Child Care and Employed Parents of Children With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

Lack of appropriate child care is frequently reported by parents of children with disabilities as a major obstacle to finding and maintaining their employment. Care for children with emotional or behavioral disorders is particularly difficult to locate because child care providers often lack adequate training. Findings are presented from interviews with 60 parents employed a minimum of 30 hr per week and caring for at least one school-age child with an emotional or behavioral disorder. Child care arrangements were varied and complex, with parents often making adjustments daily to design suitable care plans for all children in the family. Parental stress levels and work limitations because of child care were associated with levels of work—family fit, flexibility, child care difficulty, and child care satisfaction. We suggest that availability and access to child care options and supports specific to the needs of their children may be essential for employed parents of children with emotional or behavioral disorders to reduce stress and promote work—life integration.