Question
summarize the text below
The concept of family support
There are pressing rationales for the development of Family support Provisions highlighted in research and literature to date (Devaney, 2017; Devaney et al, 2021). Social policies in European countries often emphasise that parents and families are primary sources of care, protection, support, and education for children. Dolan, Zegarac and Arsić’s (2020) therefore assert that the provision of family support is essential to securing the rights of children. The provision of family support must
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 7
consider the social and economic status and circumstances of parents, families and communities as this also fundamentally influences outcomes for children and young people (Dobrotić & Baran, 2015; Sandbæk, 2017: Jones, Lowe & West, 2020). This means that Family support provisions must consider addressing gender and social inequalities related to parental and family roles as well as socio-economic disadvantage. These issues inform the position statement on Family support within the European Family support Network:
Families provide the primary site for caring for children, whom they raise not for their benefit alone but for the betterment of civic society. Not enough is known or being done to support families in carrying out the complex task of rearing children and young people. In an increasingly challenging and changing environment there is a need for the international practice, policy and academic community to respond. (European Family support Network, 2020).
However, all parents and families often face challenges in providing and caring for children in this current context of societal change and uncertainty. This is a core rationale for Family support as at certain times and in certain circumstances, parental and family capacity to provide for and care for their children can be reduced or compromised (Devaney et al., 2021). This reduced or compromised capacity can be influenced by public institutions, and social, economic and cultural contexts, which all have an impact on family circumstances, welfare and functioning (Abela et al., 2021; Churchill et al., 2021; Devaney, 2017). Parents and families therefore require support and assistance in meeting the needs of their children for care, nurturing and development (Devaney, 2017).
Given the influence of the social, economic and political context on family life, the range and scope of support and assistance must be based on a full consideration of factors that affect family life (Herrera, Frost & Devaney, 2020). We further argue that consideration should be given to addressing the ways in which gender and social inequalities are related to the fulfilment of parental duties for children, the organisation of social care in society and wider social inclusion and justice concerns (Abela et al, 2021; Churchill et al, 2021; Devaney et al 2021).
Engaging with these issues, this Policy Brief proposes a multi-dimensional and multi-level conceptualisation of Family support:
Family support refers to social policies, services and activities which, separately and collectively, support and enhancefamily roles, relationships andwelfare. Informed by EurofamNet’s remit to optimise family support for children, parents and families; and in recognition of the range of their support needs and the diversity of children’s and family lives - this conception of family support incorporates multiple types, approaches and levels of support and services which contribute to enhanced
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 8
resources, capabilities and welfare. This conception of family support includes support and services:
• targeted at children/young people and their parents, and/or their families and communities
• targeted at one or more family member, family households, wider family networks and one or more generations
•that provide a range of support and services to children, parents and families including economic, social, employment and professional support and services
• that provide universal, targeted and specialist support and services to children, parents and families
• that are orientated towards prevention, early intervention and remedial outcomes
• informal everyday social and community support for family members as well as formal family support which is funded, organised and delivered by the state, often in partnership with voluntary, charity and civil society organisations
As a multi-dimensional and multi-level conceptualisation of family support, this approach draws on prominent literature and frameworks which promote holistic, systemic and multi-level understandings of family support needs and family support provisions (CoE CM, 2011; Bulling & Berg, 2018; Devaney et al. 2021; Join-Lambert, 2016). In addition, it draws on more focal service-specific literature and frameworks which consider and evaluate the specific aims and impacts of distinctive approaches to, and types of, support and services that seek to improve outcomes and prospects for children, parents and families (e.g.,Álvarezet al, 2020; Butler et al., 2020; Connolly &Devaney, 2018; Darraet al., 2020; Roberts, 2015). By proposingamulti-dimensional and multi-level conceptualisation of family support, we aim to:
a) recognise family support is conceptualised in several ways relative to purpose, perspective and context.
b) develop inclusive conceptions of family support to capture the diversity of approaches and provisions within and across European countries.
c) promote inter-disciplinary dialogue and developments engaging with the inter-disciplinary knowledge-base about the distinctive and combined roles and impacts of specific approaches, supports and services for child welfare, parental support and family welfare.
d) promote comprehensive, holistic and collaborative developments in national systems of family support and services.
