This report provides an executive summary and overviews of the transcripts of each of the seven National hearings held prior to the White House Conference on Families. Involving testimony of citizens and experts, and site visits to innovative programs and groups serving families, the Hearings were held in Kansas, Tennessee, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Michigan and Washington. Issues and recommendations in the executive summary are organized according to the four major areas of concern identified by the White House Conference on Families. These areas are: families and economic well-being; challenges and responsibilities of families, families and human needs, and families and major institutions. The five issues receiving the most attention across the seven national hearings were (1) the role and impact of Federal, State, and local governments on families, (2) the availability and cost of and need for quality child care, (3) the availability of information or courses on family life education including parenting, marriage, and sex education, (4) the impact of poverty, inadequate income, and inflation on families, and (5) the increase in family violence and its causes and effects. (Author/SS)