Family Structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Family Structure - Essay Example In a Foster family unit the children are raised by foster parents who are not the actual or biological parents of the child. The child may be living there for some days weeks or even months, because the actual parents of the child may not be alive or may not be capable of looking after the child due to a number of factors. These types of families are common in the United States where children are left in the care of foster parents if the actual parents are drug addicts or even criminals. Grand-parent headed Families are those units where the grandparents being the eldest and the senior most members of the family are treated with respect and are obeyed. The children of this family, no matter how old they grow, abide by the wishes of their parents till they are alive. This type of family culture is highly prevalent in India, where the senior most members of the family in a joint family are treated with utmost respect. The first task that the new couple accomplishes is to accomplish loyalty to the newly formed relationship. Both the partners begin their new life together by staying together with each other and loyalty is achieved by maintaining the sanctity of the marriage and trust among both the partners. The second task involves the formation of the new married relationship. The bond is created in a holy place and sanctified, after which the couple dedicate each other to themselves and spend good as well as bad times together. The third task is the building and realignment of relationships with each other's families and friends, where the couple gets to know each others' acquaintances and try to adapt themselves to the new relationships. The case is especially difficult for a woman if she has to move into a joint family or husband's extended family after marriage and live with them. There is tremendous adjustment on the part of the wife in such a case. These types of tasks are highly prevalent in the Indian Family systems, where the extended or joint family system is still highly prevalent. 3 major types of violence that is of concern to community health nurses are: Spouse/partner abuse, Child abuse and Elder abuse (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, (2001). 3 examples of primary prevention interventions that can be used in dealing with violence are: Universal Screening and Identification, School-Based Prevention Programs and Media and Public Education (American Medical Association (1994). 'Diagnostic and treatment guidelines on domestic violence'). 3 tertiary interventions that can be used in dealing with violence are: Marital and family therapy by clinical staff, Milieu treatment and Behavioral token programs like Individual counseling. (Samhsa's National Mental Health information Center). References American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). (2001). 'Violence as a public health problem'. Retrieved from website: Grief, Avner (2005). 'Family Structure, Institutions, and Growth: The Origin and Implications of Western Corporatism'.