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45
PROBLEM FAMILIES
Mrs. M. A. Tripet. S. R. N., R. P. N. ,H. V. Cert.. Dip. Social Studies.
Specialist Health Visitor
In a review of the work with Problem and Potentially Homeless
Families it is not possible to put facts and figures in
various columns for an annual review, as the Problem Family or a
family with a Problem are people who need help, and in many
cases they do not ask for it until the problem is so acute that
it may lead to a mental or physical breakdown. Rehabilitation
work cannot be measured in any given time, but when families
respond to a social pattern, and realise that by help and
guidance a breakdown of family life is averted, then life becomes
easier and the children benefit.
In any discussion about Problem Families one assumes that
arrears of rent, numerous debts, and large families are the
common factors, but recently one new problem has arisen. Owing
to the number of "teen age" marriages there is an increasing
number of referrals in the under 25 year old group. The main
problem is financial. Because of the high rates of pay earned by
young men and women before marriage they do not realise that to
bring up a family on one wage is often beyond their means as
they have not followed a pattern, of making a home before
marriage. This group usually asks for help more easily than the
older type, but they are resentful of any advice. In the young
group the girl is usually more intelligent than the boy, and
tends to make the decisions. Another aspect of this problem is
that as women nowadays can get employment and earn enough to
support themselves, they leave their families without apparent
thought of the effect on their children or the strain caused to
the Social Services.
In addition to the Receiving Home, which can take 12 homeless
families under Part III of the National Assistance Act,
1948, there are now 6 Problem Family Units which are administered
by Welfare Services. These families are selected because they
have shown an irresponsible attitude to their commitments. They
are helped initially by financial and material means to reestablish
a home and constant visiting is maintained to help
with budgetting and advice on the daily routine of home life.
Since this scheme commenced in November 1962, 8 families have
been selected and of this number 2 families have been transferred
to permanent accommodation. The latter are still visited, but
not so intensively. It is interesting to note that both families
wished to keep in contact with the Workers, but on the basis of
the family coming to the Worker rather than as in the first instance
the Worker approaching the family.