"There is no way to escape aging. I, too, will grow old." This is the first of five "remembrances" that form a daily Buddhist meditation, meant to remind practitioners of life's transitory nature. In this issue, we explore various aspects of aging and related issues, such as state and federal public policies, intergenerational equity, retirement, romance and sexuality, grandparenting, caregiving, and the transmission of wisdom through storytelling.
"The truth is that families come in many different shapes these days, and all of them deserve respect," proclaimed an editorial that appeared several years ago in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In this issue, we explore some of those shapes and what they mean for family members. We also explore several new theories about the family and its continuing evolution.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, this issue of NCFR Report presents perspectives from around the world. Such perspectives are essential. By 2025, over 80 percent of the world's population will live in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In the United States, immigration from non-Western countries now accounts for a major share of population growth. It's time to develop a more comprehensive approach to our understanding of diverse families within the ever-changing demographic landscape.
Family Focus on Mental Health Over the Life Course
"Mental health" is more than the absence of mental illness. It is the balance among the social, physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of life. Our mental health impacts our choices and our ability to life's challenges. In this issue, we explore the mental health of interracial couples; poor, rural mothers; noncustodial mothers; infants, and immigrant youth. We also include information on programs that connect families and individuals with mental health resources and mentoring programs.
"Marriage is a great institution," Mae West once said, adding "but I'm not ready for an institution." Unlike West, many people today feel that the institution of marriage should be promoted for the sake of our children and our nation. But others believe that marriage by itself isn't enough: the relationship must also be healthy and fulfilling. In this issue, we explore marriage promotion and enrichment, cross-cultural perspectives, moments of marital stress, and what some see as a move away from marriage.
Carrie Saxon Perry, the former mayor of Hartford, Connecticut, once defined poverty as a lack of options: "The less choice you have, the poorer you are." That describes the life of working-poor families. A lack of living-wage jobs often means that families must live in unsafe housing, forego healthcare, or eat whatever they can find at the food shelf. In this issue, we explore the lives of those who are "trying to make a way outa' no way."
According to futurist Faith Popcorn, it's a "dream as old as America itself: give me a piece of land to call my own, a little town where everyone knows my name." But that dream is getting harder to realize. Many farmers are declaring bankruptcy. Jobs are scarce. Health care and social services may be hours away from those who need them. In this issue, we explore these issues and their impact on rural families.
Napoleon once said, "Soldiers win battles and generals get the credit." What he didn't mention is that most soldiers and generals have families who are affected by military life. This is especially true today. Since the abolition of the draft in 1973, the military services have shifted from two-thirds single personnel to two-thirds married personnel. In this issue, we explore how the U.S. military promotes readiness by supporting families.
According to the old adage, there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. But while a good accountant might shelter us from taxes, we must all eventually face death. In this issue, we explore the experience of death and the grief of survivors. Among the topics: death as a normative family experience, compassionate end-of-life care, finding meaning in death, and ambiguous loss in the wake of recent terrorist attacks.
Domestic abuse, bullying and school shootings, child abuse, suicide ... sometimes it seems as though we are surrounded by violence. Less evident are the efforts of those working to prevent violence. In this issue, we explore some of those efforts - including anger management training, a therapeutic visitation program for parents in the child protection system, a community-based youth-violence program, and the use of sophisticated computer technology to predict "hot spots."
