African Family structure

Family History – 5 points

ï Identify your caregivers/parents and their parenting style.

ï Why was their parenting style effective or ineffective?

ï Describe your family structure (who are the members of your family and what is their respective role?).

Family Strengths and Weaknesses – 5 points

ï What did you like and dislike about how you were raised?

ï Describe your family’s response to change? Is your family flexible or static?

ï Family Cohesion: describe your family’s level of cohesiveness. Keep in mind that spending time together does not constitute cohesiveness in all families.

Personal Philosophy – 5 points

ï What is your personal philosophy or belief system when it comes to “family?” Is this consistent with the way you were raised?

ï How does your personal philosophy with family fit with how you were raised as a child? Is it similar or different?

ï What in addition to your upbringing shaped your philosophy of “family”? Family Values – 5 points

ï Which of your personal values, attitudes or behaviors are inherited from your family of origin?

ï What are the primary Values and Attitudes of Your Family of Origin regarding: Family, Community, Nationality, Religion/Spirituality, Education, Profession or Career, Gender roles, Social Class, Politics, Race/Cultural Identity, and Other Pertinent Attitudes?

ï What inconsistencies in Family Values and Behavior can you identify? For instance, in some families it is important to get married before having children, yet many of the family members did the exact opposite.

ï What is the impact of your value system on your future social work practice with families.

Summary – 5 points

ï As you explored your own family, was did your understanding of “family social work” change?

ï What research-based recommendations would you make for social workers working with families.