This document discusses the family as the unit of service in community health nursing. It defines family in several ways and describes different types of families. The family is considered the fundamental unit of society. Community health nurses work with families because any issue affecting one member impacts the whole family, and understanding the social context of the family allows for more holistic care. The document outlines family roles, developmental stages, health tasks, and characteristics of a healthy family.

1. At the end of the topic, the
students will be able to:
1. describe the different types of
family;
2. discuss the levels of clientele
in Community Health Nursing;
3. explain why the family is
considered to be the unit of
service in community and
public health nursing;
4. Identify the important roles,
stages and tasks of the family.

2. PERFORMANCE TASK:
 Reflect on the important roles
and tasks of the family through
a photogram/collage. Be able
to share and explain your
accomplished task next
meeting.

3. FAMILY
The family is the
unit of service in
community and
public health
nursing

4. Definitions of FAMILY:
The family is a group of persons usually living
together and composed of the head and other
persons related to the head by blood, marriage or
adoption. (NSCB, 2008)
Family is a social unit interacting with larger society.
(Johnson, 2000)
A family is characterized by people together because
of birth, marriage, adoption or choice (Allen et al.,
2000)
The family is composed of 2 or more persons who are
joined together by bonds of sharing and emotional
closeness and who identify themselves as being part
of the family. (Friedman et al, 2003)
 F
 AMILY – a group of persons united by ties of marriage, blood or adoption, constituting a single household, interacting and communicating with each other, in their respective social roles, of
husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister, creating and maintaining a common culture
 FAMILY – a group of persons united by ties of marriage, blood or adoption, constituting a single household, interacting and communicating with each other, in their respective social roles,
of husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister, creating and maintaining a common culture.
 FAMILY – a group of persons united by ties of marriage, blood or adoption, constituting a single household, interacting and communicating with each other, in their respective social roles,
of husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister, creating and maintaining a common culture.

5. THE FILIPINO FAMILY
Businessmirror.com
FAMILY--It is the foundation of social life for most Filipinos.
WHO characterizes the family as a….” primary social agent in
the promotion of health and well being.
HOUSEHOLD- A group of persons living under one roof and
sharing the same kitchen, and housekeeping arrangements.
Not related by marriage, blood or adoption
Not engaged in the performance of familial roles,

6. In community and public health nursing,
the family is considered as a unit of
service.
1. The family is considered as the “natural” and
fundamental unit of the society.
2. The family is a group that generates, prevents,
tolerates and corrects health problems within
its membership.
3. The health problems of the family are
interlocking.
4.The family is the most frequent focus of health
decisions and actions in personal care.
5.The family is an effective and available channel
for much of the community health nursing
efforts.

7. TYPES OF
FAMILIES

8. TYPES OF FAMILIES:
NUCLEAR FAMILY
“the family of marriage, parenthood, or
procreation; composed of a husband, wife, and
their immediate children – natural, adopted or
both” (Friedman et al., 2003, p. 10)
EXTENDED FAMILY
Consisting of 3 generations, which may include
married siblings and their families and
grandparents.
DYAD FAMILY
Consisting only of husband and wife, such as a
newly married couples and “empty nesters”
BLENDED FAMILY
results from a union where one or both
spouses bring a child or children from a
previous marriage into a new living
arrangement
COMPOUND FAMILY
A man has more than one spouse;
approved by Phil. Authorities only
among Muslims
COHABITING FAMILY
Described as a “live-in” arrangement
between unmarried couple who are
called common-law spouses and their
child/children from such an arrangement
SINGLE PARENT
Results from the death of a spouse,
separation or pregnancy outside of
wedlock
GAY/LESBIAN
Is made up of a cohabiting couple of the
same sex in a sexual relationship. The
homosexual family may or may not have
children

9. FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
Procreation
Socialization of family members
Status Placement
Economic Function

10. The Family as a Client
• The family meets individual needs
through provision of basic needs
• The family supports spouses by
meeting affective, sexual and
socioeconomic needs.
• CHN has long viewed the family as
an important unit of healthcare
with awareness that the individual
can be best understood within the
social context of the family.

11. The Family as a Client
Why is it important for
nurses to work with families?

12. The Family as a Client
Why is it important for nurses to work
with families?
1. “The family is a critical resource.”
2. “In a family unit, any dysfunction that affects one or
more members will affect the members and unit as a
whole.”
3. “Case finding” is another reason to work with
families.
4. “Improving nursing care.” The nurse can provide
better and more holistic care by understanding the
family and its members.

13. The Family as a System:
The family as a unit interacts
with larger units outside the
family and with smaller units
inside the family )Friedman,
1998).
The family is embedded in social
systems that have influence on
health.

14. DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES and TASKS OF THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
1. Manage joining of families
a. Formation of identity as a couple
b. Inclusion of spouse in realignment of
relationships with extended families
c. Parenthood: Making decisions
2. Families with young children
a. Integration of children into family unit
b. Adjustments of tasks: Child rearing, financial, and
household
c. Accommodation of new parenting and grand
parenting roles
3. Families with adolescents
a. Development of increasing autonomy for
adolescents
b. Midlife reexamination of marital and career issues
c. Initial shift towards concern for the older
generation
4. Families as launching centers
a. Establishment of independent identities for
parents and grown children
b. Renegotiation of marital relationship
c. Readjustment od relationships to include in-
laws, and grandchildren
d. Dealing with disabilities and death of older
generation
5. Aging families
a. Maintaining couple and individual functioning
while adapting to the aging process
b. Support role of middle generation
c. Support and autonomy of older generation
d. Preparation for own death and dealing with
the loss of spouse and/or siblings and other
peers

15. FAMILY HEALTH TASKS (According to Freeman and Heinrich)
1. Recognizing interruptions of health or development.
2. Seeking health care.
3. Managing health and non-health crises.
4. Providing nursing care to sick, disabled or dependent members of the
family.
5. Maintaining a home environment conducive to good health and personal
development.
6. Maintaining a reciprocal relationship with the community and its health
institutions.

16. CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY FAMILY
-Otto(1973) and Pratt (1976) characterized healthy
families as “energized families” and provided
descriptions of healthy families to guide in
assessing strengths and coping.
-DeFrain(1999) and Montalvo(2004) helped to
identify healthy families.
 Members interact with each other; they
communicate and listen repeatedly in many
contexts.
 Healthy families can establish priorities.
Members understand that family needs are
priority.
 Healthy families affirm, support and respect
each other.
 The members engage in flexible role
relationships, share power, respond to change,
support the growth and autonomy of others,
and engage in decision making that affects
them.
 The family teaches family and societal values
and beliefs and shares a spiritual core.
 Healthy family foster responsibility and value
service to others.
 Healthy families have a sense of play and humor
and share leisure time.
 Healthy families have the ability to cope with
stress and crisis and grow from problems. They
know when to seek help from professionals.

19. Thank you !!!