Families

11

1) Learn about the structure, organization and functioning of families

2) Learn about the unique stresses associated with families of varying composition

22

A. Anthropology views the family as the source

and carrier of cultureB. Social Psychology

sees families as small groups with tasks to successfully master

33

C. Developmental psychology studies the environment within

which children are raised and grow into themselves

44

D. Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry As the environment within

which normal or abnormal behavior begins, takes hold and becomes the patterns enacted by children

55

E.As the base for all members to experience connection and belonging

while each experiences simultaneously the push toward autonomy and independence

66

F. As the environment within which children learn to know, experience and

modulate their emotions through relationships with attachment

figures

77

G. As a system where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and where each individual affects and is affected by every other individual

88

An experience of connection with history

Stories of ancestors which offer meaning and value to lives

A sense of identity through identification with family members

99

A safe haven in which to relax and experience acceptance and regard

A set of relationships within which one experiences care and guidance and the opportunity to care for and guide others

1010

Physical intimacy among some members is sanctioned

And is also forbidden among other members

1111

Gathering enough resources to ensure survival

Procreation and looking after immature children

Promoting maturation and successful aging and loss

Providing enough empathetic connection to encourage attention to the above tasks

1212

Functional collaboration Gender expectations Power Responsibility Warmth Positive support Cultural background and difference

1313

Basic Building Blocks of Family Life› Coherence› Organization› Communication› Values and Beliefs

1414

A sense of uniqueness and identity of the family

A sense of membership, inclusion and belonging

A sense of personal space and voice A recognition of developmental status

and skills Accommodation to individual

differences1515

A secure base for emotional expression and regulation

A recognition of the shared effort to pursue family activities such as providing safety, nurturance and socialization

The shared capacity to resolve conflict To reflect on family strengths, capacities

and areas of difficulty To reflect upon the family as members see

it.1616

Recognition of stress or change Labeling of the challenge Developing a shared approach to the

problem

1717

Utilizing the family as a focal point for developing and evaluating stress management strategies

The role of family coherence in these family actions

1818

The role of belonging Family attachment as an affect monitor

and mediator of emotional expression The role of family myths The role of family competence in building

individual self-esteem The role of ritual and celebration

1919

The possibility of multiple definitions of the family

Too rigidly defined family views failing to accept individual difference

2020

The role of individual temperamental factors and non shared environment

Family behavior amplifying affective responses, leading to isolation and scapegoating

2121

Negotiation of Interpersonal Distance Negotiation of roles and tasks

assignment Emotional tone – positive comments

vs. criticism

2222

Negotiation of cultural integration Negotiation of connection to extended

family Negotiation of location and career

intensity Negotiation of sexual behavior and

leisure activities

2323

I. NurturanceII. StructureIII. AffiliationIV. Attachment

2424

A.Access to resourcesB. Capacity to use them for the childC. Own needs being met

2525

D.) Reinforcement for providing for the child

Support from important adults Clear response from the child-

satiation, comfort, satisfaction, quieting

Infant’s social responsiveness connects the child with caretakers

2626

E.) Empathic capacity to infer infant’s needs

Appreciation of intentionality of infant

Reflectiveness on the parents’ part leading to an appreciation of reciprocal selfhood

2727

F. Absence of compelling consistent concerns (addiction, severe

poverty, depression, spouse abuse, severe marital disruption)

2828

A.Capacity to appreciate developmental abilities

B. Avoidance of polarized adult interactions

2929

C. Acceptance of responsibility for child

D. Willingness to distance from the child enough to set a limit

3030

E.Capacity to define the child’s world so that competence develops

F. Utilizing the child’s responsiveness to limits to reinforce future adherence

3131

G. Providing a sense that limits occur through knowledge of the child

and the capacity to appreciate his/her skills and needs

3232

A.The capacity to know the childB. Creating a coherent picture of the

child

3333

C. Willingness to accept and appreciate the child as he/she is

D. Appreciation of the child’s affective responses as legitimate

3434

E.Willingness to respond to the child’s affective expression with knowledge and neither dismissiveness, anxiety nor

disorganization

3535

A.Capacity for affect expression and modulation

B. Sense that relationships provide knowing, definition, safety and ultimately self-expression and self-awareness

3636

C. Recognition that stress can be dealt with socially and affectively

D. Synchrony exists between connection, calming, safety and competence

3737

Single-parent family Divorcing

family/post-divorce family

Blended family Grandparent-or kin-

headed family Foster care family

3838

Adoptive familyAdoptive family Gay and Gay and

lesbian parentslesbian parents Unmarried Unmarried

couple as couple as parentsparents

Bicultural Bicultural familyfamily

Economic concerns Need for social support Relationship of children with

noncustodial parent Balance among home, child rearing,

and work Relationship with and support from

extended family

3939

Balance between nurturance and limit setting for children throughout development

Maintaining a positive relationship with children and between siblings

Time pressures Need for fulfilling personal and social

life

4040

Recognizing strengths and accomplishments

Accepting and grieving losses Collaboration with noncustodial parent Added burden of health or mental

health concerns of parent and children

4141

Negotiations with school, child care providers, and community supports

Dealing with cultural and community attitudes

4242

Introducing the children to a new adult Parental decision to remarry Determine step-parenting roles and

responsibilities Facilitating relationship between

stepparents and children

4343

Facilitating relationship between stepchildren

Developing methods of dealing with ex-spouse(s)

