Servizi per famiglie e di supporto alla genitorialità: un caso di privatizzazione del welfare locale?

The contemporary parenting culture emphasizes the importance of parenting skills and the role of experts in supporting parenting, contributing to shaping a distinct area of social policy separate from traditional family policies: family and parenting support. This new area focuses on the targeted provision of services and information aimed at improving parenting skills, actively involving public actors, the Third Sector, and the private market. However, in Italy this process is not yet consolidated, and there is considerable heterogeneity in local welfare configurations, with different forms of privatization and hybridization of non-profit organizations. This complex scenario was explored through a qualitative research project conducted in Turin with representatives and operators from public services and the Third Sector. The results highlight the various discourses and ideas regarding the desired forms of privatization of services, often legitimized by the naturalization of welfare.