The research suggests the need for increasing integration into the systems of social protection of resources that allow people not to have to use them, such as prevention, combating exclusion and active employment policies. Social protection for families plays an important role as an instrument that allows a balance between family and working life. This study constitutes a contribution to the research Pensiones y prestaciones por desempleo (Pensions and Unemployment Benefits) (Fundación BBV, page 66). It presents the social protection policies for the family in Spain and the rest of Europe, and offers some proposals for reform.