ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on social science practice and its relation to the social policies affecting children, youth and families within the United States. It examines the forces affecting contemporary American families and addresses a number of family policy issues. The book identifies two salient points related to the "government intrusion/family privacy" issue. It discusses the alarming increases in violent crime, suicide, substance abuse, and runaway children among American youth. The book presents the greater centrality and explicitness of family policy in many western European countries. It also discusses the more extensive role played by governments in most European countries with regard to child care. It explores the role of the courts, it should be noted that the messages from the judiciary in the United States have been very ambiguous in interpreting the rights of children and powers of adults, parents and/or societal institutions.
