Family Policy focuses on the main family activities that are of concern in social policy and social work. This book explores how families behave and questions the implications for policies and practice. Perceptions of and responses to family ‘pathologies’ – teenage pregnancies, family breakdown, family poverty and violence – are examined. Core issues in family policy are considered, to help students to understand and evaluate the family policies at the hear of Labour’s welfare reforms. This will be a valuable text, particularly for HE students with little previous knowledge of family policy.