Spring 2026 SOWK 487w Week 02 - Understanding and Assessing Families

Spring 2026 SOWK 487w Week 02 - Understanding and Assessing Families

title: Spring 2026 SOWK 487w Week 02 - Understanding and Assessing Families date: 01-26-26 location: Heritage University tags:

• Heritage University
• BASW Program
• SOWK 487w presentation_video: > “” description: >

Week 02 Plan

Agenda

• Genogram cutout activity
• Strengths perspective and families
• Engagement and assessment with families

Learning Objectives

• Engaging in a group activity that can later be implemented with clients
• Identify and articulate strengths within family systems using a strengths-based perspective.
• Describe core functions and diverse structures of families from a generalist social work lens.
• Explain key concepts of family systems theory, including homeostasis, roles, rules, boundaries, and communication styles.
• Apply foundational assessment principles to analyze family dynamics using a systems framework.

Genogram Cutout Activity

I want us to go through a simple activity you can do with one client, a family, or even a group.

• Description: Have various shapes and colors cut out of construction paper. It is essential to offer a wide range of choices for clients to use. Ask the clients to take various pieces of construction paper and describe their family circumstances. Tell them they can choose shapes, colors, and even the layout of their family to represent their family to the group. Have each client describe their Genogram.

• Purpose: This is an activity that helps relate family situations to the group members. It is an activity that might go a bit deeper than some of the others, so be careful to manage how much you want to go into.

• Bring cut out paper for Genogram Cutout Activity @tags(Heritage University, Planning) @due(2026-01-28)

Identifying Family Strengths

Note 12 to 15 positive aspects of the household pictured.

• In the large group
• Share your observations

[Discussion] What was difficult about this activity? [Discussion] Why would this be an important exercise?

What Families Provide (1 of 3)

Families continue to remain the foundation of most peoples lives. They can provide security, support, and intimacy people need. (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015, p. 329)

As you start to work with an individual who initially appears to have an individual problem…

-> Next slide

What Families Provide (2 of 3)

but you can look at this from a family’s perspective. We really need to start to view them in a larger context.

This means you start to view the problem as not just the individuals but rather the whole family’s.

-> Next slide

What Families Provide (3 of 3)

The following are the generally described functions of families:

• Procreation: Families ensure the evolutionary survival of the human species.
• Provide for physical needs: Families obtain and distribute resources instrumental for physical health and economic survival.
• Provide secure attachment bonds: Families provide members with a sense of psychological security and safety.
• Primary socialization of children: Families teach and reinforce social norms and rules necessary for successful performance in the social world.
• Regulate sexuality: Family structure establishes boundaries that limit sexual relationships among its members (e.g., incest).
• Satisfy emotional needs: Families provide members affection, companionship, and a sense of belonging.

(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)

Different Families, Same Love

“There are various ways to define families. One definition is ‘A primary group whose members assume certain obligations for each other and generally share common residences.’” (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015, p. 331)

• Individuals in a family can be related by ancestry, marriage, adoption, or choice.
• A family can include two or more people who assume responsibility for each other’s well-being over time.
• Families could have…
  • A female head of household
  • Parents with various sexual orientations
  • Family relationships that are not based on blood or the necessity of marriage

Once the family has been identified as your client, there are different dimensions to assess the family.

Homeostasis

“Families may try to maintain the status quo in response to family transitions in the life cycle or stressors associated with abrupt change to the family system itself (e.g., death, divorce, a new addition to the family, an abrupt move), or environmental events such as immigration or move to a new location, or changes in daily routines” (p. 196)

Homeostasis operates through a pattern of feedback loops to reinforce the status quo and to preserve the family structure.

• Feedback loops are cycles of interactions, or expected interactions, that are used to exert influence over families and family members.
• Balance: Through these feedback loops, families are always trying to regain their homeostasis or balance.

