The Evolution of Family Policy: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Hopes for the Future

Over the past 50 years, the new field of family policy has built a substantial knowledge base, developed a robust theoretical and analytic framework, and created strong individual and organizational leadership. The field addresses an ever-widening series of complex and often highly controversial areas of family life and has achieved considerable success. Yet the results of family policy remain largely unknown to and undervalued by academics, policymakers, the media, and the general public. This article outlines underlying value tensions and barriers but also points out that significant progress has been made in finding common ground in areas such as work-family policies, teen pregnancy prevention, child welfare services, domestic violence, couples and marriage education, and fatherhood programs. Yet much more remains to be done in several areas such as long-term care and family caregiving. Establishing Family Matters Commissions in states could help family policy become a more visible, compelling, effective, and regular part of policymaking.