ABSTRACT
Two recent historical analyses offer two methods for moving the field of family policy forward. Paralleling the explicit and implicit definitions of family policy proposed in chapter 3, Skocpol (1995) proposed a specific, broadbased family policy that would promote family security, whereas Ooms (1995) proposed a series of efforts aimed at promoting a family perspective in policymaking across a broad range of issues. In keeping with the spirit of the theory of paradox, these two alternative methods of promoting a family agenda should not be viewed as contradictory, but should be embraced as complementary approaches that can be pursued concurrently to reach the shared goal of strengthening families. I begin this chapter with Skocpol’s proposal for a broad-based family policy and then turn to Ooms’ proposal for a family perspective in policymaking.
