Harder Than Rocket Science? The Science of Designing and Implementing Strong Family-Friendly Policies

Abstract

(from the chapter) Comments on the chapter by Lisa F. Berkman and Emily M. O'Donnell (see record 2013-06314-012). Berkman and O'Donnell effectively argue that improvements in infant and child health will only come about with supportive family national policies. I pick up on two themes from the paper that identify potential gaps in the current literature. First, drawing from Berkman and O'Donnell's conceptual framework, I review the "state of the evidence" for key macro-social drivers of pro-family policies. Despite widespread recognition that macro-social are critical drivers of population well-being, a very small proportion of our research incorporates consideration of these contextual factors due, in part, to an overreliance on studies at the individual level in public health. Second, I build on their call for more evaluation of pro-family policies. In particular, I examine whether the tools we have to undertake such evaluations are adequately developed. We must take advantage of and help to refine emerging evaluation methods that accommodate complex multilevel policies and programs if we are to identify and implement effective family-friendly policies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)