Strengthening Families

Everyone has a family. Family members may be related or not. They may be single parents raising children—alone or with friends, with partners, or with relatives. They can be adults of all ages without children. They can be grandparents raising grandchildren. By choice or by chance—kin or not—they are the relationships and bonds we form and they are all families.

The Jordan Institute for Families--the research, training and technical assistance arm of the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--is a resource for discovering effective practices and policies that build sound and supportive families. Named for one of North Carolina's most prominent families in recognition of Michael Jordan's generous gift, the Institute's primary goal is that of strengthening families.

Cutting across traditional disciplinary lines, the Jordan Institute for Families brings together experts from many fields to: