This learning guide is designed to connect personal, family, and job responsibilities for adults and out-of-school youth in economically depressed areas of the state (including transitional ex-offenders and corrections populations) so that these individuals learn to manage and balance these aspects of their lives in order to prepare for or continue successful employment. This learning guide contains five competency units that provide information on balancing work and family lives. The competency units cover the following topics: (1) trends that influence work and family lifestyle choices; (2) work and family responsibilities; (3) ways in which work and family affect each other; (4) analyzing personal situations to determine areas of needed improvement; and (5) planning management strategies to increase work satisfaction and family satisfaction. Each competency unit consists of learner outcomes, key ideas, definitions, teaching strategies and methods, and suggested learning activities. Thirty-three supplements include information and activity sheets on the following: balancing work and family; family and work attitudes; employer benefits; role expectations; family tasks and who performs them; roles throughout the life cycle; work and family influences on each other; stress, six ways to overcome the Superwoman myth; healthy lifestyles; employability traits; analyzing work-family balance priorities; stress relief; spillover; case studies of various life situations; life events; survival tips for balancing home, family, and work; short-term and long-term goals; financial stress and budgeting; and scheduling and household planning. A bibliography lists 40 references. The Illinois goals for world-class education for the 21st century also are included. (KC)