Community and Family Studies - Families and Communities

COMMUNITY AND FAMILY STUDIES - Families and Communities 

Families are essential to our society as it forms the basic unity of home life. Family structures are complex and dynamic in nature, with care and support networks that extend outside the family unit.  Though, most functions can be undertaken by family members (particularly for infants, children and adolescents).  The structure of a family refers to the composition of the family where it makes up the family and the relationships between these members.  Functions of the family are the tasks in which are undertaken to satisfy the needs of members, articulating the family to be a group of people that are united by a common desire to exist together to meet the needs of its members and the family as a whole. Structures and their approaches in performing functions may change as a family may include a range of relatives based on marriage or birth, as well as others that are liked through affections, responsibility and mutual experience. (Families are not fixed groups). 

Australia Census Definition  The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines the family as:  “two or more persons, one of whom is at least 15 years of age, who are related by blood, marriage (registered or de facto), adoption, step or fostering and who are usually resident in the same household. The basis of a family is formed by identifying the presence of a couple relationship lone parent-child relationship or other blood relationship. Some household, will, therefore, contain more than one family” - ABS, 2007  According to the number of children within the family and the actual size will differ. Where their family structure would be based on the relationships built between its members of one another. 

Family Structures  Family structures in Australia history have dramatically changed over time, where nuclear family which are still predominate have been joined by more diverse structures due to social changes. 

Adoptive Families Adoption is a permanent legal arrangement that transfers parental rights and responsibilities from the biological parents to the adopting parents.  Adoption is usually due to the biological parents being unable or unwilling to care for the child themselves, abandonment of the child, parental death or voluntary relinquishment of the child due to reasons such as serious illness. Adoption within Australia is carried out by private adoption agencies that must be registered with the government, or by the Department of Community Services, which is a legally binding obligation that maya occur shortly after birth or when the child is older. And after the adoption a new birth certificate is issued with the child’s new name and those of the adoptive parents. 

Blended Families This family structure consists of a combination of biological children and step-children living with parents. This can occur when sole parents who have children from previous relationships marry each other, or a person without children marries a sole parent.  The children may live permanently with the new couple or may stay on access visits.  When blended families are formed, the interpersonal relationships become much more complex than those exist in a nuclear family. Children may feel that they have to choose between their step-parent and their biological parent. Where they may also feel that the biological parent has betrayed them by remarrying. The children and parents may have feelings of jealousy and possessiveness

Childless Families Childless families are made up of two adult partners with no children and may also be known as ‘couple families’. This family type may be temporary or transitional.  Infertility or death of children is another reason for their family type. Some families choose not to have children.  There has been a large increase in the proportion of childless families. This is partly due to couples delaying marrying and having their first child late in life, as some people want to establish a career to be financially secure before having any children 

Communal Families Communal families are formed when clusters of other family types join together, share resources and care for each other’s wellbeing, and fulfil the functions of family. The most common form of commune is a large household containing different members, who are not necessarily related. 

De Facto Families A de facto family consists of two adult partners who are registered as being married to one another whilst living together for a minimum period of twelve months, After this period the relationship is regarded as legal and partners have similar rights as if married. 

Extended Families Extended families are several generation of the one family living together - grandparents, children, parents, uncles, aunts or cousins within the same household where resources are shared amongst each other. Relatives may even live in separate households and be considered extended families if they have reciprocal rights and responsibilities and strong bonds with each other. They may live nearby and share meals and household tasks such as childcare or housework. In extended family situations, opinions and varied ages may cause conflict among family members. There may also be reduced privacy and individual attention for all family members. With several generations living together non-human resources such as refrigerators and washing machines can be shared to reduce costs. There may be several adults of working age who can contribute financially to the household to help meet the needs and wants of all individuals. The number of extended families is on the rise as a result of people delaying having children, adult children leaving home later and people living longer. In some cases elderly family members require care and families may not wish them to be in an institution. Due to the increasing cost of institutionalisation, families often choose to have the relative move into their household. In some cultures, for example Italian and Greek, extended families are commonplace.

