Week 6 Assignment: Family Assessments Comparison

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Family Assessments

In addition to understanding the systemic nature of family life, the second major emphasis of this section is on the benefits and process of conducting family based assessments with clients. Assessment is a process of studying a person or group of people in order to come to conclusions about what he, she, or they are like. Often the result of assessment includes a decision as to whether the person or persons is/are “normal.” As such, it is important for therapists to grapple with the question of what “normal” is and of how much variation can be allowed within that definition.

Specifically, for this week, you will review three commonly used family assessments (FACES, SFI, and FAD). To start this week, examine each of the instrument samples provided and read each of the assigned articles and chapters related to these models/assessments.

Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES; based on Olson’s Circumplex model)

  1. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES)
  2. Olson, D. E., & Gorall, D. M. (2003). Circumplex model of marital and family systems.

Self-report Family Inventory (SFI; based on the Beavers model)

  1. The Dallas Self-report Family Inventory (SFI)
  2. Hampson, R., Hulgus, Y., & Beavers, W. (1991). Comparisons of self-report measures of the Beavers Systems Model and Olson's Circumplex Model.

Family Assessment Device (FAD; based on the McMaster model)

  1. The Family Assessment Device (FAD)
  2. Epstein, N.B., Bishop, D. S., & Levin, S. (1978). The McMaster Model of Family Functioning.
  3. Epstein, N. B., Baldwin, L. M., & Bishop, D. S. (1983). The McMaster Family Assessment Device.
  4. Miller, I. W., Epstein, N. B., Bishop, D. S., & Keitner, G. I. (1985). The McMaster Family Assessment Device: Reliability and Validity.

Be sure to carefully review this week’s resources. You will be expected to apply the information from these resources when you prepare your assignments.



Books and Resources for this Week:


Books
ReferenceInstruction
Williams, L., Edwards, T. M., Patterson, J., & Chamow, L. (2011) Essential assessment skills for couple and family therapist

Read Chapter 9

Sperry, L. (2012) Family assessment: Contemporary and cutting-edge strategies

Read Chapter 8

Articles
ReferenceInstruction
Epstein, N. B., Baldwin, L. M., & Bishop, D. S. (1983). The McMaster Family Assessment Device.
McMaster Family Assessment Device - FAD.pdf.pdf

Read Article

Epstein, N.B., Bishop, D. S., & Levin, S. (1978) The McMaster Model of Family Functioning.
McMaster Model of Family Functioning.pdf.pdf

Read Article

Hampson, R., Hulgus, Y., & Beavers, W. (1991). Comparisons of self-report measures of the Beavers Systems Model and Olson's Circumplex Model.
http://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=1991-20204-001&site=ehost-live

Read Article

Miller, I. W., Epstein, N. B., Bishop, D. S., & Keitner, G. I. (1985). The McMaster Family Assessment Device
McMaster Family Assessment Device- Reliability and Validity.pdf.pdf

Read Article

Olson, D.H., & Gorall, D.M. (2003). Circumplex model of marital and family systems
circumplex_article.pdf.pdf

Read Article

Document/OtherReferenceInstruction

FACES Assessment
FACES III and scoring instructions.pdf.pdf

Review Document

FAD Assessment
FAD Assessment and Scoring Instructions.pdf.pdf

Review Document

SFI Assessment
SFI- Assessment and Scoring Instructions.pdf.pdf

Review Document

Week 6 Assignment: Family Assessments Comparison


Activity Description

To complete the assignment, you will need to use the Family Assessment Device (FAD), the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES), and the Self-Report Family Inventory (SFI). You will complete each of the three measures with respect to your own family of origin. You may use your nuclear family (e.g., partner, children) or your family of origin (you and your parents). If using your family of origin, respond to each item as if you were at the age when you were still living with your family of origin. Alternatively, when possible, you might consider asking one of your siblings to complete at least one of the measures.

