The conceptualisation and delivery of family support in Europe: A review of academic literature
Date
2021-10Author
Devaney, Carmel
Christiansen, Øivin
Holzer, Julia
MacDonald, Mandi
Matias, Marisa
Piessens, An
Salamon, Eszter
Kealy, Carmen
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Devaney, Carmel, Christiansen, Øivin, Holzer, Julia, MacDonald, Mandi, Matias, Marisa, Piessens, An, Salamon, Eszter, Kealy, Carmen. (2021). The conceptualisation and delivery of family support in Europe: A review of academic literature: European Family Support Network (EurofamNet)
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Abstract
Even though children are active agents in their own right they remain a vulnerable group
dependent on adults to protect, support, nourish and educate them. In certain circumstances
and for a myriad of reasons, some families’ capacity to provide for and care for their children can
be reduced or compromised, and as a result they require support and assistance in carrying out
this fundamental function. Family Support is one way in which children’s well-being can be
protected and promoted. However, the way in which this mode of support is conceptualised and
operationalised can vary within and across jurisdictions. For instance, family support approaches
can be framed by concerns about care or control, can take a child-based or parent-oriented
perspective, and may be targeted or universal in terms in eligibility.
This report is part of a wider programme of work which aims to provide an innovative
conceptual framework relevant to the delivery of family support in Europe. In order to provide
insight to this project, this document presents a review of recent academic literature which
considers the ways in which formal family support is conceptualised, developed and delivered
in the European context. This includes literature from member states of the European Union,
and adjacent countries from the continent that have special relationships with the Union. Much
of the literature in this review stems from the UK, but it also comes from Ireland, Spain, Portugal,
Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, France and Italy, as well as
Cyprus and Croatia.