Top 5 Family Policy Issues in the Future

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Top 5 Family Policy Issues in the Future
Divorce
Over the last ten years, the meaning of marriage has changed radically. As opposed to the past whereby marriage entailed a lifetime alliance, people no longer marry for life. The prevalence of divorce is on the increase in the modern world. A new system of separation whereby separating parties opt for mediation is on the rise (Bogenschneider et al. 15). Rather than going through the legal way of suing for custody and child support, couples today prefer collaborative divorce and counseling during separation. The new system allows couples to handle separation with both respect and integrity (Bogenschneider et al. 15). More couples are expected to create formalities to end a marriage with respect and love in the future.
Homosexuality Rights
Securing equality for the LGBT community is an essential human and civil right cause of the modern generation. Lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual people are no longer perceived as mentally ill when compared to previous years. While there has been significant progress regarding LGBT rights, some sections of the world are yet to recognize these individuals. LGBT people still face not only widespread stigmatization but also persecution. The future of LGBT rights is fragile as they always attract massive controversy and hostility from most societal institutions.
Mental Illness
Considering the ever-growing prevalence of mental health issues such as depression, the future of mental health seems disheartening.

Contrarily, the future of this critical public health issue appears bright as the society navigates from antiquated views of mental illness. As opposed to blaming people for how their brains work, the community is increasingly acknowledging that these disorders occur through no fault of the owner. The future of mental illness will continue being positive as technology continues to transform the management of emotional disorders.
Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
Paid parental leave can be a controversial subject for employers. While generous policies can improve employee loyalty, retention, and satisfaction, employers often view these leaves as costly due to potential productivity loss. It is worth to note that the laws governing parental leaves are quite negligible. Although the existing laws provide for twelve months paid leave for parents, eligibility requirements are quite stringent. For employees to qualify for these benefits, they must have worked for their employers for twelve months and above. Nonetheless, the future of paid parental leaves is bright as innovative companies recognize the significance of real policies in attracting and retaining top employees.
Imprisonment for Marijuana Use
Prominent political figures have been calling for the legalization of marijuana in the US. They often blame the prohibition of this drug for the growing incarceration rates. It is true that significant numbers of arrests in the US today are linked to the possession and use of marijuana. Considering that both Democratic and Republican legislators are highly likely to endorse the legalization of marijuana, incarceration rates related to its use will decline substantially in the future.
Work Cited
Bogenschneider, Karen, et al. The Family Impact Handbook: How to View Policy & Practice through the Family Impact Lens. The Family Impact Institute, 2012. Accessed at https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/hdfs/fii/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/fi_handbook_0712.pdf