Suchergebnisse

En la última década se han multiplicado los estudios sobre las transiciones formativo-laborales como consecuencia de las cicatrices generadas por el desempleo y la precariedad entre los jóvenes durante la crisis económica. Por lo general se ha adoptado un enfoque reduccionista para estudiar las transiciones centrado en analizarlas como un proceso lineal y homogéneo extensible a todos los jóvenes, como un lugar común. Esto se debe a que las fuentes de datos disponibles no nos permiten profundizar y llegar a otros lugares donde quizás estén transitando esos jóvenes. La propuesta que aquí se presenta parte del diagnóstico descriptivo sobre el estado de la transiciones formativo-laborales en España para reflexionar a continuación sobre las limitaciones que tienen estos estudios y la necesidad de desarrollar nuevas herramientas analíticas y explorar nuevas fuentes de datos que nos permitan llegar a todas las transiciones formativas-laborales que están realizando los jóvenes. Esto nos permitirá hacer un mejor diagnóstico de la situación actual en la que se encuentran los jóvenes en sus diferentes biografías personales, familiares y culturales como base para proponer políticas de empleo y formativas eficaces que pueden afrontar el reto de un mercado laboral cada vez más complejo capaz de integrar a todos los jóvenes sin exclusión.

This article sets out to describe and comparatively identify the possible economic, institutional and cultural factors that take part in the process of transition to adulthood, with particular emphasis on factors that explain why young people in Spain leave the parental home late in life. To do this, a number of indicators have been selected and made up using data from different international statistical sources.The results obtained suggest that in the welfare regimes of Southern Europe, and particularly in Spain, factors such as scarce emancipation policies, the cross-generational solidarity, the home-ownership culture, young people's economic situation and job insecurity, together with the inflexibility and the costly housing market have all created a culture of parental dependence as a strategy for accumulating capital and for coping with risks in a precarious environment exemplified by the social exclusion and poverty. The analysis has highlighted gender differences in the process of transition to adulthood. The combined analysis of all these factors has enabled a more in-depth understanding of the possible causes of the delay in the process of leaving the parental home experienced by the Spanish young people in a comparative perspective.

The aim of this article is to question the notions of 'generation' and 'transitions' from a theoretical perspective by making a brief historical incursion into the sociology of generations. This review will explore the latest ideas on youth transitions to establish theoretical bridges between the different authors, and between the classic and modern approaches. It also takes a deeper look at an emerging theoretical model that seeks to connect these two important issues, transitions and the notion of generation. The debate focuses on how youth transitions are conceptualised from a micro perspective as individual and individualised processes, underlining the idea that they are based on specific macro concepts of 'youth' in generational terms. The concept of social generation allows the micro aspects of transitions to be associated with the historical situation in which they occur. This theoretical approach proposes that young people's transitional behaviours are subject to the mechanisms of intergenerational change, but also notes that transitions can be differentiated according to the position they occupy in the social structure. In summary, this article supports the idea that youth transitions are different in their manifestations, although they may have a similar generational basis. The aim is therefore to introduce a broader theoretical view that includes the predecessors and successors of the classics, and serves as a point of departure for an approach designed to understand the formats of the new 'youth status', and hence, offer a more accurate scientific explanation for examining the overworked notions of generation and transition.

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to map the current organisation and implementation of children's services in three regions of Spain, to identify strengths and gaps and to suggest proposals for improvement in line with European recommendations.


Design/methodology/approach
Spain features a decentralised approach when it comes to the organisation of children's services. This means that relevant themes for children's services refer to decentralised policies, which diverge within the regions in the country and therefore to illustrate this the authors focus on three specific regions. The study used an exploratory case study design and relied on qualitative methods, including the answers to open questionnaires provided by senior civil servants at key regional child welfare agencies, children's services directors and service providers.


Findings
The main finding from the review of the legislation and the answers to the questionnaires is that public social services still follow an assistance logic rather than a social investment approach in regards to children's services. Although a significant development of laws and policies has taken place, ensuring the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and services for children remains a challenge.


Research limitations/implications
The answers provided by the respondents may be subject to limitations imposed by the agencies for which they work. A general disadvantage of qualitative research is the use of subjective criteria to interpret the relevance of the results. The study was further challenged by differences across regions when it comes to their legal and policy frameworks, development of provisions and implementation and outcomes' evaluation.


Practical implications
The findings could be used to assess the state of play in regards to children's services across the regions studied and beyond with a focus on children being placed at the centre of public services' intervention, using a comprehensive approach and promoting critical thinking and reflective practice.


Social implications
The three selected case studies provide additional insight into policy and legal developments, implementation and evaluation of activities and efforts to improve policy and practice in children's services.


Originality/value
This paper contributes to the evaluation of the current situation of children's services in Spain from a decentralised perspective with the aim to facilitate changes to improve planning, implementation and evaluation of children's services and secure better outcomes for children.