This study examines three policy realms in which six provincial governments [British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick] as well as the federal government are currently and actively addressing the needs of families or children: income security, balancing work and family, and developmental programs. It reviews the changes over time in these areas, identifying the basic principles underpinning policy choices, as well as the converging and diverging patterns of program delivery. In addition to the analysis, it provides a detailed timeline of the policy history of each jurisdiction reviewed, as well as comparative inventory tables documenting the policy instruments currently in use by the six provinces studied.