Foster Families Foster care is provided to children and young people who are unable to live with their own families. A parent may be unable to care for a child because of illness, stress or family crisis and subsequently request the assistance of the Department of Community Services. The Department places the child or children with a voluntary foster family. The Department also places children suffering abuse or neglect in temporary short-term foster care. This may be for a minimum of one night, to a maximum period of three months. The courts then decide whether or not it is suitable for the child to return to the family home or if longer-term care should be sought. Foster care aims to provide the basic day-to-day needs of children, including adequate food, shelter, care and affection. A foster family needs to be emotionally supportive of a child’s situation. Children have to deal with being separated from their parents, siblings and other relatives. The foster family may have to help maintain contact with these relatives to assist with the child’s sense of family identity and feelings of self-worth. The Department of Community Services usually tries to ensure that brothers and sisters are kept together in one foster family. Foster families are temporary arrangements and the biological family does not relinquish parental rights to the child. The foster family is legally obliged to provide for the child’s everyday needs, but their long-term welfare remains the responsibility of the State Government.When a family does agree to surrender their rights it is then possible for the child to be adopted, which is a permanent and legal agreement.

Nuclear Families  The nuclear family is still the most prevalent family type in Australian society. This family consists of a husband and wife living together with their biological, fostered or adopted children in the same household. The nuclear family shares goals, values and beliefs and both adults share the responsibilities of the household. Often both parents work, and if extended family members are not available to support the family, external support must be utilised. The family may rely on childcare agencies, paid workers, charity groups, government welfare or neighbours and friends to help them meet their needs. 

Same-sex couple Families Same-sex couple families consist of persons of the same sex living togetherin the same household in a de-facto relationship, with or without children— the children in the family may be from previous relationships, adopted or conceived from donors or IVF procedures. Census figures show an increase in this family structure in recent years. 

Sole-parent Families  Sole-parent families consist of one parent living together with one or more children as a result of separation, divorce, desertion, death of a spouse, or employment away from the family such as overseas postings of military personnel. Compared with other family types, sole-parent families are considered to be at a higher risk of disadvantage in, for example, income, housing, employment and social participation. Over the last few decades, sole-parent families increased as a proportion of all families with children. Consequently, a great number of children spend at least some of their childhood with a lone parent; and many women and some men experience sole parenting, often in difficult financial circumstances.

Family Structures....

Roles Individuals Adopt within Families...The family satisfies specific needs, including the building of positive, meaningful relationships. The environment created will assist in promoting wellbeing for family members.

SPECIFIC NEEDS: 

Physical: The family must provide its members with adequate food, shelter, clothing, health care, security & protection. These may be met through the employment of adults members or a government or community welfare agency that provides financial assistance. 

Economic: Families are producing and consuming units. They produce children with talents, skills and attributes.  Families consume goods and services like food, clothing and transport. Employment assists families in their economic function by providing income that enables them to purchase goods and services to meet their needs. It is important that the family’s economic resources are well managed. Families should budget, prioritise needs and sans and set goals so that the available resources in the best possible way. 

Emotional: Individual family members should affirm, support and trust each other. Parents should be able to install attitudes and feelings of self-worth in their children. It is important to manage conflict effectively so that the individual and family wellbeing are not harmed. Family members should show affection, appreciation, praise and encouragement for each other. This support and encouragement should be unconditional and independent of the successes, failures or abilities of individuals. 

Social: Families provide opportunities to develop social skills in order to become productive members of the community.  Adults act as role models for children by demonstrating good manners and everyday courtesy. Parents, children and other family members interact in a respectful manner. Members of the family have a clear idea about their daily obligation. Family tasks such as cooking, washing, laundry, mowing. Decision making which is shared among family members is very effective. Families should talk frequently, openly, honestly, clearly and directly. In this way they share their feelings, hopes, dreams, fears, joys, sorrow, experiences and needs. This assists in developing satisfying relationships. 

Cultural:  A family’s cultural function involves passing on customs, beliefs, traditions and customs.  It can be as simple as reading a story before bedtime, or sunday morning pancakes. It helps a family with security and stability.  Passing on of customs may involve older relatives talking about their childhood, helping family members to understand about their heritage. This helps build relationships within the extended family.  Cultural functions may also involve passing on family norms and values. For example, if a family values physical activity, then the children may be encouraged to participate in regular sport and the training that supports this. 

Moral, Spiritual and Religious Families are guided by an underlying moral and value system. Spirituality can mean for some families participating in a formalised religion, for others it can mean a corner for others, involvement in worthy causes, holding particular moral values or admiring the beauty of nature.  Families participate in decisions that affect their lives and wellbeing. Children should be taught about what is right and wrong. They need to be able to make decisions for themselves and realise that there are rules and regulations in society for a reason. 

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