Socialno delo, Vol. 51 (2012), Issue 4
ARTICLES
Family centres in different welfare systems - 233, (Abstract)
Family centres in Slovenia:Analysis of activities and a proposal of a concept of a standardised evaluation model - 247, (Abstract)
Needs of modern families and a state perspective of family centers in Slovenia - 259, (Abstract)
Development of family centers in Slovenia: A municipality perspective - 271, (Abstract)
Abstracts
Polona Dremelj
Sources of social support in families in the late modernity
The main sources of assistance and support in the families in Slovenia are examined. For analysis, two empirical studies were used: a study of time consumption, conducted by Statistical office of Slovenia (2000), and a study on social support networks of Slovenian residents (2002). The data shows that people in need mostly rely on family and kin and that support between family members is still based on the traditional gendered division of household labour. Two problems arise from these findings: the problem of families which are facing the lack of social support sources in family and the problem of women who perform the majority of household tasks and are also the main sources of social support for adult individuals in the family. The article offers some solutions to these problems in the framework of family centres which can be, on the one hand, seen as the area for strengthening the social support networks of families and, on the other hand, as an important source of social support for families.
Keywords: family, social support, social support networks, formal support
Polona Dremelj, PhD in Sociology, is the professional research fellow in the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia. Her work focuses on social policy, evaluation in the field of social policy and social welfare, matters concerning the position of disabled people, family and social support networks. Contact: polona.dremelj@guest.arnes.si.
Tatjana Rakar, Ružica Boškić, Metka Kuhar
Family centres in different welfare systems
Family centres as a form of family help programmes are an important measure of the welfare state in the promotion of family friendly environment for the reconciliation of work and family life and for equal opportunities policies. Existing welfare systems, such as the conservative-corporatist, social-democratic, liberal, catholic and former state-socialist types are based on different hierarchies of spheres (such as the market, state, civil society and community) from which we obtain resources for social protection and welfare. The consequences of these differences in the hierarchies are the different levels of decommodification and defamiliarisation in society. As a consequence, the role of family centres also differs among different welfare systems. On the basis of comparative analysis of the characteristics of family centres in chosen countries the article shows that the welfare system and its defamiliarisation level have an important influence on the development and the role of family centres.
Keywords: family policy, defamiliarisation, services for families
Tatjana Rakar, PhD in Sociology, is an assistant professor of sociology; research fellow at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia at the Child Observatory. Her work focuses on social policy, family policy and civil society organisations. Contact: tatjana.rakar@guest.arnes.si.
Ružica Boškić, BA in Sociology, is a researcher at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia at the Child Observatory. Her work focuses on family and social policy, especially on the role of the users in social welfare. Contact: ruzica.boskic@guest.arnes.si.
Metka Kuhar, PhD in Communication Studies, is an associate professor of social psychology; lecturer and researcher at the Faculties of Social Sciences and Social Work. Her work focuses on the psychology of interpersonal communication and relationships, as well as on youth studies. Contact: metka.kuhar@guest.arnes.si.
Barbara Kobal Tomc, Tamara Narat, Vid Žiberna
Family centres in Slovenia:Analysis of activities and a proposal of a concept of a standardised evaluation model
In the article, family centres in Slovenia, which were subsidized by Ministry of labour, family and social affairs, are described and analysed. On the basis of the results of the analysis, the article compares family centres in Slovenia with trends and models operating in the EU region. The analysis contains different aspects of activities of family centres, such as regional distribution, structure of financial resources, work methods, analysis of target population. Special focus is given to the question how did the family centres organizations adapt to the current definition of family centres (positive experiences are observed as well as problems and difficulties, confronted by workers in family centres, such as lack of suitable infrastructure, inadequate financial resources). On the basis of standardised model of evaluation of social protection programmes and current characteristics of the open call of Ministry of labour, family and social affairs, the article presents a proposal of evaluation model. The proposal combines the existing form of family centres programmes with the possible form, which this programmes might get in the future, if they would adapt to the family centres in other European countries. Systematic evaluation of the programmes is essential for comprehending the effectiveness and contribution of programmes to the quality of life of families of children.
Keywords: activities of family centres, quality of life of families with children, systematic programme evaluation
Barbara Kobal Tomc, M. Sc. in Sociology, is the director of the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia. Her work focuses on social, disability and family policy, especially on evaluation studies. Contact: barbara.kobal@guest.arnes.si.
