Public Policy, Work, and Families:
The Report of the APA Presidential Initiative on Work and Families

Work-Family Best Evidence Database

This Best Evidence Database contains references to the research that were used as the basis for the recommendations in Public Policy, Work, and Families: The Report of the APA Presidential Initiative on Work and Families. As new evidence is accumulated the database will be updated.

Recommendations for Employers

• Recognize that family friendly is good business
• Establish flexible workplace policies
• Address stress, health, and work

Recommendations for Public Policy

• Be aware of work, education, wages, and poverty connections
• Support job and parent training
• Consider state and other government programs that provide paid family and medical leave
• Explore options that provide or supplement health insurance for the working poor to eliminate health disparities
• Make small business loans available to family businesses

Recommendations for Schools and Communities

• Advocate for universal quality early childhood programs near public transportation
• Support after-school programs
• Align school and work calendars
• Arrange multiple service at sites and at times when people need them

Recommendations for Working Families

• Acknowledge positive outcomes working mothers provide
• Acknowledge positive outcome involved working fathers provide
• Lessen parental work stress
• Recognize the benefits of combining work and family roles