, a single source of income is not sufficient to support the children of a family and financial help is needed.

Thirdly, despite the fact that propositions have been made to ensure a minimum support for the cases mentioned above, there is no legal framework for discriminatory action. More precisely, it is rather difficult to decide that one child needs financial support and assistance, while another may not need help. Therefore, the applicability of the child care plan should be universal and free because the equality among all citizens must be maintained.