A survey of state policies and practices regarding child care that was conducted prior to most states' implementation of the Family Support Act is reported. The report summarizes the findings of that survey and provides information from other recent studies. State child care roles and responsibilities are assessed in four main areas: (1) states as regulators; (2) states as funders; (3) states as system builders; and (4) states as employers. Survey results indicate that a total of 30 states' baseline licensing standards for child/staff ratios in child care centers for children up to the age of one year already meet the high quality accreditation standards used by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. A total of 19 states require some type of training for family day care providers. States are shifting the methods by which they subsidize care, from purchase of service providers to provider agreements and vouchers. Half the states set a statewide rate to set the market price for subsidized care. Although 45 states use the Social Services Block Grant, a variety of other federal sources are also used. A total of 44 states spend more than $1 billion in state general revenues on child care per year. Outreach activities to the business community to promote employer-assisted child care are undertaken by 37 states. In general, evidence suggests that states are expanding and will continue to expand their role in child care. Ten tables provide statistical data. Contains 17 references. (LB)