The Work of State Authorities on Improving the Material Well-Being of Children and Families with Children in Russia in the Late 20th Century

Abstract

Currently, ensuring the well-being and safety of the younger generation is a major focus of attention for public authorities in Russia. However, this area of activity requires some improvements. Therefore, it is objectively necessary to turn to the accumulated experience in the field of protecting the rights and legitimate interests of children. This article, from the standpoint of modern historical science, comprehensively examines the key material support measures that were developed and implemented by authorized government agencies in the framework of social assistance to children and families with children under specific historical conditions (during the establishment of the new Russian statehood), characterized by a radical transformation of almost all spheres of society, highly dynamic economic, social and political processes, a sharp decline in the standard and quality of life for the majority of the population, a lack of legal regulation, as well as ideological, spiritual and moral uncertainty. In the course of the research, general scientific and general historical methods were applied to ensure that the results obtained are reliable, comprehensive and concrete. The use of diverse historical sources, both published and archival, allowed the author to draw well-founded conclusions that in a condensed form determine and characterize the following: essence, content and effectiveness of material support for minors in the period under study; development of the legal regulation of public relations in the sphere of social protection of children; factors that had a negative impact on the development and practical implementation of measures of financial and other assistance for children and families with children.