Policy Recommendations
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Policy Recommendations www.familiesandsocieties.euFamiliesAndSocieties Changing families and sustainable societies: Policy contexts and diversity over the life course and across generations Policy recommendations Changing families and sustainable societies: Policy contexts and diversity over the life course and across generations Laura Carlson, Livia Sz. Oláh and Barbara Hobson (SU) With extensive contributions from: Gerda Neyer, Gunnar Andersson, Juho Härkönen and Susanne Fahlén (SU), Dimitri Mortelmans (UA), Ariane Pailhé and Olivier Thévenon (INED), Rudolf Richter (UNIVIE), Irena Kotowska (SGH), Melinda Mills (UOXF), Maria Letizia Tanturri (UNIPD), Fabrizio Bernardi (EUI), Daniela del Boca and Chiara Monfardini (CCA), Pearl Dykstra and Kasia Karpinska (EUR), Hill Kulu (Liverpool), Amparo González-Ferrer (CSIC), Dimiter Philipov and Bernhard Riederer (OEAW-VID), Diego Barroso Sánchez, Ignacio Socias Piarnau and Pablo García Ruiz (IFFD), and Raul Sanchez (ELFAC)* *Affiliations -see p. 34 Collaborative research project financed by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme 2013-2017 (Grant no. 320116, FP7-SSH-2012-1) © FamiliesAndSocieties project consortium 2017 Publication is available at: www.familiesandsocieties.eu Project funded by the European Union Printed by E-PRINT, Stockholm, Sweden, 2017 Cover image: Susanne Fahlén Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................ 3 1. Introduction .......................................................................................... 5 2. FamiliesAndSocieties’ key findings .................................................. 6 2.1 Key findings: Family diversity, vulnerability and challenges ............................... 6 2.1.1 Single-parent families ............................................................................... 6 2.1.2 Stepfamilies .............................................................................................. 6 2.1.3 Large families ........................................................................................... 7 2.1.4 Same-sex partnership families .................................................................. 7 2.1.5 Immigrant families ..................................................................................... 8 2.1.6 Living apart together relationships ............................................................ 8 2.2 Key findings: Generational challenges .............................................................. 9 2.2.1 Youths and the transition to adulthood ...................................................... 9 2.2.2 Care of elderly parents .............................................................................. 9 2.2.3 Privatization of care - Migrant caregivers ................................................ 10 2.3 Key findings: The care and well-being of children ........................................... 10 2.3.1 Parenting and child care ......................................................................... 10 2.3.2 The consequences of separation/divorce ................................................ 11 2.4 Key findings: The gender revolution ................................................................ 11 2.5 Key findings: Childlessness, fertility and well-being ......................................... 12 2.6 Key findings: Foresight towards the well-being of families and sustainable societies ................................................................................................................ 13 3. FamiliesAndSocieties’ policy recommendations ........................... 15 3.1 Policy recommendations: Family diversity, vulnerability and challenges ......... 15 3.1.1 Recognizing and supporting single-parent families ................................. 15 3.1.2 Recognizing stepfamilies ........................................................................ 15 3.1.3 Supporting large families ........................................................................ 17 3.1.4 Removing barriers for same-sex partnership families ............................. 17 3.1.5 Empowering immigrant families .............................................................. 18 3.1.6 Recognizing living apart together relationships ....................................... 19 3.2 Policy recommendations: Generational challenges ......................................... 19 3.2.1 Holistic approach: Youths and the transition to adulthood ....................... 19 3.2.2 Balancing the lives of adult children and older parents ........................... 19 3.2.3 Humanizing the privatization of care ....................................................... 20 3.3 Policy recommendations: Care and the well-being of children ........................ 21 3.3.1 Supporting parenting ............................................................................... 21 3.3.2 Minimizing the negative outcomes of separation/divorce ........................ 21 1 3.4 Policy recommendations: Promoting a work-life balance ................................. 22 3.5 Policy recommendations: The challenges of childlessness and ART .............. 24 3.6 Policy recommendations: Foresight towards the well-being of families and sustainable societies ............................................................................................. 25 4. FamiliesAndSocieties’ overview of best practices ........................ 27 4.1 Best practices – Vulnerable families and marginalisation ................................ 27 4.2 Best practices – Generational challenges ....................................................... 29 4.3 Best practices – Care and well-being of children ............................................. 30 4.4 Best practices – Work-family reconciliation ..................................................... 30 5. The FamiliesAndSocieties consortium ........................................... 32 The partners in the FamiliesAndSocieties consortium ........................................... 34 Team members per partner ................................................................................... 36 FamiliesAndSocieties Stakeholders ...................................................................... 53 Work packages in the FamiliesAndSocieties project ............................................. 54 6. FamiliesAndSocieties publications ................................................. 60 Working papers ..................................................................................................... 60 Articles .................................................................................................................. 96 Books .................................................................................................................. 135 Book Chapters .................................................................................................... 136 Databases ........................................................................................................... 141 EUFamPol ..................................................................................................... 141 LawsAndFamilies ........................................................................................... 142 ARPNoVa ...................................................................................................... 143 PERFAR ........................................................................................................ 143 Policy briefs ......................................................................................................... 144 2 Executive Summary These policy recommendations are based on main findings of the large- scale EU Seventh Framework project, Changing families and sustainable societies: Policy contexts and diversity over the life course and across generations (FamiliesAndSocieties). This executive summary highlights a few of the key policy recommendations: • Policy makers ought to be aware of the remarkable diversity of family forms and relationships in contemporary Europe, and aim for a better understanding of the nature and mechanisms of family constellations beyond married couples with children. • Policy measures aiming to prevent/reduce the reproduction of vulnerability in families ought to be broad, complementary and embedded into a comprehensive strategy. They should comprise services addressing the needs of particularly vulnerable children as well as reconciliation policies, educational policies and other policy measures. Family constellations more at risk of vulnerability such as single parents, stepfamilies, large families, same-sex families, immigrant families and living-apart-together (LAT) relationships need to be addressed within their specific parameters. • More direct supports to youth are needed in most European countries, with the state playing an active role in enabling young people in their transition to adulthood. Financial independence is fundamental. However, the achievement of self-sufficiency is a process preferably supported with a social package encompassing education, housing, job market access, family benefits and social aid. • Law, policies and practices have to assess the effects of any privatization or transfer of care (for children, the elderly, frail individuals) back on the family as to all persons concerned, those receiving the care and the caregivers. Reconciliation of care and work should be supported by implementing care leaves not limited to young children, reducing working