Family Associationism and Participation in the Governance of Family Policy in Italy

The Italian welfare system in recent years, has placed greater attention on family social policy. More efficient projects have been tested and set up in which the family is at the centre. Another important phenomenon to consider is the strong regionalisation of services. This article will highlight existing Italian policies to help families and put them in local and regional context. In fact it is precisely within the differing local experiences that a greater diffusion of associations for the family are emerging, which make important contributions in the field of legislation and social policy in areas such as adoption, foster care and disability, as well as operating as a pressure group regarding various issues in the context of local organisations. Within the document are some elements from the research about family associationism in the local welfare system, coordinated by the writer and carried out by the Department of Social Sciences at the Polytechnic University of Marche.