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Origins and rationale of centres for parents and young children together
Author(s) -
HoshiWatanabe Miwako,
Musatti Tullia,
Rayna Sylvie,
Vandenbroeck Michel
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1111/cfs.12056
Subject(s) - psychosocial , politics , cohesion (chemistry) , sociology , isolation (microbiology) , social isolation , public relations , gender studies , psychology , political science , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry , psychiatry , law , biology , psychotherapist
Abstract The range of centres where parents and children come together has mushroomed in different parts of the world, as new social work practices address the emerging non‐material needs of parents in changing demographic contexts. In this paper, we explore the origins and modi operandi of these centres in B elgium, F rance, I taly and J apan. Analysis of previous studies and policy documents reveal diverse political rationales, including addressing declining birth rates, preventing psychosocial problems and social isolation of mothers and promoting social cohesion and equality of educational opportunities. Remarkably, despite the diverse cultural and socio‐political contexts and rationales, these centres also share very similar ways of functioning and provide an informal type of social support to parents with young children. As these recently emerged centres are seldom studied, further research is welcomed to explore parents' and professionals' perspectives.