The Report on the implementation of Law no. 285
The analysis activities concerning Law no. 285/1997 are aimed at outlining and interpreting the trends emerging in programmes in favour of children and adolescents and at assessing progress and the state of implementation of the Law at a local level. Together with the information drawn from the database of projects and from other studies, the results of this analysis provide the contents for the draft annual reports to Parliament on the implementation of the Law, which are published in the series Questioni e Documenti: Quaderni del Centro - L.285.
Ten years after the coming into force of the Law, the National Centre carried out a retrospective study of the contents, innovations, strengths and weaknesses of Law no. 285/1997 in its ten years of implementation in the Regions and in the Beneficiary Cities. The Report was intended to give a general overview, to outline the procedure for the implementation of the Law at a local level and to highlight the adopted organizational models. The study led to the elaboration of profiles summarizing planning methodologies and programme results in the various Regions and Beneficiary Cities.
Several reports were integrated by studies on specific topics chosen with the Beneficiary Cities: these studies analysed the most significant experiences made in the year of reference with respect to the chosen topic. The elaboration of the Report published in the book “Esperienze e buone pratiche oltre la legge 285/1997” (Experiences and best practices beside Law no. 285/1997) led to a thematic research which focused also on projects financed with funds other than the ones of Law no. 285: the aim was to draw attention to mainly regional projects which, not being in the framework of Law no. 285, risked being overshadowed. These activities were documented through the collection of several materials, which were made accessible online.
Beside the qualitative description of projects and of their contents, the report also includes the quantitative results of the monitoring of data sent by the Cities. Starting from the 2011 report, the statistical analysis will make use of specific indicators aimed at assessing the context of life of children and their level of well-being. This instrument, which is currently being tested, will make it possible to extend the use of national well-being and context indicators (see Quaderno 51- L’Italia minore) to the Municipal level.
Another focus of attention is local planning. Considering the legislative changes made over the years, it is now interesting to investigate the ways in which the various administrations plan measures in favour of children and adolescents in the framework of the area plan, with reference to the regional plan. The research thus focuses on the following questions: how are children seen and how do they live in each city? What are the policies targeted at them? Which activities are promoted in the framework of Law no. 285?