Connecting Social Work Perspectives to Work-Family Research and Practice

During the 1970s and 1980s, social workers were among the trailblazers of the emerging area of work-family studies. Since then, they have continued to add their voices to those of other academics who have noted the importance of focusing research, policy, and practice attention on the needs of working families. Sheila Kamerman, for example, has made significant and noteworthy contributions to the work-family discourse for more than three decades (e.g., Kamerman & Hayes, 1982; Kamerman & Kahn, 1978, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1997).