A family is a fundamental unit of a society because it enables children, who are the future of any nation, to be raised and educated in a protective and supportive household. Indeed, according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children’s needs and rights are better acknowledged in the family environment (Dolan et al., 2020). The latter can provide safety as well as an opportunity to learn, grow healthy, and become fully-functional citizens (Dolan et al., 2020). Furthermore, in clan cultures, adult children usually support their elderly parents when they lose the capacity to work (Zhang, 2019). Notably, participation in social support and pension programs is much lower in such cultures compared to traditional Western families (Zhang, 2019). The family system and support are critical for the proper functioning of society, allowing healthy child development and dignified senescence.
The value of a family for a child’s healthy development cannot be overstated because the home environment significantly impacts cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. Therefore, governments and international organizations strive to provide families with financial aid and non-material support to ensure adequate living conditions for children and their caregivers (Dolan et al., 2020). For example, the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) was started as a multiframework system to support individuals raising children (Sanders, & Turner, 2019). The Triple P is one of the most successful international initiatives that aim to diminish the rate of psychological and physical issues in childhood and adolescence by enhancing parents’ education (Sanders & Turner, 2019). This program has five various levels of intervention, including communication strategies, health promotion, primary care education, broad focus training, and intensive intervention (Sanders & Turner, 2019). The latter is particularly vital for parents of children with neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems having special education and healthcare requirements.
Another side of family relations is helping elderly parents and relatives. This duty of children is not popular in the Western world; hence, many older adults apply for social support services and open retirement savings accounts early in their careers (Zhang, 2019). On the other hand, this specific duty is a distinctive feature of Eastern cultures, where people rely less on governmental aid (Zhang, 2019). In fact, they raise and educate children anticipating a so-called return on investment (Zhang, 2019). It was estimated that in rural areas, where the clan culture is more pronounced, elderly individuals are 10% less likely to apply for social welfare programs than their metropolitan counterparts (Zhang, 2019). Having well-structured governmental programs is not a negative thing, but building a society with robust family bonds will reduce poverty rates as well as minimize the number of children placed for adoption.
In summary, a family is a complex unit of any nation that requires backing from the government and community. Cultivating a positive and supportive environment in families is essential for children and adolescents’ physical and emotional well-being. Therefore, the United Nations recognized a family as a critical element of a healthy childhood. Moreover, governments and non-profit organizations worldwide strive to organize programs to help and educate parents and caregivers. For instance, the Triple P program aims to spread the idea of positive parenting and offers childcare assistance at different levels. Lastly, children raised in supportive homes are more likely to help their elderly parents, reducing the need for nursing homes and governmental aid.
References
Dolan, P., Žegarac, N., & Arsić, J. (2020). Family Support is a right of the child. Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 21(2), 8-26.
Sanders, M. R., & Turner, K. M. T. (2019). The triple P system: Parenting support for every family. In B. H. Fiese, M. Celano, K. Deater-Deckard, E. N. Jouriles, & M. A. Whisman (Eds.), APA handbook of contemporary family psychology: Family therapy and training (Vol. 3, pp. 409–424). American Psychological Association.
Zhang, C. (2019). Family support or social support? The role of clan culture. Journal of Population Economics, 32(2), 529–549.