Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the social, political, and economic trends or events that will occur by the year 2013 that will influence the implementation of continuity of care in infant/toddler childcare programs. Methodology. A Delphi study was conducted in three rounds with a panel of 15 experts. Data were collected between March 28, 2008 and July 15, 2008, via e-mail. The data were organized by social, political, and economic trends and events. Findings. The experts' consensus of trends or events most likely to influence the implementation of continuity of care in infant/toddler childcare programs by 2013 include: increasing birth rate of children to immigrant parents will place demands for early childhood programs and family services to be culturally/linguistically competent and culturally sensitive, the number of leaders in the field who consider continuity of care is increasing with more national events including research in infants and toddlers, improved college curriculum on infant/toddler growth and development and PITC training and demonstration sites are supporting the implementation of continuity of care, much depends on the 2008 presidential election and how the new President views childcare, the U.S. Department of Education is funding a study on how PITC makes a difference in caregivers, programs, and children, and turnover of infant/toddler caregivers will persist because of low pay. Conclusions. Changing demographics, research in childcare, specialized training and formal education of infant/toddler caregivers, and the 44th president of the United States will have a strong impact on the implementation of continuity of care in infant/toddler childcare programs by the year 2013. Recommendations for action. Successful model childcare programs should be used to replicate high-quality practices in childcare, In order to decrease infant/toddler caregiver turnover, increased compensation, tuition remission, and state funds for specialized training are required. Centers and family childcare should be subsidized by the states that offer continuity of care to low-income infants and toddlers. Public-private partnerships are needed to contribute time, financial support, resources, and/or expertise in creating high-quality infant/toddler childcare. Bipartisan policymaker consensus is needed for investment opportunities to lay the groundwork for high-quality infant/toddler childcare.