A NEW MODEL OF WELFARE - RE-ASSERTING THE VALUE OF KINSHIP FOR CHILDREN IN STATE CARE

This paper briefly examines current arguments concerning the demise of the traditional family, pointing out that the numbers of lone-parent families an not historically unparalleled and noting that the current emphasis in the ''death of the family'' debate on the nuclear rather t han the extended family marks a significant shift over recent decades. The nature of kinship is briefly examined in historical context, and kin relationships are seen to be fundamentally different on a number o f important dimensions from other social relationships. The erosion of kinship as the consequence of the increasing state regulation of fami ly life and the lack of importance it is now generally accorded in mod ern child welfare systems is considered and the reasons for this are d iscussed Finally the article turns to the changes that would be requir ed were kinship decision-making once more accorded a key place in plan ning for the care of children deemed to be in need of care and protect ion and the potential, as a model for practice, of the family group co nference is considered.