A Quebec movement advocating family policies was created in the Sixties by family groups and social workers in private agencies whose activities were undermined by the creation of public welfare and educational systems. This paper presents the associations and interest groups involved, together with the political contexts that facilitated the emergence of a joint contestation movement; it traces the transformation of this movement over three decades and the realization of some of its objectives. This historical analysis is based on documents from 17 federations of associations among those involved in this movement and on public documents from institutions and groups interacting with them, in particular the consultative councils created in the Quebec government departments responsible for family matters.