(Hepworth et al., 2023)

Boundaries and Boundary Maintenance

“Boundaries, a central concept in family systems theories, can be likened to abstract dividers that function (1) between and among other systems or subsystems within the family and (2) between the family and the environment” (p. 256)

• Internal vs. External: ^^
• Unique: Think about the family’s unique style, cultural preferences, strengths, and needs
• Families include coexisting subsystems that can be formed based on gender, interest, generation, or functions that must be performed for the family’s survival
• They are also a continuum between –> Disengagement (diffused boundaries) or Enmeshment (inappropriately rigid)

(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)

Family Decision Making, Hierarchy, and Power

Family decision-making power, hierarchy, and power are essential for a social worker to assess and be cognizant of. When we think about these parts, the following are some ways that we think about them:

[Whole Class Activity] Discuss each topical area and the types of questions that you might ask.

• Historic / Context: How power has been distributed in the family in the past and whether changing conditions of the family are threatening the established power base (McGoldrick, 1998; Okun, Fried, & Okun, 1999)
• Reason for distribution: Whether the distribution of power is gender specific out of necessity for the family to survive in a hostile environment (Okun, Fried, & Okun, 1999)
• Covert power: To what extent power is covertly held by members who have aligned to form a power bloc, and to what extent covert power accrues to individual members who are manifesting extreme symptoms
• Power flexibility: The extent to which the family system allows power to be flexibly reallocated and permits roles to be adjusted to meet the demands of changing circumstances
• Family perspective: How members view power distribution in the family (even though the distribution is unequal, family members may be satisfied with the arrangement). The role of a family’s culture in determining the distribution of power (Congress & Kung, 2005)

(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)

Family Roles

“Roles are generally understood patterns of behavior that are accepted by family members as part of their individual identities. Usually, roles can be identified by their labels, which denote both formal roles that are socially sanctioned (e.g., grandparent, mother, father, brother, sister) and idiosyncratic roles that evolve over time within a specific family context (e.g., comedian, scapegoat, caregiver).” (p. 200)

• Enacted: In an enacted role, the family member engages in the actual behavior relative to her status or position (for example, mother).
• Prescribed: members are influenced by the expectations that others hold concerning a social position.
• Perceived: A perceived role involves the expectations of self relative to one’s social position.

(Hepworth et al., 2023)

Family Rules

The explicit and implicit rules in a family system may be flexible or rigid, depending on context and time.

[Whole Class Activity] What are some rules that families might have?

(Hepworth et al., 2023)

What About Your Family?

[Small Group Activity] With a partner, ask for information about the members of their families, what types of roles people have, and some of the values and norms. Remember to work on your interviewing skills as you do this fact-finding.

• Members
• Roles
• Norms
• Rules
• Values

Communication Styles of Family Members

Looking for patterns and styles of communication within families is another important area to consider. This frequently means examining…

Congruence and Clarity of Communication, which includes verbal, non-verbal, and contextual.

Clarity vs. Mystification/Incongruence

[Whole Class Activity - Discussion] What are some of the types of things that we are looking for verbally and non verbally (as discussed in micro skills last semester)?

Especially in working with families, we are on the lookout for patterns

• Watching for patterns
  • Verbal communication patterns… Who talks a lot Who talks rarely What tone of voice does mom use with son… etc
  • Nonverbal communication can involve facial expressions, eye contact, and posture Where do they all sit? How close do they sit [Story] Working for the CRC and watching the seating while doing family sessions.
• Using techniques
  • Being warm, empathic, and genuine
  • Using interviewing techniques.
• Family interaction and communication are more complicated because more individuals are involved.

