Today's indian families are indeed at a crossroads. On the one hand, many families havs found a way to stay close and resilient during these times of rapid social-economic and policical change. On the other hand, Indian families are encounterign new and disturnbing problems that are putting them at risk for a host of bio-psychosocial problems. This book examines both sides of the crossroads as it addressed many of the pressing and controvesial issues in contemporaryu indian socierty and its place in the modern workd, as well as factors that threaten the structure and well -being of the Indian family system. However, unlike other books, which primarily emphasized social ills and he negative aspects of family life, this book presents a balanced view of Indian cultural and family strengths and vulneranbilities. The editors discuss potential solurtions to complex poroblems of both local/community and national levels. Readers will be left with a greater underastanding fo the richness ans disvesity of the Indian family as it remains the backbone of the world's largest democracy. It is the editors hope that each chaper will she new llight on how working professionals an concerned citizens can better prepare families for the unparalleled challenges of today and tommorow as well las assisst families (rural and urban) which are already in the quagmire.

About the Author
David K. Carson Ph.D. LMFT, NCP, is a Professor of Psychologt in the Graduate Programme in Councelling Psychology at Palm, Beach Atlantic University - Orlando, Florida USA. He is a licensed married and Family Therapist and Qualified Supervisor in the State if Florida, a Clinical Member of the Acmerican Association for Marriage and Family Theraphy (ASMFT) and AAMFT Approved Supervisor and a Nationally Certified Psychology (Norht America Association of masters in Psychology). Cecyle K. Carson Ph. D, CCC-SLP, is an Associate Professor of Communication Disorders at the University of Central Florida, USA and a Licensed Speeh Language Pathologist. Aparajirta Chowdhury M.Sc. Ph.D., is a Professor of Home Science and Director of Women's Studies Research Centre at Berhampur University, Orissa India. She was a Commonwelth Academic Staff Fellow, at the University of London, U.K. and a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Wyoming USA, and recieved "The Young Investigators" award from the Johann Jacobs Foundation Zurich Switzerland.

Table of Contents
Preface List of Contributors Gender Issues in Family Life Reeta Choudhury Family Violence: Impact on Family Life M.M. Patnaik Women's Work and Family Interface Urmimala Das Impact of Technology on Family Life Bijayalaxmi Family Stresses and Quality of Life K.Vijayanthimala Child Abuse in Indian Families Sucheta Priyabadini Effects of Family Life on Child Mental Health Aparajita Chowdhury and Indumati Patnaik, Management of Family Resources for Strengthening Family Life Sanjukta Das Population Explosion and Family Planning Measures in India N. Jayapoorani Reproductive Health and Sex Education for Children and Adolescents T. Banoomathi New Age Parenting: The Role of Fathering in Indian Families Aparajita Chowdhury and Arundhati Rath Family Counseling as a Form of Crisis Intervention Tapati Das Creating a Safe Haven for the Elderly in Indian Families Visala Patnam and Fauzia Khan Nurturing Youth Potentials within Indian Families Rita Choudhury and Aprarajita Choudhury Preparing Families in the 21st Century : The Need for Family Life Education in India David K. Carson, Cecyle K. Carson and Aparajita Index