Public Policy Exam 1 Review Introduction to Family Policy Chapters 1 2 Are Families A Public Issue Or Private Matter Why Do Families Matter 1 Families are the primary institution that we learn about commitment As citizens of the US we become responsible for contributing to society in different ways o Primarily through employment and paying taxes o As children learn about commitment roles personal values and structure in their family they are able to emulate or replicate those roles in society as well 2 There are public resources or institutions that affect family private life Although much of family life stays private there are many organizations benefits or services available that impact the private life of families If a natural disaster occurs will families receive help from the government Or if a marriage is struggling are therapy and counseling available o These public policies affect family life 3 Beyond that families do society good They socialize young children and prepare them for school and work Families also provide care for those who can t afford it Why Families Why Policy Families are the basic unit of American society Families in various forms are something that everyone can relate to Policy has the potential to dictate the environment that families live in o In doing so it supports and strengthens family functioning o E g without policy 25 million people would not have earned their earned income tax credit What Difference Can be made in Shaping Policy Politics is too often seen as a corrupt influence peddling power driven process However just because it seems this way doesn t mean that the younger generation shouldn t try to make change There have been several nonviolent protests that have been organized by the youth Occupy Movement Collective Bargaining Protests Egyptian Revolution Tea Party Movement Student Led Smoking Ban Census data on unpaid work Pro Democracy Protests Sit in on Inclusion of People with Disabilities Equal Schools to White Students Ousting of Cuban President Many of these efforts began with an individual or small group of people Ideas often start from an individual or group and then get passed up to policymakers to be put into the language of a bill 1 1 How likely is it that Family Policy will shape your Career and Life 1 You may choose a career in direct practice or policy 2 Whether you seek it in a career or not you will be influenced by policy If you decide to work in a family field your employment will be influenced by local or state government rules In your private life policies on income child care education and more will influence how you interact with the world as well as your loved ones 3 How you view policy will impact how you view your job and life satisfaction Whether you see policy as ripe for hope and change or we are doomed may influence you outlook in your work as well as your family Comparison 91 of American adults say that loving family relationships are extremely important 61 say that financial security is extremely important 49 say that job satisfaction is extremely important Americans are Twice as likely to rate family as more important as their jobs 30 are apt to rate their family as more important than their financial security Unprecedented popularity of the value of families but family policy NOT popular Is American Policymaking Focused More on Individuals or Families United States is one of the only countries that does not mention family in its constitution o This is deliberate to avoid a patronage system based on wealth or lineage English monarchy views as them priority in the government We have established a structure of government and laws to not include families We purposely separated from England so we did not want to keep the same o This is a problem because since there is no federal department for family it is not a The priorities for US policies are economy and environment The United States has no explicit national family policy nor comprehensive vision for families Elrod 1999 Family policy is still not a term that has the status of economic or environmental policy o It is a term that is not widely used by policymakers or the public There is no single agency devoted exclusively to families in comparison to o Department of Defense o Department of Agriculture o Department of Labor o Department of Health o Department of Energy o Department of Transportation No Specific Family Policy Need to Know Legislation responding to individual needs 2 2 o State Children s Health Insurance Program Federal reimbursement to states for health care coverage of children not parents o Social Security credits and Worker s Compensation for nannies not parent as full time caregivers therapy Why is it that stay at home parents don t get the same benefits as nannies o Medicaid private insurers cover individual mental health treatment not family marital o 1998 United Nations study of 152 countries the US is one of six countries without paid family medical leave Most family policy initiatives are focused on children o Sometimes children and families Most data collected about individuals not families as a whole Census data collection o Family definition Defense of Marriage Act the only department that we follow and collect data from Two of more people related by blood or marriage The government cannot act in an arbitrary and capricious manner o You cannot just randomly pop in and spy on people for no reason Minimally Adequate Care this section and beyond not in textbook Minimally adequate care best interest of the child Power to govern children nurture educate train is strongly dependent on the adult s power to exercise responsible oversight Adults rights to privacy should yield only to the degree that each child is safe and receiving minimally adequate care o The only time the government can intervene is if there is a dangerous situation Legal Relationship between Parent and Child Necessary to protect children because at least 1 000 children are murdered annually in the US by caregivers o Children suffer or prosper at the hands of others o Children are born dependent on others o Children do not receive full benefits of the law until they reach a certain age But they are born with some legal protections o Children s job is to simply grow up in the best way their circumstances permit Individual rights vs Parenting Our democracy places emphasis on the rights of the individual so does society Independence means making our own choices without