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.

This Study Guide is designed to help students review and apply the material presented in the textbook, "Families in Context." Many of the sample questions were originally prepared by Wanda Clark for the first edition of the textbook. The organization of this study guide corresponds to chapters in "Families in Context."To learn more about the "Families in Context" main text, please visit the bookpage here: Families In Context, Second Edition, Revised & Updated

This best-selling text integrates the latest research and cutting-edge practice to make an evidence-based case for family policy. It uses examples from around the globe to explain how families support society and how policies support families. The book also moves beyond analysis to action with pragmatic processes and procedures for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of policies by viewing them through the lens of family impact. Highlights of the new edition include: Extensive revisions with many new references and policies that reflect recent changes in the economy, politics, and family forms and familes. Many new learning tools including guiding questions, more tables and figures, chapter glossaries, discussion questions, and chapter summaries. Enhanced global perspective with a new chapter (5) that features what policies nations have put in place to strengthen and support families. A new chapter (8) that views how family considerations can improve the effectiveness of policy decisions on issues such as early childhood care and education, health care, juvenile crime, long-term care, parent education, and welfare reform. A new chapter (11) on what the policy process and policymakers are really like including how a bill becomes a law. A new chapter (12) that provides a theoretical and empirical rationale for viewing issues through the family impact lens and what innovative tools and procedures exist for analyzing the family impact of organizations, policies, programs, and practices. Several chapters that review what professionals can do in the policy arena and how they can foster compromise and common ground. Updated web-based teaching materials including sample syllabi, classroom activities and assignments, daily lesson plans, test questions, instructor insights, video links, web resources, and more. Part 1 highlights what family policy is and why it’s important and how family life in the U.S. differs from other countries. Part 2 examines the contributions family considerations can bring to issues such as early childhood education, health care, juvenile crime, long-term care, and welfare reform. Part 3 explains why polarization has stymied progress in family policymaking and guidelines for fostering compromise. Insights are drawn from the history of family policy over the last century. Part 4 provides strategies for getting involved in family policymaking. It reviews: the processes policymaking institutions use to enact legislation; new techniques for assessing the family impact of policies and programs; strategies for building better public policies; and various professional roles and careers for building family policy. The book concludes with a summary of how and where we go from here. Intended for advanced undergraduate and/or graduate courses in family or social policy taught in human development and family studies, psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, public policy, home economics, consumer science, and education, researchers and practitioners alike appreciate this book’s integration of theory, research, and practice.

The most thoroughly updated edition yet, this book offers students perspectives of changes in marriage and family over time, including the impact of the Great Recession and of new media technologies. A hallmark of Families in Context remains the well-researched, data-driven quality of the text. Beyond presenting thoroughly updated statistics and literature, each chapter examines new trends and assesses their implications for students' lives. The underlying presentation remains balanced, theoretically grounded, and accessible to a wide variety of classes, allowing students of all ages and family backgrounds to draw their own conclusions about controversial topics. Features of the new edition include coverage of the Affordable Care Act; new social media and families; the latest trends in poverty, education, social mobility, gender, identities and healthcare; updated 'In the News' features and author-created PowerPoint slides.