Having worked in family policy for nearly two decades, it's tempting to approach family issues by thinking first about what governments can do. However, our public policy experience tempers our expectations. When we contemplate the role of the state, it is helpful to consider the interest the state has in family life and the limits to actions it should undertake. Families provide love and care in ways the state can't duplicate. Acknowledging this fact, however, does not mean denying there are ways in which the state can help families.