As more and more women return to the work force while their children are but infants, care other than by the mothers and outside the families' own homes has become an issue of major importance in the United States. In Europe, however, most governments subsidize infant care for mothers working outside the home. One country, Italy, has provided government-sponsored infant care since 1925 and is currently in the process of remodeling the original infant care system. An evaluation of this delivery system was made, based on observations of 90 different infant care programs sponsored by the Italian government, private infant care centers, and one training institution sponsored jointly by the Catholic church and the local government. Observations were made in large northern, central, and southern cities, as well as in several small communities. Over 100 interviews were conducted; respondents included advisors, school administrators, city officials, pediatricians, psychiatrists, program personnel, and parents. Among the results of observations was the overriding finding that basic decisions for infant care are based not on empirical data, but on political considerations. (Author/MP)