Why the Recent Interest Among Policymakers in Promoting

amily support is not a new concept. For decades, parents have received support in village greens and on park benches; during barn raisings and church meetings; and at gatherings in the general store, post office, or neighborhood cheese factory.1 At these events, which were once commonplace in America, parents were able to talk with each other, observe other parents inter-acting with and disciplining their children, and find out about community rules and standards for child rearing. Through these interactions, parents developed social ties to neighbors and community and a commitment to their well-being. Even though few of these customs remain, the needs they met and the purposes they served, continue.1 Since the 1970s, a number of community initiatives have sprung up to provide the parent education and family support that occurred more informally a century ago. Increasingly, these grassroots efforts are drawing at-tention from policymakers, business leaders, private foundations, and others in-terested in child and family well-being. To cite only a few examples:? A federal budget agreement last year included a capped entitlement which will provide $930 million for family preservation and family sup