These conference proceedings are based on an invitational community forum held in Kansas City, Missouri on December 6, 1987. The purpose of the forum was to provide an opportunity for people with different perspectives on child care to meet together. It was hoped that broadening participants' perspectives on child care issues might increase people's ability to work with each other on this complex enterprise. Participants were early childhood specialists; center and family child care providers from profit and not-for-profit suburban, urban, and inner-city programs; community decision-makers; employers; and parents from various income levels and family backgrounds working in jobs with varying degrees of flexibility. The forum was divided into two parts. First, a national overview on the child care issue was provided by Bernice Weissbourd, founder and president of Family Focus, Inc. and The Family Resource Coalition. She was followed by a panel of four parents who had each experienced child care in a different way. A second panel of presenters representing other constituencies in the child care arena then presented their perspectives. In the second part, six break-out groups held discussions. Transcripts of both parts are provided. (RH)