friedman family assessment model short form

Before using the following guidelines in completing family assessments, two words of caution. First, not all areas included below will be germane for each of the families visited. The guidelines are comprehensive and allow depth when probing is necessary. The student should not feel that every sub-area needs to be covered when the broad area of inquiry poses no problems to the family or concern to the health worker. Second, by virtue of the interdependence of the family system, one will find unavoidable redundancy. For the sake of efficiency, the assessor should try not to repeat data, but to refer the reader back to sections where this information has already been described.

Identifying Data

1. Family Name

2. Address and Phone

3. Family Composition (see table)

4. Type of Family Form

5. Cultural (Ethnic) Background

6. Religious Identification

7. Social Class Status

8. Family’s Recreational or Leisure-Time Activities

Developmental Stage and History of Family

9. Family’s Present Developmental Stage

10. Extent of Developmental Tasks Fulfillment

11. Nuclear Family History

12. History of Family of Origin of Both Parents

Environmental Data

13. Characteristics of Home

14. Characteristics of Neighborhood and Larger Community

15. Family’s Geographic Mobility

16. Family’s Associations and Transactions with Community

17. Family’s Social Support Network (Ecomap)

Family Structure

18. Communication Patterns

Extent of Functional and Dysfunctional Communication (Types of recurring patterns)

Extent of Emotional (Affective) Messages and How Expressed

Characteristics of Communication within Family Subsystems

Extent of Congruent and Incongruent Messages

Types of Dysfunctional Communication Processes Seen in Family

Areas of Open and Closed Communication

Familial and External Variables Affecting Communication

19. Power Structure

Power Outcomes

Decision-Making Process

Power Bases

Variables Affecting Family Power

Overall Family System and Subsystem Power

20. Role Structure

Formal Role Structure

Informal Role Structure

Analysis of Role Models (Optional)

Variables Affecting Role Structure

21. Family Values

Compare the Family to American or Family’s Reference Group Values and/or Identify Important Family Values and Their Importance (Priority) in Family

Congruence Between the Family’s Values and the Family’s Reference Group or Wider Community

Congruence Between the Family’s Values and Family Member’s Values

Variables Influencing Family Values

Values Consciously or Unconsciously Held

Presence of Value Conflicts in Family

Effect of the Above Values and Value Conflicts on Health Status of Family

Family Functions

22. Affective Function

Family’s Need-Response Patterns

Mutual Nurturance, Closeness, and Identification

Separateness and Connectedness

23. Socialization Function

Family Child-Rearing Practices

Adaptability of Child-Rearing Practices for Family Form and Family’s Situation

Who Is (Are) Socializing Agent(s) for Child(ren)?

Value of Children in Family

Cultural Beliefs That Influence Family’s Child-Rearing Patterns

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Social Class Influence on Child-Rearing Patterns

Estimation About Whether Family Is At Risk for Child-Rearing Problems and, if so, Indication of High-Risk Factors

Adequacy of Home Environment for Children’s Needs to Play

24. Health Care Function

Family’s Health Beliefs, Values, and Behavior

Family’s Definitions of Health-Illness and Their Level of Knowledge

Family’s Perceived Health Status and Illness Susceptibility

Family’s Dietary Practices

Adequacy of Family Diet (Recommended 24-hour food history record)

Function of Mealtimes and Attitudes Toward Food and Mealtimes

Shopping (and its planning) Practices

Person(s) Responsible for Planning, Shopping, and Preparation of Meals

Sleep and Rest Habits

Physical Activity and Recreation Practices (not covered earlier)

Family’s Drug Habits

Family’s Role in Self-Care Practices

Medically Based Preventive Measures (Physicals, eye and hearing tests, and immunizations)

Dental Health Practices

Family Health History (Both general and specific diseases—environmentally and genetically related)

Health Care Services Received

Feelings and Perceptions Regarding Health Services

Emergency Health Services

Source of Payments for Health and Other Services

Logistics of Receiving Care

Family Stress and Coping

25. Short- and Long-Term Familial Stressors and Strengths

26. Extent of Family’s Ability to Respond, Based on Objective Appraisal of Stress-Producing Situations

27. Coping Strategies Utilized (Present/past)

Differences in Family Members’ Ways of Coping

Family’s Inner Coping Strategies

Family’s External Coping Strategies

28. Dysfunctional Adaptive Strategies Utilized (Present/past; extent of usage)

Family Composition Form