Hot on the heels of the government’s ‘Think Family’ report this conference blurb from Capita dropped into my mailbox:
Early Intervention for Families At-Risk Conference
The Think Family report, published by the Social Exclusion Task Force in January 2008, has launched a comprehensive Early Intervention strategy uniting services for children, young people, parents and families to improve outcomes for all.
Attend this event to gain valuable ideas and help parents in your communities realise and even raise their expectations of themselves and their children. Benefit from the opportunity to network with other stakeholders who share your commitment to delivering an holistic birth to adult inclusion programme.
I guess the new ‘at risk’ brand makes a change from the stale old ‘Every child/family/parent/OAP/dog Matters’ strapline…
The ARCH Blog 
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Robert Michel
Anyone remember when “at risk” meant “at risk of immediate and serious harm”, not “a bit sub-par”? The language of protection has been hijacked for social engineering under the banner of welfare…
Yes, Pete, you’re absolutely right. The problem with watering down the child protection meaning of ‘at risk’ is that the experiences of those genuinely abused or seriously neglected is downgraded, while those who are simply seeking services are insulted. It’s a dangerous strategy to regard abuse and neglect as merely a sub-category of children’s possible needs – child protection and children’s welfare are very different animals.
If children really mattered they would not be bringing in contactpoint or ecaf – ID cards via the backdoor