THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERVICES (CES), CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP HAS BEEN INVOLVED FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS IN INTRODUCING THE SESAME STREET APPROACH IN COMMUNITY DAY-CARE CENTERS AND TEACHERS' TRAINING PROGRAMS. (SESAME STREET IS A POPULAR CHILDREN'S TELEVISION PROGRAM WHICH COMBINES EDUCATION WITH ENTERTAINMENT.) CES ALSO PROVIDES SESAME STREET MATERIALS--BOOKS, RECORDS, PUZZLES, ETC.--FOR USE IN DAY-CARE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN VISITING INMATES. THE FIRST INSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH A SESAME STREET PROGRAM WAS THE FEDERAL PRISON AT FORTH WORTH, TEX. PRISON OFFICIALS WERE IMPRESSED BY THE LOW COST OF THE PROGRAM--SOME TEACHING MATERIALS AND A FEW PAID WORKERS WERE ALL THAT WAS REQUIRED TO TRAIN AND DIRECT A VOLUNTEER INMATE CHILD-CARE TEAM. INMATE CHILD-CARE WORKERS AT THE BEDFORD HILLS WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN NEW YORK REGARD THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE SESAME STREET PROGRAM AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LIVES. ONE WOMAN NOTES THAT WORKING WITH CHILDREN HAS MADE HER SEE THAT SHE HAS A FUTURE ON THE OUTSIDE. INMATE CHILD-CARE WORKERS AT BEDFORD HILLS ARE PAID 53 CENTS A DAY, BUT THERE IS A WAITING LIST FOR THE ASSIGNMENT. WAYS IN WHICH DIFFERENT PRISONS HAVE ADAPTED THE BASIC SESAME STREET MATERIALS TO SUIT THEIR NEEDS ARE DESCRIBED, TOGETHER WITH OTHER APPROACHES TO CHILD CARE AT INSTITUTIONS IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK CITY. PHOTOGRAPHS DEPICTING CHILD CARE ACTIVITIES AT BEDFORD HILLS ILLUSTRATE THE ARTICLE. (LKM)