A national technical assistance conference aimed at advancing the knowledge and skills of family day care providers in their roles as caregivers and as leaders in the day care field was convened in April, 1981. Presentations and discussions at the conference focused on four broad topic areas: (1) the family day care provider as a caregiver, (2) the family day care provider as a leader, (3) training for family day care providers, and (4) the USDA Food Program. Individuals active in family day care covered certain sections of the conference and prepared brief reports for publication. The fourth topic area -- the USDA Food Program -- is excluded from this report due to the many changes in food policy since the conference was held. A list of conference planning committee members and the conference program and roster are appended. (RH)