Susan K. Walker

CHILD CARE USE BY LOW‐INCOME FAMILIES IN RURAL AREAS: A contemporary look at the influence of women's work and partner availability

Using data from interviews with 323 low‐income women living in rural counties in 11 states, child care arrangements for 672 children under 13 are described in relation to womens employment status, partner availability, and child age. As found in previous studies of rural areas, informal care is frequently used, regardless of full‐ or part‐time work or partner availability. Single mothers rely more on regulated care arrangements than mothers with partners and are more likely to pay for informal care than other mothers. Work in part‐time and service jobs suggests the need for flexible arrangements. Public data on child care availability and access in rural areas, the cost of care, and state subsidy programs suggest reasons for rural womens child care decisions. Policy implications of the study findings are shared.

MATERNAL GRANDMOTHERS AS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR RURAL, LOW-INCOME MOTHERS: A unique child care arrangement

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of forty-two rural, low-income mothers who utilized their own mothers for routine child care. A life course perspective was used to explore mothers’ perceptions of their child care arrangement and the influence of the adult daughter–older mother relational context. Results focus on the benefits and weaknesses of child care provided by grandmothers and the influence of the relationship between participants and their mothers on this care arrangement. The analysis has implications for research, support programming, and public policy.

Use of a Parenting Newsletter Series and Other Child-Rearing Information Sources by Mothers of Infants

In an evaluation of a parenting newsletter series, 457 mothers of infants completed surveys assessing the newsletters usefulness relative to nine other sources of information. Mothers reported an average of four very useful sources, with the newsletter the most frequently used professional source and the babys grandparent the most used informal source. Mothers who reported a higher number of very useful parenting sources ranked the newsletter as more useful than those with fewer valuable sources. Approximately 28% of mothers described conflict between newsletter information and information from other sources, particularly grandparents and physicians. Mothers resolved conflict through such strategies as gathering more information, relying on instincts, or ignoring one source. Implications of findings for educating parents of infants are discussed.

Mothers' child caregiving and employment commitments and choices in the context of rural poverty

This qualitative study explored the work and child caregiving commitments and choices of 69 women with options limited by poverty and rural living. Four groups of women with distinct patterns of commitment to working and child caregiving varied in the ways in which they achieved caregiving-work arrangements that were congruent with these commitments. Mothers who were constrained not only by economic and geographic limitations but also by multiple personal challenges emerged as particularly distressed. Variations in caregiving and work commitments call for variation in family and employment supports; implications for social work policy and services are discussed

Care for Children and Youth in Rural Areas

Each week in the United States an estimated 6.4 million children under 5, or 55% of infant and preschool-aged children spend time being cared for by someone other than their parents (Johnson, 2005). Another 7.4 million are in the care of relatives. Many of these children enter non-parental care by 11 weeks of age and are in care for close to 30 h a week. In 2001, 8.6 million rural children in elementary school were in before and/or after school care (U.S. Department of Education, 2004). For infants and school-aged children, relative care is the most frequently used child-care arrangement. Some research indicates that this pattern of relative care use is even more prevalent in rural areas (Hunts and Avery, 1998). Therefore, for a significantly large number of rural families, child care provided by a relative is an important daily occurrence of family caregiving.

The Challenge of Child Care for Rural Low-Income Mothers

Authors examine the lives of rural low-income mothers, highlighting the conditions that, for most families, contribute to a work–child care compromise. An overview of child care in the United States is presented as well as program and policy contexts to help the reader understand the choices made by rural families as they balance employment and child care commitments. The authors examine child care from the experiences of Rural Families Speak (RFS) rural low-income families, and present the benefits and relationship costs that informal care providers have for families. Further research needs and recommendations are included.