Family Diversity and Family Policy describes the dimensions of diversity which characterize the contemporary American family and discusses the implications for public policy and associated intervention programs linked to this diversity. The authors contend that if the programs and policies available to support families are to be most useful, they need to reflect the diversity of the families they intend to help. Beginning with a discussion of the historical and contemporary context of the American family, Family Diversity and Family Policy focuses on child poverty and argues that this topic may be usefully studied within the context of developmental systems theory. This theory systematically links the development of individuals to variations in their physical and social ecology, and is used as a framework for discussing: Contemporary challenges faced by parents charged with rearing adolescents, and the familial and societal issues that arise when the adolescents being reared are parents themselves. Current policy issues that arise from welfare debates in the United States and from recently-enacted welfare reform legislation. The importance for our nation of developing a comprehensive national youth policy. The authors draw implications for the design, delivery, and evaluation of diversity-sensitive policies and programs for families and youth, and offer a vision of how to link scholars, policy makers, and community members in multi-professional and multi-institutional collaborations promoting the positive development of American families and youth. Family Diversity and Family Policy is relevant to scholars and policy makers interested in human development, particularly of children and adolescents. In addition, it should be essential reading for practitioners and policy makers in government, private industry, and public and private social service organizations.

Family Diversity and Family Policy describes the dimensions of diversity which characterize the contemporary American family and discusses the implications for public policy and associated intervention programs linked to this diversity. The authors contend that if the programs and policies available to support families are to be most useful, they need to reflect the diversity of the families they intend to help. Beginning with a discussion of the historical and contemporary context of the American family, Family Diversity and Family Policy focuses on child poverty and argues that this topic may be usefully studied within the context of developmental systems theory. This theory systematically links the development of individuals to variations in their physical and social ecology, and is used as a framework for discussing: Contemporary challenges faced by parents charged with rearing adolescents, and the familial and societal issues that arise when the adolescents being reared are parents themselves. Current policy issues that arise from welfare debates in the United States and from recently-enacted welfare reform legislation. The importance for our nation of developing a comprehensive national youth policy. The authors draw implications for the design, delivery, and evaluation of diversity-sensitive policies and programs for families and youth, and offer a vision of how to link scholars, policy makers, and community members in multi-professional and multi-institutional collaborations promoting the positive development of American families and youth. Family Diversity and Family Policy is relevant to scholars and policy makers interested in human development, particularly of children and adolescents. In addition, it should be essential reading for practitioners and policy makers in government, private industry, and public and private social service organizations.

Drawing on hundreds of studies in the last 20 years, the new edition of Family Policy Matters brings a fresh perspective to family policy, underscoring why it is needed, and outlining how policymaking should be approached. Author Karen Bogenschneider proposes a theoretical framework for conceptualizing policy issues in a way that holds the potential for overcoming controversy and identifying common ground. This new edition includes updates on the most current research, including: *new issues that have changed the political landscape for families (e.g. strengthening marriage initiative, same-sex marriage); *an updated section on state statutes or Governor's orders that require family impact analysis; *a new chapter on the history of family policy in this century; *a new appendix on how to conduct a family impact analysis; and *two new case studies on writing family policy newsletters for state policymakers and teaching family impact analysis to the general public. *Instructor's Manual with sample syllabi for both undergraduate and graduate courses, suggested readings, assignments, and class activities, discussion questions, daily lesson plans, instructor insights, special presentations to enrich one's class, and PowerPoint slides. The targeted audience includes researchers interested in seeing their research and ideas acted upon in the policy world; family professionals who work to connect research and policymaking; and instructors interested in making family policy come alive for undergraduate and graduate students. This book is an ideal textbook for family policy courses.

The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation â€" their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families.

Family Problems: Stress, Risk, and Resilience presents an interdisciplinary collection of original essays that push the boundaries of family science to reflect the increasingly diverse complexity of family concerns in the modern world. Represents the most up-to-date family problem research while addressing such contemporary issues as parental incarceration, same sex marriage, health care disparities, and welfare reform Features brief chapter introductions that provide context and direction to guide the student to the heart of what’s important in the piece that follows Includes critical thinking questions to enhance the utility of the book for classroom use Responds to family problem issues through the lens of a social justice perspective

Features the Strengthening Families Program - a family change programme that reflects research that indicates that the most effective interventions build parent, child and family skills.

Learn how to develop and teach effective courses on the vital issues of family life The Craft of Teaching About Families presents a variety of course designs, evaluation methods, and teaching techniques and strategies that can be used to address the complexities of family life. This unique book prepares students for the challenges they’ll face as they leave the campus for the classroom, providing them with the problem-solving skills they’ll need for success. The book’s contributors—a distinguished panel of family scientists, sociologists, public policy analysts, psychologists, and extension specialists—examine a range of topics, including family law and policy, advocacy, parenting skills, international families, and diversity. One of the few books geared to teaching family studies, particularly family policy and family law, The Craft of Teaching About Families reaffirms the importance of teaching in a time when controversial family issues receive constant attention from the media, the courts, and the legislatures. In addition to articles on family policy, family law, marriage and the family, family interaction and dynamics, and cultural diversity, the book addresses empirical assessments of internships and service learning activities in family-oriented courses, the effectiveness of various teaching strategies, including role-playing, classroom simulations, and Web-based assignments. Divided into three sections for ease of use, The Craft of Teaching About Families examines: Family Law and Family Policy how to build writing skills through the preparation of court briefs and policy memos how to use cooperative learning research teams to teach family law how to design better courses by understanding students’ perceptions of family policy issues how cooperative extension can help involve families in the policymaking process Family Dynamics how to develop a course in father-daughter relationships how to incorporate parenting education workshops into a parent-child relationship course how to prepare students to become competent multicultural educators how to develop a course on international families from a family strengths perspective how to develop a new framework for teaching family resources management Teaching Techniques in Family Science how to incorporate effective role-playing into the syllabus how to use small-group work to create a positive experience in the classroom how to educate future teachers about psychological abuse how to teach students about forgiveness toward those who have hurt them how to analyze the results of service-learning assignments in family diversity The Craft of Teaching About Families is an essential resource for professionals who teach about individuals and families at any level, in any setting—formal or informal.