This session aims to introduce and discuss new theoretical insights and empirical findings concerning family policies towards parenting and parental care, and their role in women’s labour market integration, gender equality and the wellbeing of children. This debate, which focuses on central issues of family policies and the work-family relationship, has developed mainly in the past few years. Moreover, recent studies on family policies in Central and Eastern European welfare states and Asia have contributed interesting new perspectives on these issues. It is important to consider that many European welfare states did not only extend public day care for children and individual rights for children to receive public care. They also extended their support of parents in their caring role. More specifically, they focused on social rights and pay for childcare by the  parents, often relying on programs such as paid parental leave and other types of similar, work-related benefits for caring parents. Many researchers, however, raise serious questions concerning the impact of such policies on the larger goals of family support, gender inequality and women’s labour market integration. They also re-examine family policies that focus heavily on fathers’ time for care, including the extension of a special leave for working fathers. Finally, this session addresses the cumulative influence of these policy changes and adjustments on the wellbeing of children in different European societies.