Social capital is now on the public agenda. A New Agenda for Family Support places it firmly on the family support agenda. An accessible and thought-provoking overview of key issues affecting the intrinsic link between family support and social capital, A New Agenda for Family Support:

Examines family support practice here and abroad in the context of the evolving story of social capital and its importance to relational well-being in family life.

Outlines the importance of integrating the idea of social capital into family support practice frameworks.

Reviews methods of measuring social capital, analyses the implications of research findings and policy developments - such as active citizenship - and makes clear recommendations for practice.
A New Agenda for Family Support is for everyone involved in the development of community-based interventions aimed directly at promoting the well-being of children, their parents' capacity, the wider family and the social environment. It will therefore be of interest to students, practitioners, policy-makers and academics looking to engage in family support practice that enables more cohesive local communities to promote greater family well-being.

Colm O'Doherty lectures in Applied Social Studies in the Institute of Technology, Tralee.