5-6pages paper

*First, make sure you have read chapters 2 (regarding Family Systems Theory) and 11 (cohesion and communication). Then, rate your family on the three dimensions of family cohesion, family flexibility, and family communication based on the rating form and scales provided (Tables 1 and 2).

Upon completion, state the results of the family assessment on the Couple and Family Map Rating Form (Table 2). This means rating your family on each of the concepts and then making a global rating (average rating) related to the three major dimensions using the 1-8 rating scale (see rating form and scale in Tables 1 and 2). Please use the “Utilizing the Couple and Family Map” for HOW to calculate all ratings. Therefore, you will need to fill out the Couple and Family Rating Form to get your ratings for each dimension of cohesion, flexibility, and communication and then to take your cohesion global/average rating and flexibility global/average rating to find out where your family fell on the Couple and Family Map (Table 3). Basically, at the beginning of Section 2, clearly state what system your family fell into and what you scored overall in cohesion, flexibility, and communication (e.g. “After mapping my family on the Couple and Family Map, I found that my family is Structurally Connected with a global rating of a 3 in cohesion, a 4 in flexibility, and a 3.5 in communication…”).

Couple and Family Map (Table 3) with plot of the global rating for example:

Map Image taken from Marriages and Families: Intimacy, Diversity, and Strengths by Olson, DeFrain, & Skogrand (8th edition) by McGraw Hill.

NEXT, once you have identified your current type of family system (e.g. structurally connected or rigidly enmeshed), indicate at least one major strength and one challenge in cohesion, flexibility and communication as a result of your family system and how you rated your family—think about what areas you scored higher in versus lower and why. This section is designed for you to look at each dimension of the Couple and Family Map (i.e., cohesion, communication, and flexibility) and to pick 2 concepts under each—one strength and one challenge/growth area (i.e., loyalty, roles, clarity, change) and provide a specific example in your family of what that looks like in your family and why you scored it the way you did. Do NOT be general or abstract in explanations. For example, after you score your family in cohesion—ask yourself what is a strength for us and where do we excel in this area and what is a challenge/growth area or something we could work on? You will need to explain why by choosing from the various concepts such as: "activities" by giving an example—“We have high cohesion due to our activities. We enjoy doing things together such as: we have a game night every Sunday and we enjoy hiking together as family...it is a strength for us.” Thus, you are to explain through examples and commentary why you scored your family a certain number for Cohesion, Flexibility, and Communication.

Finally, you are to include a reflection of this process at the end of your case study. Some examples of what you could consider and discuss--Were you surprised at the results? Did you find it difficult or easy to rate your family? Which dimensions did you feel were the most challenging and why? What do you think of where your family fell on the Map? After assessing your family, what would you recommend that your family could do to become a stronger and healthier system? What do you like best about your family? Also, feel free to include any family pictures if you would like :)

*Remember to assess your family on the rating form and to plot your family system on the map indicating where you are on cohesion and flexibility--you will not plot or have a score for communication but will still rate your family in your paper and have a score in your paper.

*Checklist for FCS:

· Did I address all the components regarding the Family Background?

· Did I address 1 strength and 1 challenge (equaling 2 concepts) of my current family system using concepts (e.g. loyalty, listening skills, closeness) under the 3 dimensions (e.g., cohesion, flexibility, and communication) in my descriptions and analysis of my family?

· Did I clearly illustrate through examples 2 concepts (i.e., loyalty, roles, clarity, change) of each dimension as it relates to my family and provided ample commentary in order to fully describe what each chosen concept looks like in my family and how it is a strength or a challenge?

· Did I rate my family on all scales? Did I find my family’s system on the Couple and Family Map and state it in my paper?

· Did I follow page length and formatting criteria? Was I reflective and specific in my writing and include a reflection at the end?

*See following page for using the Couple and Family Map

Utilizing the Couple and Family Map

Taken from Marriages and Families: Intimacy, Diversity, and Strengths by Olson, DeFrain, & Skogrand (8th edition) by McGraw Hill. 

1. Use the Couple and Family Scales (Table 1 and 2) to describe your family of origin or of procreation, do the following:

a. Review the six categories shown in the scales (Table 1) for assessing cohesion, flexibility, and communication.

b. Using the rating scale (Table 2), rate your family on a scale of 1 to 8 for each of the categories in the three dimensions.

c. To determine a global rating/total score for each dimension, review your selected number for each concept, add the total, and then divide by 6 to get the global rating. Record the score below, and indicate the level for each dimension (e.g., for cohesion, enter disengaged, connected, cohesive, or enmeshed). For example, if you got a total score of 30 in cohesion based on your ratings then you would divide that number by 6, which would then provide you with a global rating or average score of 5 for the dimension of cohesion and placing your family in the cohesive level.

· Cohesion

· Score:________________

· Level:________________

· Flexibility

· Score:________________

· Level:________________

· Communication

· Score:________________

· Level:________________

d. Now, plot the scores for cohesion and flexibility onto the Couple and Family Map (Table 3) and identify the type of family system in which you are currently in based on where you feel on the map. *Remember you are not plotting communication, just cohesion and flexibility.