This article examines planning and managing childcare policies in the two biggest Sicilian cities, Palermo and Catania. In order to examine the way of managing welfare mix by several social actors, we have to look at the local societies. The reason is the particular shape of Italian welfare system that is entirely based on the cities governments. The author starts with politological comments concerning both peculiarities of urban social policies in comparison to other public policies and the idea of governance used as instrument for examination of local policies. From the analysis in the two Sicilian cities appears that governance models are incomplete, welfare mix solidarity potential is undervalued and there are not strong or adequate public interventions. These problems are due both to inadequate and limited laws or regulations and to specific characteristics of politic and administrative actors. Sometimes the problems are also caused by inadequacy and immaturity of Third Sector organizations or by undervaluation or carelessness from the civil society.