Provides community-based organizations (CBOs) with tools to assess the demand for and supply of child care in their communities, preparatory to undertaking child care initiatives. CBOs get step-by-step guidance on: (1) identifying the community to be evaluated, the quantitative and qualitative data needed, and potential sources of that data; (2) structuring and conducting a needs assessment; (3) using electronic spreadsheets to organize data, including census data, parental work status data, information about types of care needed and available, and other data pertaining to demand for and supply of child care services; (4) documenting the gaps in supply and demand; (5) gathering data on parents’ ability to pay for care and sources of funding for services; (6) identifying final products, including center-based care and licensed family child care homes; and (7) determining which programs or facilities to fund or support and taking steps to implement recommendations suggested by the analytical process. Using the tools provided in this manual, CBOs are able to develop a strategy for responding to and fulfilling child care needs in their communities.
