Introduction

This chapter elaborates on the growing diversity of families globally which is the premise of the book. It highlights how this growing diversity has led to a multiplicity of family meanings. The author argues that the wide acceptance of different family meanings and forms has not been well documented in the Global South, especially among marginalised groups. In particular, the chapter introduces young people living in nonnormative settings such as child welfare institutions. The family meanings of these young people have been widely ignored in sociology and research. The chapter, therefore, presents evidence of the social exclusion of young people separated from their biological families and living in institutional care and argues for the use of a critical social work perspective in addressing their plight. The chapter ends with a clarification of key terms used throughout the book, namely family, child welfare institutions, orphans and vulnerable children, and looked-after children.