Once you have completed each of the assessments use the scoring instructions to score the responses. Then, for each measure, write a Clinical Assessment Report (CAR) using the template in the “Resources” section of the course page. Copy and paste the CARs into one document. Write a brief 1 to 2 page synopsis of your experience of using each of the measures and compare and contrast the usefulness of each with the others. In addition briefly (1 to 2 pages) address the following questions.

  1. The Circumplex, Beavers, and McMaster models all include specific principles that the authors of each suggest are indicative of what is normal in marriage and family life. What are your responses to these chapters and articles and the ideas that are presented about what is "normal"?
  2. Finally, what are the pros and cons of defining "normal" at all?

Submit this document (do not submit the actual results (item by item) of the measures or the actual assessments).

Your final document should be 5 to 10 pages in length:

  1. CAR's for FACES - 1 to 2 pages.
  2. CAR's for SFI - 1 to 2 pages.
  3. CAR's for FAD - 1 to 2 pages.
  4. Synopsis of using the instruments and compare and contrast instruments - 1 to 2 pages.
  5. Addressing the 2 activity specific questions above - 1 to 2 pages.

Upload your assignment using the Upload Assignment button.



Learning Outcomes


1.0 Distinguish the nature and uses of psychological tests, addressing the unique features of the systems-based assessment.

3.0 Critique the usefulness of specific individual, couple, and family assessments.

4.0 Implement systems theory and systemic thinking into the process of family assessment.

5.0 Appraise the validity of the definitions of what is “normal” in family life that are given in established theories of family functioning that underlie common family assessments.

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Explanation & Answer

Attached.

Running Head: Family Assessment Comparison

1

Family Assessment Comparison
Name:
Course:
Due Date:
Name of Instructor:

Family Assessment Comparison

2

Family Assessment Comparison
Introduction
Generally, the assessment of family systems is based on systematic theories or methods.
By definition, a family system is a consistently interconnected group of individuals (GomezClavelina, Irigoyen-Coria, & Ponce-Rosas, 1999).The hierarchical structure of a family is
basically organized by its members (the parents and the siblings).Every individual has it unique
and specific role which it plays within the system. There are although certain behaviors within a
family that can damage the reputation of the family.
Most often family structures are frail and highly predisposed to the way they are
organized and function. An individual’s change within a family structure can significantly cause
a change within all the other members of the family system crating a dysfunction (Drumm, Carr,
& Fitzgerald, 2000).

To identify the weaknesses and strengths within families, certain family assessment
instruments are employed. These instruments help in treatment of the dysfunctions within the
family systems (Drumm, Carr, & Fitzgerald, 2000).In order to solve the problems, family
therapist’s first need to understand the structure of the family so as to gather information that will
be insightful to the member’s .This information helps the members get a clear picture of their
current risks and issues. This then helps them mitigate and manage problems that could have
befallen them in the future. The information is most of the times interconnected to the specific
family roles, the characteristics of individual family members as well as the affective
responsiveness.

Family Assessment Comparison

3

Family Assessments
Prior intervention has many benefits when conducting family based assessments.
Through this, therapists get to understand the family preferences based on the nature of their
relationships and patterns. Other than that, family assessments facilitate the counselors by
providing them with clear information in valuing the functionality of the interactions within the
family. The therapist is able to know what is normal to the family and by observing the
variations are able to propose a suitable therapy for the family
Types of Family Assessments
Generally, three types of family assessments exist. These are namely the self report
family interjectory (FSI), the family assessment device (FAD) and the Circumplex model
(FASES)
The self- Report Family Interventory (SFI)
This assessment is based on the beaver’s systems model of the functioning of the family.
It is utilized to measure the competence view of individuals within the family (Beavers &
Hampson, 1990). Two areas are measured in this assessment. These are they style of the family as

well as its competence. These areas of competence therefore range from optimal to adequate,
mid range and then borderline to dysfunctional. The style ranges mainly from centripetal to
centrifugal. A combination of the two indicates whether the family under assessment is
functional or is non functional and whether it requires any intervention clinically.

