Ateneo - UPO

Il corso proporrà un'analisi dei mutamenti contemporanei delle politiche della cura, in particolare il passaggio alle politiche di investimento sociale, con un particolare approfondimento sulle politiche per la famiglia e per l'infanzia ed un focus specifico sui programmi di attivazione della genitorialità nell'ambito delle azioni a sostegno delle famiglie vulnerabili The course will offer an analysis of contemporary changes in care policies, particularly the shift towards social investment policies, with particular focus on family and child policies and a specific emphasis on parental activation programs within actions supporting vulnerable families.

1. Artiicoli e testi di policy indicati sul sito Dir del corso

2. Mercuri, E. (2025). Buoni genitori. Come esperti e famiglie costruiscono la genitorialità. Carocci.

3. Un testo a scelta tra i seguenti:
Macvarish, J. (2016). Neuroparenting: The Expert Invasion of Family Life. Palgrave

Edwards, R., & Ugwudike, P. (2023). Governing families: problematising technologies in social welfare and criminal justice. Routledge.

Gillies, V., Edwards, R., & Horsley, N. (2017). Challenging the Politics of Early Intervention: Who's' saving'Children and why. Policy Press. (se non già compreso in esame sostenuto nella laurea triennale)

Lee, E., Bristow, J., Faircloth, C. & Macvarish, J. (2014). Parenting Culture Studies. Palgrave.

Musumeci, R. (2025). La buona nascita e la genitorialità competente. Vissuti, culture, politiche e saperi esperti nei primi 1.000 giorni

Ability to analyze the relationship between everyday service practices and the logics of social and political organization of care.

A basic understanding of the main concepts and approaches in general sociology is desirable. There are no compulsory prerequisites.

Introductory lectures and group work including analysis of policy documents, intervention programs with minors and families, and case studies.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage:
https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services- students-physical-or-learning-disabilities
Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The oral examination will consist of an interview to assess knowledge of the examination texts and the ability to analyse policy documents and case studies discussed during the course. The final mark is given out of thirty. La prova è superata con un punteggio minimo complessivo di 18/30.

Group work: Active presence and participation will entitle to substitution of the book of choice (pt. 3) corresponding to 30% of the exam

The course will offer an analysis of contemporary changes in care policies, particularly the shift towards social investment policies, with particular focus on family and child policies and a specific emphasis on parental activation programs within actions supporting vulnerable families.

Introductory lectures

Theoretical perspectives on care
Changes in care policies: social investment policies and technologies of governing families
Cultures of parenting and expert knowledge
Policies for children and 'vulnerable' families

Seminar section

Analysis of policy changes: global, EU, national, and regional levels
Analysis of interventions targeting vulnerable families and childhood in the Italian context
Case studies on interventions with minors and parental activation programs

Knowledge and understanding. Students will know the main paradigms of care policies and their evolution, with reference to the social investment turn, family and childhood policies, and mechanisms of parental activation.
Applying knowledge and understanding. Students will be able to read and analyze policy documents, intervention programs, and case studies, connecting the micro level of service practices to the macro level of institutional logics.
Making judgements. Students will develop a critical reading of expert discourses on parenting and of the rhetoric of early intervention, recognizing their implicit assumptions, effects of power, and implications for vulnerable families.
Communication skills. Students will be able to present their analyses orally and in seminar settings, engaging with different theoretical positions.
Learning skills. Students will acquire conceptual tools to autonomously update their understanding of the transformations in care policies.