The changing role of women in the family is discussed, and alternative policy options relevant to female-headed and dual-income families are identified. A model of family functions and an outline of the historical forces shaping family roles from preindustrial to present times are presented. The model indicates the typical allocation of nine family responsibilities to either husband or wife, displays current trends in allocation, and lists societal supports which supplement or supplant the responsibilities of the family. Areas of responsibility considered are health, protection, breadwinner, household, extra-family social, affective support, child nurturance, morality/standards, and child instruction. The shift in roles resulting from family crises involving handicapped and chronically ill children, unemployment, divorce, and absent fathers, is also discussed. Further discussion explores the influence of public policy on the family and the surrogate role of society in aiding the family. Concluding that child care is perhaps the weakest link in the model, the paper evaluates six alternative child care policy options for aid to dual-worker or single-parent families (public day care centers for all children, child care programs for poor and handicapped, child care vouchers to low income parents, negative income tax, industry supported child care, and tax credit) by five criteria: cost, vertical equity, political feasibility, preference satisfaction, and effectiveness. (RH)