Parental employment and rural school-age child care needs

School-age child care needs and problems in rural communities were investigated for 3,648 families. Parental employment status was found to influence types of child care utilized and the types of care problems experienced by parents. Less than 1% of all children were found to receive only parental in-home after-school care. One of every five children received patchwork care of three or more types. Implications for community-based policy decisions are discussed.Parts of this research were funded by the College of Human Resources and Family Sciences and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of Nebraska. Journal Series No. 10533, Agricultural Research Division, University of Nebraska.