Large families as object of social work

The problem addressed in this research project is one of extreme urgency. It is a long time since we have proclaimed public care for large families without any actual care being provided. In fact, both the children and their parents have often been left to cope with extremely complicated pedagogical, psycological and economic problems unaided.

Of course, the Perm model for providing social aid to large families can neither exhaust all available possibilities nor solve all problems. However, the basic ideas and the objective itself are so urgent that they could serve as the foundation for the development of a Russian version of social work with regard to large families.

The current demographical situation in Russia's major cities (Moscow, Leningrad) dictates that any family with three children can be considered as large. They are entitled to some benefits. However, this inconclusive kind of measures fall short of improving the demographic situation at large. It is a real catastrophy. Last year, the number of deaths exceeded that of births by 187,000 for the first time since WWII.

In the main, the situation comes a result of reckless government policies with regard to the family in general and large families in particular.,

The policies have been much acclaimed, large family mothers being awarded all sorts of orders and medals. However, the idea of a large family have inexorably been going down in public opinion. And it comes as no surprise for every fourth large family is a problem household.

I myself had a full experience of problems facing a large family when, having had my third child, I started working as a social pedagogue with the local social security committee. My colleagues and I had to face a number of practical aspects of helping large families. The problem was how to make it easier for the parents to provide several children with clothing, footwear, food and upbringing.

To answer all these questions, we had to study large families in order to identify their typical features, needs and requirements. It was even more difficult because there are virtually no specialist books available on the subject.

XIII. Подготовьте устное высказывание по теме «Poverty» (10-15 предложений).