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Council on Contemporary Families

Welcome to the Council on Contemporary Families! We are a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to providing the press and public with the latest research and best-practice findings about American families. 

More Than Postpartum: Tracking Differences in the Arc of Maternal Depression Across Liberal Welfare Regimes

New research suggests that, while maternal depressive symptoms are common around the world, both national policies as well as personal resources play a role in women’s recovery from depressive symptoms during the early years of their child’s life.

How Do We Know When Fertility Is Too Low?

Falling birth rates in the U.S. have raised concerns that the current total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen "below replacement" level. In reality, the relationship between current fertility rates and population decline is not straightforward.

Don't Panic: Population Projection is Not a Crystal Ball

In a new brief report, authors note that concerns about “depopulation” are widespread but caution against alarm. Population projections are useful guides, but not crystal balls.

Getting a Degree in a System not Built for Them: Few Student Parents get Help from their Parents when Paying for College

In a new brief report, Renee Ryberg and CCF Co-Chair Arielle Kuperberg discuss the challenges student parents face when paying for college

Policies Affecting Families: What we know, and what to expect in the second Trump term

In a new symposium, CCF brings together leading experts to discuss how immigration, abortion, student debt, and LGBTQIA+ related policies affect families.

Increases in Community Income Improve Birth Outcomes

In a new brief report, Dr. Molly Martin explores how economic development and other policies that increase community income can reduce incidence of low birth weight

Why the U.S. Should Have (and Why Men Should Take) Paternity Leave

In a new brief report, Richard Petts, Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, and Reed Donithen discuss why it is time for policies and workplace culture to catch up to the wave of support for paid parental leave in the U.S.

U.S. parents financially support their adult children. But in immigrant families, it’s the reverse.

Brief report from CCF Early Career Scholar Dr. Vanessa Delgado shows that parental immigration status shapes adult children’s decisions to “give back” in immigrant families.

 

Last Updated: 12/15/25