Family Day-Care Home Is Proper Term

* I am writing to clarify one point in the recent Times article entitled “Dispute Not Child’s Play,” describing the dispute between a child-care provider and her neighbors, which has now found its way to the Court of Appeal.

The subject of the controversy is Socorro Jones’ establishment of a family day-care program in a residential neighborhood, pursuant to a law established more than 12 years ago.

Significantly, the writer referred to Ms. Jones’ program as a “child-care center.”

However, the proper legal term for her program is a “family day-care home” and, by definition, it belongs in a residential neighborhood.

There are two significant distinctions between family day-care homes and child-care centers--family day-care must be provided in a residence and it is strictly limited in size for the benefit of both children and neighbors.

In enacting Health and Safety Code section 1597.40, the California Legislature specifically stated that “it is the public policy of this state to provide children in a family day-care home the same home environment as provided in a traditional home setting.”

While (your) mischaracterization of Ms. Jones’ program as a child-care center rather than a family day-care home may be mere semantics, the misnomer obscures the real intent and the real benefits of child care in a family day-care home--to allow parents to work and support their families, knowing that their children are being nurtured in a home environment.

ELISSA GERSHON

Staff attorney

Child Care Law Center

San Francisco