The transformation of family solidarity through basic social services in Spain

This article analyzes how the daily practice in social services frames new forms of family solidarity, taking into account a broader context of individualization of family relations and of socio- economic transformation. The case study is based on 17 interviews and 8 focus groups with social workers who deliver public social assistance in the city of Tarragona. Institutional action in Spain assumes that the extended family should be responsible for supporting low-income households. Nevertheless, the extension and intensity of the recent economic crisis has brought to light that these social policies can be ineffective and also undermine family networks. Although economic familism is still dominant in social services, it coexists with other emerging practices. Social workers may try to help clients to connect with the extended family to benefit from affective support and sometimes the exchange of favors (relational familism). Furthermore, social services might act against situations in which the autonomy and well-being of clients is at risk because they depend economically on family members (contrafamilism). This article concludes that social services at the local level could be partly framed as a type of institutional capital for low-income households to establish fair and quality relations with their family and communitarian environment. Moreover, this type of public action should be accompanied by a guaranteed minimum income.