Potential for moving and relocating Engaging stepparent in health and

mental health treatment for the children

4444

Dealing with adaptation to the new family, including resolving differences and conflicts in the new marriage

Developing relationships with new extended family

4545

Preparing for birth of children in the new marriage

Realizing the potential for dissolution of the new marriage and the impact of this on the children

4646

Appreciating the stress associated with relocating the child

Dealing with grandparent (kin) reactions to natural parent’s inability to raise the child

Assisting the child with the emotional reaction to loss or inconsistency of natural parent and previous poor treatment or care

4747

Allowing room for involvement of natural parent as appropriate

Dealing with economic concerns, including finances for child rearing

Dealing with custody ambiguities Grandparent health or mental health

concerns

4848

Dealing with inconsistencies between natural parent and grandparent or kin child-rearing practices

Integrating the children with other household members

4949

Dealing with social service, education, and health and mental health systems effectively

Encouraging time and respite for all family members

5050

Ensuring foster care family availability, certification, training, and adequacy of living situation

Establishing collaborative relationship among foster family, social service agency, mental health professionals, and the children (as appropriate)

5151

Ensuring adequate economic resources for family life

Dealing with the child’s reaction to parental loss and relocation

Providing information to the children about reasons for and duration of foster care

5252

Assisting the children with mental health problems, including responses to previous trauma or loss

Assisting the children with reestablishing relationship with natural parents if that occurs or with inconsistencies of natural parent’s involvement

5353

Dealing with the uncertainty of placement duration and permanency planning

Assisting the children with any moves among foster families

5454

Developing positive attachment with and emotional support for the children through developmental transitions

Establishing effective limit-setting responses for potentially traumatized children

5555

Building attachment and emotional support for children in adoptive family

Developing methods of assisting children with their emotional responses to change, parental loss, and possible previous traumatization

5656

Dealing with cultural or temperamental differences between parents and children

Dealing with parental emotional response to reasons for adopting children

Developing effective parenting skills with often challenging children

5757

Appreciating and responding to child’s experience of not “belonging” to the adoptive family throughout development

Responding to naturally occurring adoptive parent-child conflicts and disagreements

5858

Developing methods of recognizing the value of adoptive parents’ decision to raise nonbiologic children

Identifying and using ratifying and supportive assistance from mental health, educational, and social systems, when necessary

5959

Assisting children with the decision to learn more about their birth culture or meet their natural parents

6060

Reaching agreement and commitment to raise children together

Recognizing strengths, successes, and capacities of homosexual parents

6161

Dealing with the degree to which each parental partner is open about his or her lifestyle with extended family, neighbors, and community; the education system; health and mental health resources; and the other biologic parent

6262

Developing a way to explain parental lifestyle to children

Assisting children with an explanation of their family for peers, teachers, coaches, and others

6363

Responding to discriminatory or misunderstanding comments by family, community members, ex-partners, school personnel, health or mental health providers, or children’s peers

6464

Dealing with the children’s questions and preferences throughout development

Dealing with naturally occurring parent-child conflicts, recognizing how they may be altered by parental lifestyle

6565

Assisting children with their own lifestyle and relationship choices

Dealing with stresses within the parents’ relationship

6666

Maintaining commitment to the relationship and to parenting

Determining parental roles in providing support to the children and setting limits

Recognizing and responding to areas of tenuousness, ambivalence, and insecurity in the parents’ relationship

6767

Facilitating children’s relationship with both parents

Recognizing children’s responses to changes in the relationship either toward greater permanence or toward separation

6868

Assisting the children’s response to separation should that occur and considering possibility of child’s continued involvement with separated partner if mutually acceptable

Acknowledging and responding to difficulties associated with others’ reaction to unmarried status

6969

Establishing family culture Appreciating individual parental

cultural differences, traditions, and expectations

Recognizing children’s need for self-definition and exploration of both parents’ cultures

7070

Appreciating and responding to extended family concerns, questions, and responses

Establishing a dialogue that recognized the strengths, possibilities, and uncertainties of this bicultural synthesis for this family

7171

Assisting the children with responses to questions and potentially insensitive comments from peers and adults in their lives

Developing family traditions that respect both cultural heritages

7272