With women working, communities must find ways to provide affordable and quality child care and adult care services for frail or disabled people. At the community level, partnerships are needed between the government, the workplace, community service agencies, and family members to solve the dependent care dilemma. Occupational social workers and social workers affiliated with community planning bodies and direct practice are in a position to advocate for family policies and services that support the needs of working families. The racial and ethnic composition of the United States is changing. Immigrants compose an increasing share of the population changes.
New arrivals are primarily of Asian and Hispanic descent.
The Eurocentric or other extreme nationalistic perspectives of many Americans do not prepare them to live harmoniously in an increasingly diverse society Consequently, many communities have experienced increased racial tensions. Positive steps toward improving racial and ethnic relations include changing state and local educational systems to reflect a multicultural perspective that supports cultural pluralism. At the neighborhood level, we must develop opportunities for diverse ethnic groups to come together to increase their understanding of each other s differences, as well as their common humanity. The traditional family form is changing. The structure and function of jobs are changing.