Recent changes in the family structure and in the work setting are forcing many families to reexamine and redefine the family-career relationship. Until recently, most research on career and family patterns has focused on traditional sex roles. Although competition between career and family roles has caused pain in many families, recent research addressing the nontraditional roles of men and women indicates that most women do derive a sense of personal accomplishment from work and that most fathers who are more actively involved in parenting report that they have a better relationship with their children because of this involvement. Persons in dual-career families need to recognize that planning for career roles and planning for family roles are closely related tasks. Career development programs are needed to help individuals develop career and family goals that are personally satisfying and mutually supportive of other family members. Such programs should focus on increasing awareness of current and future trends affecting the family-career connection, identifying and coping with family and career development stages that carry heavy role demands, addressing barriers to implementing family and career plans, and explaining the personal benefits of combining family and career. (MN)