This family structure has become increasingly common in the United States because of high rates of divorce and remarriage.
When obtaining consent to provide healthcare and medical treatments to children and adolescents, the healthcare provider should identify the biological or adoptive parent or confirm a caregiver’s possession of legal documentation proving the right to make medical decisions on the child’s behalf.
model is based on the nuclear family
Children who can no longer live with their birth parents may require placement with a family that has agreed to include them temporarily
describes the developmental process each family encounters
Ideally, at some time the fostered child can either return to the birth parent(s) or be legally and permanently adopted by other parents.
Children in these families typically have only one biological or adoptive legal parent even if they are legally married.
consists of two parents with biological children from previous relationships
Type of Family Unit
developmentally, physically, emotionally, and financially ill prepared to undertake the responsibility of parenthood
