Family Policy at the Local Level

The bachelor thesis deals with family policy at local level of the town of Benešov. As a subsequence of present changes (demography, family patterns, economy, labour market, social background) family policy needs to respond flexibly and protect a family against social impacts and poverty. This is why correct approach to this issue is important, as well as its links to the role of the government, but also choice of suitable family-friendly measures for the benefit of young families with children. All these measures lead to healthy growth of children, family functioning, family life improvement and have potential influence on general family welfare. The theoretical part is divided into four main chapters. The first one focuses on the family. The second describes family policy, definitions, goals and tools. The third chapter deals with family policy at the regional and community level and the last one deals with socio-demographic characteristics of the Benešov region.One main aim and two partial aims were set within the research. The main aim was to examine the extent of family-friendly measures taken in Benešov in 2010-2013. The first partial aim was to map availability of public services offered to families with preschool children that help them with placement to preschool facilities in Benešov. The second partial aim was to map opinions on the extent of family friendly measures. Two research questions were set: 1- What family-friendly measures were taken in Benešov in 2010-2013? 2- What is the availability of public services for preschool children like in the territory of Benešov?Qualitative research method was applied within the empiric part of the research, namely questioning by means of semi-structured interview.Document analysis was applied to mapping accessibility of public services for preschool children. It is obvious from the qualitative research that implementation of family-friendly measures responds to demographic development and is also based on the needs of families at the location. The opportunities offered, but also the limited budget possibilities of the involved in pre-family measures play important roles. The conclusions show that the town of Benešov tries to provide young families with the maximum support by implementation of new family-friendly measures, but there are also some weak points. New playgrounds for children and a new container kindergarten have been built. The municipality supports and develops housing. Transport infrastructure and social and healthcare services have been extended. More free time activities are offered and preventive activities are supported. Newly developed non-state facilities like for example mother centres participate in the family-friendly measures. The respondents demand extension of capacities of public kindergartens. To open further nurseries, there is only one in Benešov, and thus enable mothers to return to work more easily. The thesis describes respondents' opinions on the extent of family-friendly measures. There are influencing factors mentioned frequently here. Parents' needs like for example lack of places in kindergartens and lack of day nurseries are also mentioned here. Foundation of company kindergartens and other services (care about handicapped children). Insufficient variability of opening hours of preschool facilities is also stressed. Respondents often mention economic situation of families and prices of preschool facility services. Prices of preschool education provided by public and private kindergartens, but also by mother centres were examined within the research. Opinions on the most frequently used services but also on obstacles have been found out. Cooperation was mentioned repeatedly, cooperation with the management of the municipality of Benešov was frequently assessed, with other authorities and last but not least also cooperation with parents of children. Cooperation is the foundation of the benefit to the families living in this region