1. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. American Families Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

2. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Shifting Demographics Single parent households are increasing Households led by married couples are decreasing Multi-generation households are increasing in urban areas Racial/Ethnic/Cultural diversity is increasing Households led by gay/lesbian parents are increasing Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

3. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Families of People with Intellectual Disabilities 85% of non-institutionalized adults with ID live with family (more than double the rate of the general population) Only 7% of adults with ID are married and living with a spouse The divorce rates of people with ID are not different from the general population Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

4. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Understanding Families Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

5. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Family Paradigms Model Classification based on the family’s interpretation of and responses to events around them –Environmentally sensitive see their life events as both knowable and orderly; members are expected to contribute to the sharing of ideas and efforts of orderly family functioning –Interpersonally distant detached family members, loners, and those for whom independence is critically important –Consensus-sensitive need for conformance and family order is so strong as to isolate them from the rest of society. Members surrender their own ideas for what they believe to be the good of the family. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

6. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Adaptability Model Based on models from the physical sciences Continuums of functioning –Optimal to Severely Dysfunctional Healthy families are open, adaptable, and goal oriented; severely dysfunctional families are rigid, communicate poorly, use ineffective coping strategies, and are inappropriately content –Centripetal and Centrifugal forces Centripetal forces draw the family together Centrifugal forces pull the family apart Entropy – the degree to which families tend toward disorder Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

7. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Developmental Model Carter & McGoldrick –Life Cycle Stages Goldenberg & Goldenberg –Family Tasks Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

8. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Family Systems Theory A series of complex interactions mediates how the family responds to disability –Family characteristics (e.g., size, structure, culture, SES, etc.) –Member characteristics (e.g., personality, health, etc.) –Member responses to disability –Special challenges (e.g., poverty, loss, etc.) –Interpersonal relations between the members Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

9. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Family Systems Theory Impact of Disability Parental Relationships –Anecdotal information indicates having a child with intellectual disability adds stress to the marriage –Some empirical evidence indicates increased divorce rates, but more is needed to draw conclusions –Another theory is that the needs of the child draw the parents together more –Some research indicates two-adult households reduce caregiver stress –Child characteristics may influence marital stress –Parent mental health affects child well-being Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

10. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Family Systems Theory Impact of Disability Sibling Relationships –Play multiple roles in the life of the child with intellectual disability (e.g., playmate, defender, antagonist, and future caregiver) –May be positively or negatively impacted by these roles –Experience a variety of emotional responses to the member with intellectual disability Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

11. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Family Systems Theory Family Functioning Families define love and support differently Environmental and temporal demands mediate the ways love and support are expressed Even cohesive families may experience temporary dysfunction in response to crisis Family support groups have been shown to decrease perceived stress Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

12. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Family Life Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

13. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Interpreting Disability Grief Model of Acceptance –Denial –Depression –Anger/Guilt –Bargaining –Acceptance Cultural variables and personal outlook influence how and whether these stages are followed Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

14. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Collaborating and Advocating Accessing Educational Services Person-Centered Planning Accessing Supportive Care Accessing Financial Resources Accessing Care Coordination Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

15. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Family Challenges Over the Life Span Cultural variables affect a family’s willingness to plan Planning to transition responsibilities as primary caregivers age Allowing the child with mental retardation to experience adult roles and activities Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

16. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Summary Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

17. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Organization of the Family Whereas social scientists were once interested only in individuals, they are now concerned with understanding people in general, individually and collectively. Families function as a system; their characteristics, interactions and functioning interact with environmental and contextual variables. The entire process is dynamic and variable throughout the lifespan. A family’s patterns of responses are considered to be both a cause and a consequence of its development. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.

18. (c) 2006 by Pearson Education. All Rights Reserved. Family Issues Responding to disability is highly individualized. The major determinant of the psychological health and well-being of a child with mental retardation is the psychological health and well-being of the parents. Foremost among the list of supports needed by families is a social support system that allows families to feel valued by others. Collaboration among key members of the disability community can enhance family functioning. Such collaboration is determined, in part, by the congruency between the values and beliefs of the family and the support system to which it has access. The aging process of family members with and without mental retardation drive decisions about the future. Beirne-Smith et al. Mental Retardation, Seventh Edition Copyright ©2006 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved.