Module Project 3: How social programs and policies impact the family
Part 1: Reread the Poverty and Policy section (pages 133-141) and Family Structure section (pages 143-149) and then answer the following questions. LABEL each answer.

1. Which 2 “key facts” about poverty are most important for your fellow citizens to know? Why?

2. What is the relationship between family structure and social mobility? Give an example to illustrate your point.

Part 2: Reread the section on Family Leave in your book, pages 421-423.
1. How does the US compare with other countries in offering family leave, according to the statistics in your book? Use the statistics to support your argument.

2. What do you think the pros and cons are of FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), after reading about it? Who may this help the most?

3. Check out this article on family policies around the world, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia and Portugal rank highest for family-friendly policies in OECD and EU countries. What surprised you, citing specifically from the article’s data (use quotes sparingly) to support your argument. Address comparisons on which countries are most and least “family-friendly”.

4. Then look at the report Redesigning the workplace to be family-friendly: What governments and businesses can do and select two of the “Evidence Briefs” (on family-friendly policies) to argue for a similar policy to be adopted in the USA. Take your time to write this out.

5. What does a family-friendly policy look like? Especially with COVID-19 closing many businesses and schools in our region, and considering what you learned from this project, what programs or policies would truly be “family-friendly”, in your view? Consider also families who have jobs that cannot be done “from home/virtual”, but are in essential jobs. You will want to look at the posted article in this section, Family leave for county employees in some parts of the state, to address the impact of “family friendly” policies on families in our area in your answer.