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FAMILY STRUCTURE 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 2 The traditional family structure is considered a family support system that involves two married individuals providing care and stability for their biological offspring. However, this two-parent nuclear family has become less prevalent, and alternative family forms have become more common. The family is created at birth and establishes ties across generations. Those generations, the extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, can all hold significant emotional and economic roles for the nuclear family. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 3 1. NUCLEAR FAMILY A family unit consisting of at most a father, mother, and dependent children. It is considered the “traditional” family. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 4 2. EXTENDED FAMILY A family consisting of parents and children, along with either grandparents, grandchildren, aunts or uncles, cousins etc. In some circumstances, the extended family comes to live either with or in place of a member of the nuclear family. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 5 3. STEP FAMILIES Two families brought together due to divorce, separation, and remarriage. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 6 4. SINGLE PARENT FAMILY This can be either a father or a mother who is singly responsible for the raising of a child. The child can be by birth or adoption. They may be a single parent by choice or by life circumstances. The other parent may have been part of the family at one time or not at all. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 7 5. ADOPTIVE FAMILY A family where one or more of the children has been adopted. Any structure of a family may also be an adoptive family. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 8 6. BI-RACIAL OR MULTI-RACIAL FAMILY A family where the parents are members of different racial identity groups. A family where the adopted child is of a different racial identity than the parents. 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 9 KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 7.TRANS-RACIAL ADOPTIVE FAMILY KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 10 8. BLENDED FAMILY A family that consists of members from two (or more) previous families. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 11 9. CONDITIONALLY SEPARATED FAMILY A family member is separated from the rest of the family. This may be due to employment far away; military service; incarceration; hospitalization. They remain significant members of the family. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 12 10. FOSTER FAMILY A family where one or more of the children is legally a temporary member of the household. This “temporary” period may be as short as a few days or as long as the child’s entire childhood. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 13 11. GAY OR LESBIAN FAMILY A family where one or both of the parents’ sexual orientation is gay or lesbian. This may be a two-parent family, an adoptive family, a single parent family or an extended family. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 14 12. IMMIGRANT FAMILY A family where the parents have immigrated to another country as adults. Their children may or may not be immigrants. Some family members may continue to live in the country of origin, but still be significant figures in the life of the child. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 15 13. MIGRANT FAMILY A family that moves regularly to places where they have employment. The most common form of migrant family is farm workers who move with the crop seasons. Children may have a relatively stable community of people who move at the same time - or the family may know no one in each new setting. Military families may also lead a migrant life, with frequent relocation, often on short notice. KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES 4/11/2023 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND LEGACIES 16 14. CHILDLESS FAMILY Families with two partners who cannot have or don't want kids. In the world of family types and dynamics, these families are often forgotten or left out (even though you can still have a family without children). In the past, growing up, getting married, and having children was the norm, but in today's world, more people are choosing to postpone having children or deciding not to have any. This shift has led to a greater recognition of childless families and their unique dynamics, highlighting the importance of understanding and embracing diverse family structures.