This report describes the process designed in Illinois to respond to President Carter's initiative for a White House Conference on Families. It also describes the product of that process: recommendations in ten topic areas of importance to the American family. Extensive discussions of such topics as children and parents, education, marriage, health, family crisis, child care, law, families and the workplace, and special challenges (such as single parent families, disability and castastrophic illness, and the adolescent parent) and financial policy are provided. Each topic is addressed in terms of (1) a commentary providing background information related to the topic area; and (2) the specification of issues which are developed through policy statements, program recommendations, strategy considerations, and acknowledgment of dissenting reports. Committee members and Illinois delegates to the national conference on families are listed in four appendices. (Author/RH)