An overview of the current status of child care information and referral (CCIR) services in the United States is provided in this report, based on the first phase of a 3-year study funded jointly by the Day Care Division of the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families and the Ford Foundation. Chapter One defines the project's goals and objectives and discusses the policy context of the study. Chapter Two describes the methods of data collection; the present scope, variety, and distribution of CCIR organizations; the organizational characteristics of CCIR; and the information and referral function and process. The final chapter notes the types of organizations providing CCIR and identifies areas in need of further research. (Author/JA)