Looking for patterns and styles of communication within families is another important area to consider. This frequently means examining…

(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)

Receiver and Sender Skills

Sender Skills:

“Another facet of assessing communication patterns and skills is assessing family members’ sender skills —that is, the extent to which family members can share their inner thoughts and feelings with others in the system” (p. 202)

Using “I message” versus “You…”

Receiver Skills

“In general, facilitative receiver skills invite, welcome, and acknowledge the views and perceptions of others. For example, free-for-all conversations invite and even encourage responses, but perhaps not in the way that may be most familiar to you. In such situations, family members feel free to express agreement or disagreement, even though doing so may sometimes spark conflict. Facilitative responses that convey understanding and acceptance include the following:” (p. 202)

• Physical attending (direct eye contact may or may not be encouraged, receptive body posture, hand gestures, attentive facial expressions)
• Listening or paraphrasing responses by family members that restate in fresh words the essence of a speaker’s message (e.g., “Man, you said …,” or as a youth might say, “I feel you …”)
• Responses by receivers of messages that elicit clarification of messages (e.g., “Tell me again. I’m not sure what you meant” or “Am I right in assuming you meant …?”)
• Brief responses that prompt further elaboration by the speaker (e.g., “Oh,” “I see,” “Tell me more”)

(Hepworth et al., 2023)

Communication Styles of Family Members

We will watch a short video clip of Insoo Kim Berg conducting family therapy. The video does not necessarily demonstrate techniques; we are interested in what you observe about the family’s verbal and nonverbal communication.

• [Discussion] Does anybody know who Insoo Kim Berg is? Solution-focused brief therapy
• [Discussion] What do you observe?

Dimensions of a Family Systems Framework Assessment

• Homeostasis
• Boundaries and Boundary Maintenance
• Family Decision Making, Hierarchy, and Power
• Family Roles
• Communication Styles of Family Members
• Family Life Cycle
• Family Rules
• Social Environment
• Family Adaptive Capacity (Stressors and Strengths)

[Whole Class Activity] Review the Handout Applying Family Systems Framework Assessment. What kind of things might you expect to hear in these areas?

Today’s plan is just a discussion about these. Next week, you will role-play them.

• Make 16 copies of Applying Family Systems Framework Assessment @tags(Heritage University, Planning) @due(2026-01-28) week-02-handout-applying-family-systems-framework-assessment-situations.pdf

Family Life Cycle

One way of looking at a family stage in their life cycle

1. Unattached young adult
2. New couple
3. Family with young children
4. Family with adolescents
5. Family that is launching children
6. Family in later life

At each of these stages, families face various tasks to complete.

(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)

Social Environment

Social environment is also an important aspect to look at.

Think about the different contexts and apply an ecological perspective to a family.

Talk about client communities (Iraqi, Cuban, etc.) that I’ve worked with

(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)

Family Adaptive Capacity (Stressors and Strengths)

“The adaptive capacity of any given family refers to the extent to which the family can achieve its functioning goals, given the demands of family and social life. As the family faces demands from its environment and challenges from its members, its capacity to adapt is a central property of maintaining itself as a cohesive unit.” (p. 267)

• These stressors can be categorized by
  • Family Cycle: Normative (normal) vs nonnormative (not expected)
  • Frequency and Duration: Acute, Chronic, Episodic
  • Magnitude and Number: Stressful life event vs daily hassles

Family Strengths and Resilience

1. Social support: from the community and from kinship bonds. Families with active and vital social support networks have ready access to coping resources.
2. Internal cohesion and commitment: Families can adapt to adversity when family members are dedicated to each other, and their communication patterns allow for a mutual understanding of each other’s thoughts, ideas, and feelings about adversity.
3. Creativity and flexibility: Families that strive for creative solutions to problems, especially those who demonstrate flexibility in role assignments, enable families to find solutions to stressful situations.
4. Appraisal, insight, and meaning. When families strive to understand their difficulties and find affirmative meaning in them, they are more likely to sustain their problem-solving efforts under stress. Appraisal and insight are often linked to family spirituality and belief systems.
5. Initiative and achievement: Action-oriented families approach problem-solving using positive coping strategies, such as cognitive coping, problem-solving, and constructive emotional regulation.
6. Boundary setting: Families with a strong sense of family structure will seek to shield their members from unhelpful, unhealthy, and destructive influences.

(Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2015)