Who’s Fit to be a Parent?

In recent years the notion of parenting and parenthood have increasingly come under examination from the media and professionals and, in particular, government and politicians. More and more, parents are being held to account by society for their failure to deliver the sort of citizens it wants. But what are parents supposed to be doing? Are there some people that are inherently unfit to be parents and does there exist a body of knowledge that defines fit parenting? Who's fit to be a parent? covers this highly topical and important subject in a stimulating and accessible way that cuts across numerous professional disciplines and opens up the boundaries between professional and personal expertise on parenting. It is essential reading for any professional or student of social work and social policy, those working in the voluntary services concerned with the family, social policy makers and for anyone interested in understanding what it means to be a parent today.

Introduction Part I Parents on trial 1 The state versus parents-children into care 2 Other people' s children-who' s fit to adopt? 3 Parents apart-who keeps the children? 4 Playing God-the medical gift of children 5 Key themes from Part I Part II Parents on the edge 6 Disabled parents 7 Mentally handicapped parents 8 Drug addicted mothers 9 Gay parents 10 Teenage mothers 11 Older mothers 12 Single mothers 13 Lone fathers 14 Working mothers 15 Black parents 16 Key themes from Part II Part III The job description 17 The Ideal Model and the Actual Model of fit parenting 18 Implications of the Actual Model of fit parenting to assessment 19 Looking forward