32 Part 1 Decisions About Parenting
family. While the child is in their care, foster
parents have the similar legal rights and
responsibilities as biological parents. Foster
parents assume the parenting role. They take
care of their foster child as if he or she were
their own. However, foster parents must
consult with their caseworker before making
decisions that affect the foster child. They
also cannot move out of the state when a
child is temporarily in their care.
No matter how long foster care lasts,
it can be rewarding for both foster parents
and foster children. Foster parents have the
satisfaction of helping children grow and
develop. They can experience parenting and
contribute to a foster child’s life in positive
ways. Foster children can gain a loving
home and quality care until a permanent
arrangement is made.
With Guardians
Related or unrelated adults, or guardians,
also raise children, but never legally adopt
them. The child’s last name is not changed
in a guardianship relationship. Unlike foster
parents, guardians provide a permanent
home. Often the adults are close relatives
or friends of the birthparents. They are
generally chosen by children’s biological
parents as guardians in case of the deaths or
prolonged absence of the birthparents. These
arrangements, like adoption, are legally
approved. The guardians will have some
custodial and parenting responsibilities, but
may have to follow some of the decisions,
such as the use of monies, made by
birthparents and upheld by the court. The
court supervises guardians and may hold
some decision-making power over the child.
Because guardians are closely tied by
blood or friendship to the child’s biological
parents, they may feel a very close emotional
bond to the child. The child, in turn, will
likely consider these adults part of his or her
family. The guardian-child relationship ends
when the child becomes a legal adult or the
court terminates the relationship.
How Families Are
Structured
Another way families differ is by their
structures. A family’s structure tells how it
is organized. The structure tells how many
people live in a household and how they are
related. How many adults and children are
in the family? How are they related to one
another? By answering these questions, you
can identify the family’s structure.
Five basic family structures are common
in America today. These include nuclear
families, single-parent families, stepfamilies,
extended families, and couples without
children. Each family structure has its
advantages and disadvantages, 2-3. Each
person may prefer one family structure
instead of another. The family structure that
works best for one family may not work well
for another. Families in each structure can
be loving, nurturing, and strong. A family’s
well-being depends much less upon the
family structure than upon how well the
family meets its members’ needs.
Nuclear Families
A nuclear family includes a husband,
wife, and the children they have together.
These children may be biological or adopted.
At one time, nearly all American families
were nuclear families. Today, the nuclear
family is becoming less common. Yet, many
experts consider this structure the most stable
and secure setting for parenting.
In nuclear families, spouses generally
share parenting responsibilities. Since neither
spouse parents alone, parenting is often less
stressful. These couples often have more time
and energy to enjoy their children and each
other. Children who live with both parents
have both male and female role models.
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32 Part 1 Decisions About Parenting
family. While the child is in their care, foster
parents have the similar legal rights and
responsibilities as biological parents. Foster
parents assume the parenting role. They take
care of their foster child as if he or she were
their own. However, foster parents must
consult with their caseworker before making
decisions that affect the foster child. They
also cannot move out of the state when a
child is temporarily in their care.
No matter how long foster care lasts,
it can be rewarding for both foster parents
and foster children. Foster parents have the
satisfaction of helping children grow and
develop. They can experience parenting and
contribute to a foster child’s life in positive
ways. Foster children can gain a loving
home and quality care until a permanent
arrangement is made.
With Guardians
Related or unrelated adults, or guardians,
also raise children, but never legally adopt
them. The child’s last name is not changed
in a guardianship relationship. Unlike foster
parents, guardians provide a permanent
home. Often the adults are close relatives
or friends of the birthparents. They are
generally chosen by children’s biological
parents as guardians in case of the deaths or
prolonged absence of the birthparents. These
arrangements, like adoption, are legally
approved. The guardians will have some
custodial and parenting responsibilities, but
may have to follow some of the decisions,
such as the use of monies, made by
birthparents and upheld by the court. The
court supervises guardians and may hold
some decision-making power over the child.
Because guardians are closely tied by
blood or friendship to the child’s biological
parents, they may feel a very close emotional
bond to the child. The child, in turn, will
likely consider these adults part of his or her
family. The guardian-child relationship ends
when the child becomes a legal adult or the
court terminates the relationship.
How Families Are
Structured
Another way families differ is by their
structures. A family’s structure tells how it
is organized. The structure tells how many
people live in a household and how they are
related. How many adults and children are
in the family? How are they related to one
another? By answering these questions, you
can identify the family’s structure.
Five basic family structures are common
in America today. These include nuclear
families, single-parent families, stepfamilies,
extended families, and couples without
children. Each family structure has its
advantages and disadvantages, 2-3. Each
person may prefer one family structure
instead of another. The family structure that
works best for one family may not work well
for another. Families in each structure can
be loving, nurturing, and strong. A family’s
well-being depends much less upon the
family structure than upon how well the
family meets its members’ needs.
Nuclear Families
A nuclear family includes a husband,
wife, and the children they have together.
These children may be biological or adopted.
At one time, nearly all American families
were nuclear families. Today, the nuclear
family is becoming less common. Yet, many
experts consider this structure the most stable
and secure setting for parenting.
In nuclear families, spouses generally
share parenting responsibilities. Since neither
spouse parents alone, parenting is often less
stressful. These couples often have more time
and energy to enjoy their children and each
other. Children who live with both parents
have both male and female role models.

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