Exploring Family Service Providers Perceptions of Working with Recoupled Parents in Stepfamilies

Abstract

We explore the perception of family service providers’ opinions and personal experiences working with recoupled parents in stepfamily forms. We examined service providers’ specific knowledge, attitudes, and practical responses to working with stepfamily forms that functions very differently to nuclear family forms. We interviewed four family service providers who work with individuals, couples, and families from a multiplicity of diverse family forms. Four main themes came out of the data collected: challenges family service providers identified when working with stepfamilies; complex relationship connections in stepfamilies; working within the boundaries and limitations of legislation and policies relating to both families in general and stepfamilies; and understanding and working within the parameters of how the family functions as a stepfamily. Our research demonstrates the importance of family service providers having a platform to discuss issues impacting family service providers working relevantly and effectively with stepfamilies.