Tamara Narat, graduated in Sociological Studies, is a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences. She works as a researcher at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, in the Child Observatory department. Her works focuses on quality of life of children. Contact: tamara.narat@guest.arnes.si.
Vid Žiberna, B.SC., is a postgraduate student at the Faculty of Social Sciences. He works as a researcher at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia. His work focuses on the social protection programmes, especially on the evaluation activities and the observation of labour market. Kontakt: vid.ziberna@guest.arnes.si.
Ružica Boškić, Tatjana Rakar, Metka Kuhar, Mateja Nagode
Needs of modern families and a state perspective of family centers in Slovenia
In the article, the needs of the families as perceived by the parents, are related to the supply of the family centres as support institutions for assistance to families in meeting their needs. The activities the family centres offer are defined by the state and reflected by the definitions of family centres in the criteria for co-financing of these institutions by public calls. The needs of the modern family have been defined in two researches carried out in Slovenia on the topic in the past two years: The needs of the families for support services (2010) and The needs of the families with the preadolescent children in Slovenia (2010). The analysis shows a significant correlation between the state conceptualization of family centers and family needs. This is especially important for the two most important needs – need for socialising, networking, and the need for occasional child care. However, some of the family centres' activities, such as providing information, could be further strengthened in the future. In addition, we propose that the conceptualization of family centers focuses on the needs of families (not at the same time on the couples who do not yet have children) and that certain substantial requirements are more precisely defined.
Keywords: support services for families, definition of family centres, socializing, occasional child care
Ružica Boškić, BA in Sociology, is a researcher at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia at the Child Observatory. Her work focuses on family and social policy, especially on the role of the users in social welfare. Contact: ruzica.boskic@guest.arnes.si.
Tatjana Rakar, PhD in Sociology, is an assistant professor of sociology; research fellow at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia at the Child Observatory. Her work focuses on social policy, family policy and civil society organisations. Contact: tatjana.rakar@guest.arnes.si.
Metka Kuhar, PhD in Communication Studies, is an associate professor of social psychology; lecturer and researcher at the Faculties of Social Sciences and Social Work. Her work focuses on the psychology of interpersonal communication and relationships, as well as on youth studies. Contact: metka.kuhar@guest.arnes.si.
Mateja Nagode, BA in Sociology, is a researcher at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia. Her work focuses on social policy, especially on social care services and programmes and long-term care. Contact: mateja.nagode@guest.arnes.si.
Tamara Narat, Metka Kuhar, Nadja Kovač
Development of family centers in Slovenia: A municipality perspective
The article addresses the perception of Slovene municipalities of their role in ensuring the quality of life of families with children, their knowledge about activities of family centres according to the current definition set by Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, and their attitude towards these centres. The main focus of the article is given to the analysis of municipalities’ perspective towards establishment of family centres based on the models operating abroad – for non-Slovene centres it is caracteristique that they provide the place that enables socializing and integration, and that they are strongly embedded in local communities. Here particularly the needs and interests of municipalities and their role in potential implementation of family centres are being investigated. The article is based on the analysis of representative sample of representatives of 141 municipalities and on the analysis of 10 semi-structured interviews among selected municipalities. The obtained results show that municipalities support the idea of family centres – they recognize the possibility for integration and upgrading the existing institutions that offer these kind of services. Concerning the implementation of family centres, analysed data implicates that the majority of municipalities are prepared to take an active role in this field in cooperation with the government.
Keywords: activity of family centers, quality of life of families with children, local community
Tamara Narat graduated in Sociological Studies and is a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana. She works as a researcher at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, in Child Observatory department. Her works focuses on quality of life of children. Contact: tamara.narat@guest.arnes.si.
Metka Kuhar, PhD in Communication Studies, is an associate professor of social psychology; lecturer and researcher at the Faculties of Social Sciences and Social Work. Her work focuses on the psychology of interpersonal communication and relationships, as well as on youth studies. Contact: metka.kuhar@guest.arnes.si.
Nadja Kovač graduated in Sociological Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences. She works as a researcher at the Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia. Her works focuses on children, families and social protection. Contact: nadja.kovac@guest.arnes.si.