Putting families first

de Sharon Lynn Kagan, Bernice Weissbourd, Sharon L. Kagan

Sweeping social changes of the past three decades have dramatically altered American family life. At the same time, it has become increasingly clear that the strength of our society is inextricably linked to the strength of its families. In this book, leading scholars and practitioners in family support come together to reflect on the issues and challenges currently faced in the family support field and to offer insights into strengthening policies, programs, and services. Drawing on their diverse and unique perspectives, the authors examine the evolution of current principles and practices in family support and discuss future directions in quality services, training, and evaluation. They analyze the movement of family support programs into mainstream institutions such as schools, the workplace, churches, and prisons. And they project a vision in which family support approaches guide the manner in which systems, communities, and national policies work to promote family well-being.