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 9
To better understand and develop family support in these terms, this briefing elaborates on this multi-dimensional and multi-level framework to emphasise the four P’s of Family support: Policy, Provision, Practice and a Participatory ethos.
The Policy Briefing advocates for the consideration and optimisation of these four domains of Family support in the decision-making of policy makers, service providers and professionals. In reality, the four domains are highly inter-related and inter-linked. However, they also reflect distinct domains and influences which independently and collectively shape the nature, scope and quality of family support at local and national levels. Referred to as ‘family support policy, provision and practice’ in this Briefing, these domains are broadly defined in the following ways:
•Family support policy: The statutory, governmental, institutional and legal contexts, frameworks and governance of family support provision and practice.
• Family support provision: The range, types and systems of formal services and supports funded or provided by state and partner agencies to support children, parents and families (including formal family support initiatives which seek to build social capital and enhance informal everyday social support).
• Family support practice: The decisions, interactions, collaborations and activities that frontline practitioners undertake within their roles to provide and deliver various types of family support to children, parents and families.
• A participatory ethos: An emphasis on ensuring the participation of all stakeholders in the development of family support policy, provision and practice; including policy agencies, researchers, community organisations, service providers, professionals, children and young people, and their parents, families and communities.
The concept of family support
There are pressing rationales for the development of Family support Provisions highlighted in research and literature to date (Devaney, 2017; Devaney et al, 2021). Social policies in European countries often emphasise that parents and families are primary sources of care, protection, support, and education for children. Dolan, Zegarac and Arsić’s (2020) therefore assert that the provision of family support is essential to securing the rights of children. The provision of family support must
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 7
consider the social and economic status and circumstances of parents, families and communities as this also fundamentally influences outcomes for children and young people (Dobrotić & Baran, 2015; Sandbæk, 2017: Jones, Lowe & West, 2020). This means that Family support provisions must consider addressing gender and social inequalities related to parental and family roles as well as socio-economic disadvantage. These issues inform the position statement on Family support within the European Family support Network:
Families provide the primary site for caring for children, whom they raise not for their benefit alone but for the betterment of civic society. Not enough is known or being done to support families in carrying out the complex task of rearing children and young people. In an increasingly challenging and changing environment there is a need for the international practice, policy and academic community to respond. (European Family support Network, 2020).
However, all parents and families often face challenges in providing and caring for children in this current context of societal change and uncertainty. This is a core rationale for Family support as at certain times and in certain circumstances, parental and family capacity to provide for and care for their children can be reduced or compromised (Devaney et al., 2021). This reduced or compromised capacity can be influenced by public institutions, and social, economic and cultural contexts, which all have an impact on family circumstances, welfare and functioning (Abela et al., 2021; Churchill et al., 2021; Devaney, 2017). Parents and families therefore require support and assistance in meeting the needs of their children for care, nurturing and development (Devaney, 2017).
Given the influence of the social, economic and political context on family life, the range and scope of support and assistance must be based on a full consideration of factors that affect family life (Herrera, Frost & Devaney, 2020). We further argue that consideration should be given to addressing the ways in which gender and social inequalities are related to the fulfilment of parental duties for children, the organisation of social care in society and wider social inclusion and justice concerns (Abela et al, 2021; Churchill et al, 2021; Devaney et al 2021).
