CHAPTER SIX CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT FOR FAMILY WORK The Practice of Generalist Social Work (2 nd ed.)

Key Ideas  Social workers work with many and varied types of family constellations.  Social workers need to remain open to evolving family definitions and forms. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren  In many cultures, grandparents play a significant role in child rearing.  Industrialization has impacted grandparents’ child- rearing roles.  Changing contemporary issues have increased the need for grandparents to resume or continue their roles in child rearing. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Parents  Many recent legal, technological, and other developments have transformed parenting issues and opportunities for sexual minority groups.  Various obstacles related to parenting remain for sexual minority groups. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Single-Parent Families  Single parenthood still has many negative connotations associated with it.  Current literature has not been able to support or validate many commonly held negative beliefs about single parenthood.  Still, single parenthood does bring many unique challenges. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Families of Multiple Racial and Ethnic Heritages  An increasingly diverse society has brought increasingly diverse family systems.  Diverse family systems have unique strengths and challenges.  Posture of cultural reciprocity is one approach to working with diverse family systems. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Families with Persons with Disabilities  Many families have members who have physical, cognitive, and/or psychological disabilities.  These families have many unique strengths and challenges.  The strengths perspective is a helpful approach to use in work with these families. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Blended Families  Blended families are the result of many circumstances including remarriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.  Blended families can face many challenges as two separate systems are combined to form a new system. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

International Families  Migration has impacted family constellations, dynamics, and issues.  Social workers need to be aware of legal, cultural, political, economic, and other factors that can impact international families. © 2011 Taylor & Francis