State Family Departments

State and the Family: Government Departments Dealing with the Family

The primary government departments or ministries dealing with the family are listed and mapped graphically. Within the departments that have been listed, there are often a multitude of smaller offices or divisions dealing with different aspects of the family. Furthermore, it should be noted that many national governments have devolved matters relating to the family to a variety of different regional levels (compare the United Kingdom, Spain, or Russian Federation, for example), and also more local levels.

The links point to English language pages when possible, though there is often much more information available in the national language.

Do let us know if information should be added or changed, so that we can keep up to date on developments. This data was correct as of May 2010.

Please note that this is not part of the official Working Report of State Family Policy, but might be used to help illustrate points within that report.

> Go directly to the map.

Countries with a dedicated Family Ministry

• Austria: Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth.
• Azerbaijan: State Committee for Family, Women, and Children's Affairs.
• Croatia: Ministry of Family, Veterans' Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
• Germany: Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
• Ireland: Department of Social and Family Affairs (and Department of Health and Children, & Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform).
• Luxembourg: Ministry for Families and Integration.
• Malta: Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family.
• Moldova: Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Children.
• Netherlands: Coordinated by the “Minister for Youth and Family” without portfolio since 2007 (Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport).
• Romania: Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection.
• Slovenia: Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs.
• Slovakia: Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic.
• Turkey: Minister of State responsible for Women, Family, Children, and Disabled People, General Directorate of Family and Social Research.

Countries without a dedicated Family Ministry

• Belgium: Federal Public Service for Social Security (National Office for Family Allowances), IVA Kind en Gezin - Child care services and support (Flanders), Minister of Wellbeing, Health and the Family (Flanders).
• Belarus: Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
• Bosnia & Herzegovina: Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Federal Ministry of Health.
• Bulgaria: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
• Cyprus: Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance.
• Czech Republic: Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Government Council for Equal Opportunities of Men and Women, Government Council for Human Rights.
• Denmark: Ministry of Social Affairs.
• Estonia: Ministry of Social Affairs.
• Finland: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
• France: Ministry of Work, Solidarity, and Civil Service.
• Greece: Ministry of Employment and Social Protection.
• Hungary: Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.
• Italy: Coordinating: Department for Family Policies under the Presidency of the  Council of Ministers - Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and Ministry of Social Solidarity.
• Latvia: Ministry of Welfare.
• Lithuania: Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
• Montenegro: Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Welfare.
• Norway: Ministry of Children of Equality, Ministry of Labour, and Ministry of Health and Care Services.
• Poland: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
• Portugal: Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity.
• Russian Federation: Ministry of Health Care and Social Development of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy.
• Serbia: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
• Spain: Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs including the Secretary of State for Social Policy and Families & General Direction for Families and Childhood.
• Sweden: Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.
• Switzerland: Federal Social Insurance Office (& in particular the office responsible for Family, Generations and Society).
• United Kingdom: Department for Work and Pensions, and Department of Education (responsible for children's services)

Source: MISSOC 2008; European Alliance for Families, The Council of Europe Family Policy Database, Intercultural Dialogue Country Sheets.