Il progetto <em>Insieme</em>: perché una ricerca sui Centri per bambini e famiglie?

Abstract

At more than a quarter of century from the first creation of Centri per bambini e famiglie in Italy, they seem to be increasingly secluded within a peripheral area of the ECEC world and their objectives and goals are no more discussed. This article describes the rationale and methodology of the research project Insieme, which was aimed at verify the actual presence of CBF in Italy and analyse their nature and functions. The project, promoted by  ISTC-CNR and carried out in collaboration with Qua_Si/UniversiScuola, University of Milano-Bicocca, was composed by two studies: a survey on the distribution and functioning of CBF across Italian regions and a study based on a qualitative data collection (observations in the services and interviews to CBF professionals) in a sample of services. Some of the main issues raised by the study are presented and discussed with particular concern to the relationship of CBF to the other ECEC services.