Evolving Definitions of Family

Discussion 1: Evolving Definitions of Family
When you think about the word, “family,” who comes to mind? Do you envision your parents, spouse/partner, children, siblings, or grandparents? Do you reserve the term for only those who live in your household, or does it apply to others outside of your home? Is family limited to blood relatives? How do your personal and professional experiences influence how you define family?

In this Discussion, you explore different definitions of family, the implications of limited definitions on practice, and what you have learned from your experiences with unique families.

Note: In other undergraduate courses, you may have been required to respond to just one classmate in Discussions. However, throughout this course, you will respond to two classmates to facilitate greater connection.

To Prepare
Review your course announcements for possible information related to this week’s Discussions.
Review the definitions of family provided in the Learning Resources. Think about how institutions, policies, and/or societal expectations have limited the definition of family and why it is important for HSPPs to understand this.
Reflect on a personal or professional experience you have had with a family whose configuration is different from your own. Consider what you learned from that experience.
By Day 3
Post your definition of “family.” Then, describe how institutions, policies, and/or societal expectations have limited the definition of family. Why is this important for human services professional practitioners to understand in their work? Finally, describe a personal or professional experience with a family whose configuration is different from your own. Explain what you learned from that experience.