Improving Inclusion for Children With Special Health Care Needs in Childcare Settings: Results From a Statewide Survey of Childcare Professionals

Introduction: Families of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) routinely struggle to find suitable childcare. These fami-lies value childcare capable of supporting their child's needs, known as inclusive care, that requires trustworthy staff trained to safely care for CSHCN. Method: This study aimed to understand the training, experience, confidence, and perceived barriers to providing inclusive care for CSHCN from the perspective of childcare providers and directors. Childcare providers (n = 263) and directors (n = 418) responded to a statewide survey in Wisconsin in 2019. Results: Results show that both childcare providers and directors perceive that the providers lack confidence in providing inclusive care. Lack of staffing, training, and expertise of childcare providers were the most frequently reported barriers to provide inclusive care. Discussion: These findings confirm the need for additional educa-tion, training, resources, and research to create and maintain more inclusive childcare settings for CSHCN. J Pediatr Health Care. (2023) 37, e1-e10