This reference manual and resource guide describes high standards for health policies and day care procedures that reflect current research and recommendations of experts. Chapters 1 and 2, which concern day care's role in health, cover health education in day care and the basics relating to policies, providers, and records. Chapters 3-5 concern the heathful environment. These chapters focus on general environmental concerns, sanitation standards, and toileting. Chapters 6-8 deal with safety at the day care center, transportation safety, emergencies, and first aid. Preventive health services are discussed in Chapters 9-11, which focus on preventive child health care, adult health in day care, and dental health. Chapter 12 concerns nutrition in day care. Special health issues, including services for children with special needs, child abuse and neglect, childhood lead poisoning, and chronic health conditions, are discussed in Chapters 13-16. Chapters 17-19 cover the management of illness, in particular, infectious diseases, care of the mildly ill child, and sick child care models. A final section contains 24 appendices which provide policy outlines, checklists, feeding guides and other practical helps, and references to resources. A total of 60 figures supplement the text. Most chapters provide a list of references. (RH)