Description: A year ago, during its annual symposium to lobby for better childcare policies, NACCRRA officials said they often heard from policy makers who asked: "Where are the parents?" Linda K. Smith, the association's executive director, said she was determined to make those voices heard this year. The Perspectives report is part of that effort. During NACCRRA’s 2009 National Policy Symposium, held March 10-14, in Washington, D.C., NACCRRA hosted 44 parents from across the country from 31 states. These dedicated parents traveled to America’s capitol to share their personal child care experiences directly with policymakers. All of the stories and experiences are compelling, but they are just a fraction of the millions of parents across the nation faced with similar circumstances. The common thread throughout these stories is that parents want their children to be safe in child care. And, they want quality child care that is affordable.