A National Family Policy

`A NATIONAL family policy should have three basic goals: to acknowledge the rich diversity of American families; to protect the family's economic well-being; and to provide families with flexible ways to meet their economic and social needs. ``Government policy cannot be based upon a static definition of the family, but must take into account that Americans live in a variety of family structures throughout their lives. Two-parent family, single-parent family, blended family, extended family, and empty-nest family - each of these comes with particular stresses and needs. An understanding of this diversity is essential if we are to avoid creating government policy that penalizes families that don't fit a particular mold.''

-Pat Schroeder in `Champion of The Great American Family'