Family Assessment Comparison

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The Family Assessment Device (FAD
This is constructed from the family functioning model of McMaster (MMFF) this model
emphasizes on two areas. The first area touches on the transitions that occur among family
members .The second takes a deeper look into how the families are organized as a whole system
and not individually. The system basically includes six areas through which it’s able to know the
stress levels within the family. These six areas are communication, problem solving, roles,
responsiveness affective, behavioral control and affective involvement. The family members
then describe the individual perspective of the family they belong to by disagreeing or agreeing
(Epstein, Baldwin, & Bishop, 1983). High scores indicate potential pathology
The Circumplex Model
This model suggests that families consisting of balanced cohesion and flexibility function
well and those families that exhibit flexibility are likely experiencing challenges in their function
(Olson 2003)
All of the above assessments act as tools for helping families in the management of
current changes and also as a way of helping them with ideas and ways of how to handle
conflicts in the future (Hampson & Beavers, 1991). The process entails the reporting of each family
member perspective and this normally differs from that of other family members. The main
disadvantage of this is disadvantage of this is dishonesty from some members. This dishonesty
occurs due to safety reasons. Hiding of serious problems such as domestic violence and abuse
within the family can be a great limitation to the therapist’s data collection (Sperry, 2012).
This data is however necessary for clinical intervention purposes. It helps the therapists
make recommendations of how families can be assisted. Observations serve as a critical part

Family Assessment Comparison

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with the systemic family assessments. This is due to the fact that it provides extra information
regarding the family structures and its functionality (Williams, Edwards, Patterson & Chamow,
2011).

There are Similarities and differences that exist between these systemic family
assessments. Some of these similarities are that all the assessments are correctly done to all the
family members and the time for score taking is fixed, normally fifteen minutes. The language of
use for all of them is English. Some of the differences that exist are as follows
In terms of age, FAD and FASES are made for those who are over the age of 12 while
SFI is for those who are 11 years and older. FASES has 42 questions while SFI has 36 questions
and FAD has 60 questions. FASES and SFI have a score of two variables while FAD scores
seven variables. In terms of language, SFI and FAD are mainly available in English while FAD
is available in other 15 more languages.
Clinical Assessment Report (CAR)
In 15th March 2016, The Thatcher’s family agreed to complete the following self report .The
parameters of measurement were SRI, FASES and FAD. The findings and outcomes were
basically as follows.
Clinical Assessment Reports:
1. FASES (Circumplex Model)
Client #:

R0001

Name:

Peter, Kathy, and Leo Thatcher

Family Assessment Comparison

Birth date:

6

01/12/1968, 06/11/1978 and
11/08/2015
49, 39 and 1 years old

Age:

Date of Assessment: 02/11/2016
Date of Report:

02/11/2016

Assessment Administered:

Circumplex Model

Administered by:

Peter Thatcher

Report Written by:

Peter Thatcher

Results: Score of 16 for the Adaptability and 37 for Cohesion. The scores was an indication of
a rigid adaptability and connected cohesion.

Rationale for Assessment:
The Thatcher’s family was requested to complete the FASES assessment tool as a training
exercise for the examiner. Both parents agreed to complete it.

Family Assessment Comparison

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Background Information:
Peter, a German male of 49 years of age and Kathy, a German female who is 39 years old have
been together since 2012. Together they are blessed with a baby girl Leo who is 16 months old.
Peter works as an accountant for Price Water Coopers, CA area. Kathy is a stay at home mom
and takes care of Leo until she gets old enough to attend pre-school. Peter was detected with
cancer six months ago and from then the family members are trying their level best to enjoy
every moment of Leo’s development. Kathy and Leo were following a plant-based diet and now
with the diagnosis of Peter, he too has decided to change his diet. The family is trying their level
best to cope with Peter’s disease. These changes include. Changes in their life patterns as new
parents, future uncertainties as they are under stress and want to offer the best that they can to
their baby girl (protection, a bigger house, stability, etc.).

Observations:
The parents completed the assessment together. They were looking at each other and
commenting on their responses unti...


Anonymous
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