This study examines the conceptualisation of family in key social legislative documents guiding social workers in two European countries, whose welfare systems have previously been labelled as re-familialised (Lithuania) or de-familialised (Sweden). The focus is on the concept of family as delineated on three legislative levels: the constitutional level, the general family policy level, and the child welfare policy level. ‘Family’ is explicit in Lithuanian law, and the regulation of family formation and responsibility is imperative, while this is much less so in Swedish law. The analysis reveals how general welfare systems (regime-types) are linked to legislative frameworks, which, in turn, provide fundamentally different conditions for social work in different contexts.
Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas
Straipsnyje nagrinėjamos galios ir įgalinimo sampratos bei jų raiška socialiniųįVADAS Įgalinimas (angl. empowerment) per kelerius metus tapo labai madingu terminu, vartojamu įvairiais viešosios erdvės ir profesiniais kontekstais. Ši sąvoka ypač dažna socialinės gerovės srities akademiniuose ir praktiniuose pranešimuose bei diskusijose. Masinį termino vartojimą galima apibūdinti aforizmu: "Įgalina visi, įgalina viską". Toks koncepto masiškumas tarsi "išplauna" jo turinį, kai nebėra aiškios esminės idėjos ir prasmės. Be to, tenka pripažinti, kad neretai įgalinimas traktuojamas kaip savaiminė gėrybė, menkai atskleidžianti šio koncepto prasmingumą bei turinį, nekalbant apie jo sudėtingumą ar net prieštaravimus.
Socialinės paslaugos ir įgalinimas
Child welfare services around the world deal with families and family complexities. The study from Chile, Lithuania and Norway explores how social workers define family and more specific the position of extended families within child welfare and thus indicate contextual differences and similarities. In the data collection, five focus groups were included: one Lithuanian (eight participants), two Chilean (with two and two participants) and two Norwegian groups (with seven and eight participants). The analysis reveals significant and thematic differences and similarities between the countries related to the fluid and varied concept of family. The results also show variations across contexts in which families that are targeted by the services, the involvement of children and nuclear and extended family members. A dilemma between children’s need to keep family bonds and the states responsibility to protect children, can be exemplified with the position of the extended family. We can identity a difference between Norway, with comprehensive state involvement that can be framed as they are dealing with a public family, and both Chile and Lithuania, which put more of an emphasis on problem-solving within families, and thus look at the family as more of a private sphere.
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