Engaging with these issues, this Policy Brief proposes a multi-dimensional and multi-level conceptualisation of Family support:
Family support refers to social policies, services and activities which, separately and collectively, support and enhancefamily roles, relationships andwelfare. Informed by EurofamNet’s remit to optimise family support for children, parents and families; and in recognition of the range of their support needs and the diversity of children’s and family lives - this conception of family support incorporates multiple types, approaches and levels of support and services which contribute to enhanced
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 8
resources, capabilities and welfare. This conception of family support includes support and services:
• targeted at children/young people and their parents, and/or their families and communities
• targeted at one or more family member, family households, wider family networks and one or more generations
•that provide a range of support and services to children, parents and families including economic, social, employment and professional support and services
• that provide universal, targeted and specialist support and services to children, parents and families
• that are orientated towards prevention, early intervention and remedial outcomes
• informal everyday social and community support for family members as well as formal family support which is funded, organised and delivered by the state, often in partnership with voluntary, charity and civil society organisations
As a multi-dimensional and multi-level conceptualisation of family support, this approach draws on prominent literature and frameworks which promote holistic, systemic and multi-level understandings of family support needs and family support provisions (CoE CM, 2011; Bulling & Berg, 2018; Devaney et al. 2021; Join-Lambert, 2016). In addition, it draws on more focal service-specific literature and frameworks which consider and evaluate the specific aims and impacts of distinctive approaches to, and types of, support and services that seek to improve outcomes and prospects for children, parents and families (e.g.,Álvarezet al, 2020; Butler et al., 2020; Connolly &Devaney, 2018; Darraet al., 2020; Roberts, 2015). By proposingamulti-dimensional and multi-level conceptualisation of family support, we aim to:
a) recognise family support is conceptualised in several ways relative to purpose, perspective and context.
b) develop inclusive conceptions of family support to capture the diversity of approaches and provisions within and across European countries.
c) promote inter-disciplinary dialogue and developments engaging with the inter-disciplinary knowledge-base about the distinctive and combined roles and impacts of specific approaches, supports and services for child welfare, parental support and family welfare.
d) promote comprehensive, holistic and collaborative developments in national systems of family support and services.
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 9
To better understand and develop family support in these terms, this briefing elaborates on this multi-dimensional and multi-level framework to emphasise the four P’s of Family support: Policy, Provision, Practice and a Participatory ethos.
The Policy Briefing advocates for the consideration and optimisation of these four domains of Family support in the decision-making of policy makers, service providers and professionals. In reality, the four domains are highly inter-related and inter-linked. However, they also reflect distinct domains and influences which independently and collectively shape the nature, scope and quality of family support at local and national levels. Referred to as ‘family support policy, provision and practice’ in this Briefing, these domains are broadly defined in the following ways:
•Family support policy: The statutory, governmental, institutional and legal contexts, frameworks and governance of family support provision and practice.
• Family support provision: The range, types and systems of formal services and supports funded or provided by state and partner agencies to support children, parents and families (including formal family support initiatives which seek to build social capital and enhance informal everyday social support).
• Family support practice: The decisions, interactions, collaborations and activities that frontline practitioners undertake within their roles to provide and deliver various types of family support to children, parents and families.
• A participatory ethos: An emphasis on ensuring the participation of all stakeholders in the development of family support policy, provision and practice; including policy agencies, researchers, community organisations, service providers, professionals, children and young people, and their parents, families and communities.
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The text outlines the critical importance of family support provisions for child welfare and parental caregiving, emphasizing that families are primary sources of care and education for children. It argues that family support must take into account the social and economic contexts of parents and communities, addressing issues like gender and social inequalities, which affect family functioning. In light of societal changes, families often face challenges that compromise their ability to nurture children, necessitating comprehensive support services.
The proposed framework for family support is multi-dimensional and multi-level, incorporating a wide range of services targeted at children, parents, and families. It encompasses informal community support as well as formal assistance from state and civil society organizations, aimed at prevention and early intervention.
The framework is organized around four key domains: Policy (governance and legal frameworks), Provision (formal support systems), Practice (frontline service delivery), and a Participatory ethos (involving stakeholders in policy development). By enhancing understanding in these areas, the aim is to promote effective family support strategies that are inclusive and responsive to diverse family needs across Europe.
The proposed framework for family support is multi-dimensional and multi-level, incorporating a wide range of services targeted at children, parents, and families. It encompasses informal community support as well as formal assistance from state and civil society organizations, aimed at prevention and early intervention.
The framework is organized around four key domains: Policy (governance and legal frameworks), Provision (formal support systems), Practice (frontline service delivery), and a Participatory ethos (involving stakeholders in policy development). By enhancing understanding in these areas, the aim is to promote effective family support strategies that are inclusive and responsive to diverse family needs across Europe.