A Country of Settlement for Migrant Families

Over the last quarter-century, migration to Italy has increasingly become a process of family settlement. Initial migration flows have been followed by family reunification and the formation of new families in the host country. Today, migrant families represent a well-established component of Italian society. This chapter describes their consolidation using data on residence permits, marriages, and reproductive behaviour. It then examines the childcare needs and arrangements of migrant families in Italy. In the Italian ‘familistic’ welfare system, childcare largely depends on informal support from family members. However, migrant families often have more limited family networks than natives and use both formal and informal childcare less frequently. Their childcare arrangements vary according to household conditions, country of origin, and the availability of services. Particular attention is devoted to grandparents, who may provide essential support in caring for grandchildren. At the same time, as the migrant population ages, grandparents may increasingly require care themselves.