Exploring the private side of family life together with the public, institutional nature of the “the Family” through a sociological lens.  Families and Their Social Worlds shows that many family concerns are actually social issues that need to be addressed through sound social policies. The author encourages readers to think about families beyond their own personal experiences, and even beyond family structure in the United States. Her goal is to impart a passion for critical thinking as readers see that families exist within social worlds.  Important policy considerations are imbedded in each chapter to illustrate what is currently being done, and perhaps even more importantly, what can be done to strengthen families and intimate relationships. Â