Publications

How do we better support families?

This collection of articles written by One Parent Families Scotland; Families Outside; Relationships Scotland; Child Poverty Action Group; Shelter Scotland; Scottish Adoption; Contact; Children in Scotland and Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs looks at the difficulties families may face and how effective, compassionate family support practices can make a significant difference to family wellbeing.

Invest in relationship-based whole-family support

Parenting across Scotland call for investment in relationship-based whole-family support.

Families in Scotland are increasingly struggling to meet children’s basic needs

Families with children are struggling every day, but it doesn’t have to be like this. Working together, we can help reduce the number of children growing up in poverty in Scotland.

The importance of a home

Social housing, despite moves by the current Scottish Government to build more, is often not an option as decades of under-investment has left council housing stock severely depleted.

Specific needs for families when someone goes to prison

The impact of imprisonment on families is a hidden issue, with key professionals often unaware of it and unsure of how to support families in this situation. In order for families to be better supported, professionals need to be better informed about the impact of imprisonment on families.

Good work supports the whole family

It’s not all just about money, families need time too, if they are to thrive. But for too many parents family time is stolen by work.

What does family support mean for families affected by addiction?

In contrast to a deficit model which sees families affected by alcohol and drugs as the cause of the addiction, and as broken and needing to be fixed or excluded, SFAD sees the whole family as an asset.

Parenting a disabled child

Parents of disabled children and young adults know only too well the level of extra support they need to access the same choices and opportunities as their peers.

For the sake of the kids

Bringing up children is one of the toughest challenges anyone can face. Throw a divorce or separation into the mix, and it all becomes much more difficult, especially for the children.

The reality for single parent families

Welfare reform, the benefit cap, the two-child benefit policy, austerity, precarious and low paid employment, fuel poverty and a shortage of affordable housing and childcare all contribute to parents struggling for stability.

Supporting adoptive families

While becoming a new parent is life-changing for everyone, becoming an adoptive parent although positive and rewarding, demands a different set of parenting skills that aren’t always intuitive or learned from family members.

Supporting parents with learning disabilities

Parents with learning disabilities are at least twenty times more likely to have their children taken into care.