Hdfs 472 Pp
Transcript of Hdfs 472 Pp
Stepfamily Issues and Rights
Mary Kay AltenburgKelsey HodgeLaura Shane
Cori Mansfield
Stepfamily Relationships Historical Development Pathways to Stepfamily Life Media Coverage Implications for Families Federal and State Responses Recommendations for Change
Introduction
Stepfamily◦ Complex◦ Simple
Stepparent Stepchild Stepsibling Step-grand-parent
Stepfamily Relationships
Death (not divorce) was the original path to stepfamily formation
Imbedded inheritance issue Legal adoption by a stepparent In modern times, divorce is the most
common path to stepfamily formation
Historical Perspective
Divorce (Most Common) Bereavement Never-Married Parents Gay/Lesbian families
Pathways to Stepfamily Life
Pathways to Stepfamilies
Remarriage/ Stepfamily
Divorce Death Never-Married
Gay/Lesbian
Divorce Death Never-Married
Gay/Lesbian
Partner 1
Partner 2
Stepchildren are at a greater risk for problems than two parent and single
mother families
- Academic Achievement- Behavioral Issues
- Emotional (internal)- External
- Interpersonal Relationships
Trends and Statistics
The results are “negligible to small”
Despite exist, most stepchildren do well in school, do not have emotional , social or behavioral problems
Most stepchildren function quite well and are not at risk
Why the discrepancy?
Myths & Stereotypes
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6SdCDpvTnw- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki5GyO0tRWc- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W5VfT4qMYw&feature=relat
ed
Stepfamilies in the Media
Paths by which individuals find themselves in stepfamilies have important implications for stepfamily dynamics
Social Political Legal Economic Ethical
Implications for Families
Stepfamily living can have positive and negative effects on all family members
Negative:◦ Children in stepfamilies on average:
- Do not achieve as well as children living with both parents academically
- Are more likely to leave home at a younger age- Exhibit more internalizing behavior problems- Exhibit more externalizing behavior problems as
adolescents - Have more peer problems and prosocial behavior
problems
Social Implications for Stepfamilies
Parents Children
Stepfamilies Formed From Divorce
Parents Children
Stepfamilies Formed From Death
Parents Children
Stepfamilies Formed From Never- Married Parents
Parents Children
Gay/Lesbian Stepfamilies
Federal and State Responses
No federal policies regarding stepparent or stepchild visitation rights
Each state determines own policies In most states, stepparents have few legal
rights
Stepchildren are not recognized as dependents
Federal Policy
Policies relating to economics
Inconsistent
CURRENT STATE POLICIES
Only 11 of the Fifty states Allow visitation by a Stepparent
State Policy Restrictions Of the eleven states, only four do not have
restrictions:
Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Tennessee
California & Illinois: unconstitutional
Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania: “in loco parentis”
Wisconsin: only for surviving spouse (American Bar Assn.,
2009)
In loco parentis language
States without Stepparent rights offer another option
Policy is written for “interested party” visitation rights
Half the states in the U.S. invoke the Interested Party policy
(American Bar Assn., 2009)
The “Gray Area”
Virginia is the only state in the Union without any restrictions
Interested Party Restrictions
NEVADA POLICY Policy is written for “third party” visitation
rights
Only Grandparents are granted visitation rights, under specific circumstances
Stepparents do not have visitation rights
(American Bar Assn.,
2009)
Conclusions and Recommendations